Pandemic Apparel

I remember seeing a preview of the Schmatta - Rags to riches to rags documentary on HBO.com and was waiting for it to air or for the DVD to be released. I figured that HBO would included it on the HBO GO app, but they didn't. After looking for this documentary for some time now I discovered this link someone had posted on a forum. It downloads pretty quickly and is of good quality. The documentary has interesting facts regarding the garment industry in New York. Since I'm from LA I'm more interested in our history, never the less it was informative.

Saturday, February 05, 2011, was the opening of the 19th annual art of motion picture costume and design Exhibition @ FIDM. Right after parking we made a B line for the exhibition. I love costume design and nothing gives me grater pleasure than to see these wonderful costumes in person. I have often thought about working at a museum, but how does one get started? Enough about me ... Here are a few pictures of the costumes. I took about 140 pictures, but I only found 12 that I wanted to show you. The exhibition was in a Z pattern, which was fun to walk around. While watching Burlesque ... I noticed that some of the scenes look like Cabaret. The costumes and musical numbers were pure candy, but the story line sucked. On a bathroom break, I found the famous Dior dress displaced in a glass case. Across from that was a wall show casing a few pictures and designs. They always have the best displays. I remember when I attended FIDM they had a new display on each floor, every week. I miss thos...

I've updated the calendar on my vimeo group " DIY Sewing " to show the dates for fashion week around the world. Enjoy!

I've been wanting to do a video tutorial for some time, but with work and lack of natural light in my studio I've been putting it off. I might do a few short tutorial on hand sewing. Which I've been wonting to do for a long time now. What I really wanted to show you are some tailors techniques for hand sewing, but I haven't been able to find the proper information over the internet. This means a trip downtown to the BIG library ... hmmmm. So what I'll do is make a tutorial on basic techniques. If you have any request about hand sewing please let me know and I'll include them in my tutorial.

I've been debating on making this post. In the end I think it would be easier to create a blog entry than to make a video tutorial. I few weeks ago I purchase this "Draping" book which I've been trying to buy for some time now. I really goes into detail on the history of draping and how it all started. Which my school failed to teach us. Okay ... its time for the draping part of this tutorial. [I would like to add that this book deals with CM not INCHES so if you don't have a measuring tape with CM on it you'll need to do some converting here is the formula: cm x 0.39* = in in x 2.54 = cm *Shown as 0.39 after rounding to the nearest hundredth (0.3937008).] You'll need the following measurements: (size 6 US) • Upper arm width (27cm) • Elbow width (23cm) • Wrist width (16cm) • Arm length (61cm) • Lower arm length (25cm) • Arm hole circumference (40cm) Supplies: • Muslin Fabric • Cardboard • Poly-Fil • Pins • Rulers: L-Ruler, French Curve, Clear Ruler • Threa...

Little update ... I've been trying to keep up with fashion week and all of that fashion programing on the Sundance Channel. And I finally found time to do some research, so I'll have a new tutorial up very soon. In the mean while, I want to share my Documentary review. I watched the "The September Issue" not that exciting, but I found out of about the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which took me to the "Seamless" documentary about this awards program. I guess since they are giving away $200,000 you have to be bankable. In other viral videos I found out that if the Fashion World has a president its Anna Wintour, she can make or break your career. I've known about her and others, even before I started at FIDM, it just seems so surreal to me that one person has so much pull with the marketing aspect of this industry. I've never realized it before or never wanted to admit to my self, but its true. Next!!!, "Unzipped", I didn't enjoy it much and i...

Yesterday I was doing some research and I stumbled across www.fashion-gorgeois.com . These tutorials are worth watching. I learned some things and others I already knew. But, having designer share ideas or the way they work can help others learn. I've always been interested in watching how other designers work. By watching them even if they don't tell you how they are doing whatever it is that they are doing, one can get a general idea on how something is made. (Wondering if that makes sense :/ ) Here's a list of the recent documentaries I've been watching: Valentino: The Last Emperor Lagerfeld Confidential The September Issue Unzipped Seamless Starz Inside: Fashion Film The Secret World of Haute Couture Signe Chanel Notebook on cities and clothes Other Documentaries: • Haute Couture: A Fashion Documentary -- Film Trailer • The next documentary I'll be watching later this week is Jay McCarroll : Eleven Minutes. • Also the Sundance Channel* has a Series called "...