Claire Kennedy Design

Movie costumes

One of the things I love about the movies is how well clothes fit.  My favorite example is Gentlemen Prefer Blonds:

I know I've blathered about this before...but Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell had completely different figures, yet Edit Head did a remarkable job of costuming them so that one didn't take away from the other or that one looked different from the other.

But there's another aspect to this, although most movies are filled with thin, emaciated women who are well fitted (which isn't much - to fit bones and skin is a whole lot less complicated than fitting a regular body ruled by genetics rather than starvation!).  Although if a star "makes it" she can be relinquished from the starvation mode and begin to have a normal figure - like Meryl Strep or Glenn Close.

 

 

But back to my main subject.  One of the films, I really have liked is The Fifth Element.  It's very creative, plot, acting, humor...

and....

costumes!

 

 

They were done by Jean-Paul Gaultier and if you look closely you can see the remarkable fitting and tailoring techniques used in making up the designs.

What's so special about this picture...look at the fit:

Remarkable...let's take it apart:

First of all, the designer is wanting to accentuate the heftiness of this actress...that's the whole idea of the scene...she's supposed to accompany Bruce Willis as his wife and we are not (as the audience) suppose to want or like this. 

But look at how well this fits her...the pink lines (the princess seam) and the green lines all act as darts.  And look at how well this looks through the shoulders and lapel area.  I guarantee you this jacket took a lot of fittings to get to this point.

There is a tiny wrinkle through the underarm (yellow arrow) which has to be there for ease, so this is a necessary wrinkle. 

One caveat here is that the jacket fits very tightly and in movies remember the designer knows how much or little the person has to move. In this scene all this actress had to do was bow her head a couple of times - no other movement, so the designer was able to really fit up close, knowing that the actress really didn't need any more ease.

That said, this is still a great fit job, and the reason I'm pulling this out and making such a big deal about it is cause it shows that a robust figure can be fit and fit well.  Granted, you may not want something that tight or firmly fit and want something with some more ease, but you can still have a fit. 

This is the picture that comes to my mind when my students or clients tell me that they can't be fit - it's like they've dared me....

oh yeah....

lemme at it!

I'll fit ya!

Ouch

I live in terror of doing something to my fingers since I my hands bring me so much joy - piano, sewing, cooking, messing with stuff.

So when I'm around knives in the kitchen (and scissors and rotary blades), that might be the reason I'm so careful around these sharp instruments.

However....

yep...here it comes....

I had an accident - and this one scared the daylights out of me.  I'm great with others' blood, but not mine - it's like instant shock - thank heavens for "Dr." Walt who came to the rescue.

I nearly sliced off the top of my 3rd finger and got the 2nd in the process.  The flesh was sort of flapping about which is not very handy when working on white dresses.

Fortunately, I'm finished with my debs, my class is over, but I will be a bit out of commission for a while - time to think of more stuff to sew for the first of the year.  Thank heavens is my left hand!

During my last physical, my doc (my regular doc, not the resident "doc"), suggested I get a tetanus shot, and I explained that I'm not Oscar the Grouch and I do not live in a trash can. 

In his most polite drone voice he recited that 80% of the emergency tetus shots at the local hospital ER were for sewists with machine needles in their fingers.  I suggested that I might need one!!!!

So if my posting is a little slower (it's been slow enough already), pardon while my finger reassembles itself.

What a class

Maybe it's that we're making doubles!

Maybe it's that we're making someone we know will love us!

Maybe it's that we're making someone who will benefit us!

Who knows, but the mannequin classes are a blast.

Let me introduce you:

Veta Louise Simmons, Betty, Lizzie and Sugar (Shug for short)!!!  Aren't they simply gorgeous.

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Now remember this is my iPhone (can't wait to get the #4 as it has a flash and won't have to hold statue still to take these shots!), but here is the studio at the Bernina store.  It's such a fabulous place to hold class even though we get a little rowdy.  We do learn even though we're all talking and telling jokes, and sharing important philosophies of life!

Then here are two stellar students with the class clown in back - also responsible for the great mannequin names!!!

My student from California was finished early, so I sent her to the local Joann's to get some muslin and she finished a pants pattern while she was here - she sews very fast!

And to prove to all that everyone finished, here's Ann late Friday.  No one worked harder and could be more rewarded.  So much, that we were able to tissue fit and alter a fabulous jacket pattern for Ann, ready for her to cut out and fit in muslin -  (Ann - you better be listenin' I wanna see that muslin!!!)

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Here's Maisie in the back quietly fitting her mannequin with a pattern.  It's amazing how really simple this is and how they think they're going to need my help, and suddenly they have fitted the pattern before they know what's happened. (Yeah, I know - I need a flash on my iPhone, but you can see Maisie busily at work.)

As you can tell it was another great class.  My next class is a Chanel Jacket class, however if you would like to sign up and bring another project or something else you want to do - come on down.  Even if you're just a little intimidated by the Chanel jacket process, you can bring something else, and watch the process to see what all goes into a Chanel jacket.  Call the Bernina store here to sign up. 405.840.8911.

 

A Brief Preview

Although I haven't gotten the really good pictures....here's a preview of my girls this year.

Every year is a different group and each a different likes and dislikes - and they all keep me on me young.  Amazingly enough this year, a good number of them lost weight.  I was really surprised as this was not a usual trend - some lost a little, some lost a lot....

Mallory lost a lot.  I was very impressed, and she deserved to show off her brand new figure.  This dress started as empire, but as she begin to loose weight it was obvious that this wasn't going to show off her figure as much as she would like, so we redesigned it to this lovely scrumptious look for her.

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Next was sweet Laney who has the most charming smile and the most beautiful skin I've ever seen.  I'm not sure how excited she was about this whole thing, but after we finished her beautiful dress, she was thrilled.  She did some serious rockin' that night - and that said all I needed to know:  she had fun!

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Maggie has an adorable figure and is very athletic.  This summer she ran in a marathon and then went back to school and I think she was doing some really great sports cause her shoulders increased causing her to gain a little in the bust and keeping the same cute waist (yeah, I know - this is how I live vicariously through my girls). 

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Next were two girls - one who also lost a lot of weight in the fall, she was in the finals in her sports (Marie is the one on the right), and Helen (on the left) was wearing her sister's dress that was a gorgeous classic dress that we draped silk organza around to look like a tie on her dress.  Both girls had lost weight, but were very cute for the night.

So you can see how lucky I am that I get such great clients.  Each one of them is as individual and pleasant and mature as you would want for any of your own kids.  I'm always so pleasantly surprised and admire and have new friends with all of my girls. 

All these photos courtesy of The Oklahoman.  They don't include the "queen" of the ball - the wife of the king, who is a secret till the night of the ball.  I was sworn to silence which was the hardest part of designing the queen's dress...coming soon (as soon as I get the pictures from the photographer!!! It's never quick enough!!!)