Make things for people to fall in love with

Let me open this post with the cape that, given the chance, would re-align the world's axis it's so beautiful. The same cape which set me off on a week-long sketching marathon one particularly sticky afternoon last summer. For me this cape classfies as one of those rare moments that happen to and alter one substantially. I look at perfection, at pure balance.. it has just about everything I could ever want in a cape, the geometry, the colour scheme, the transparency, just enough translucency and length.. Still we are talking about a mere cape, a jewel within its own league but really and truly just a piece of cloth in the bigger scheme of things.

At one point in my life I had solemnly sworn not to take all things related to fashion too seriously for several reasons; but mainly because such issues simply aren't all that worthy.

I detect an almost immediate whiff of a dozen contradictory arguments, crossing 'virtual' mileage at the speed of light .. but guess what, I only dabble on the outskirts of this so-called field of fashion. I am as far removed from the artistic, socio-political, statement-driven forces that have, across the ages, substantiated Fashion (with the capital 'F'), as I am from those freshly filled kannoli (so far faar faaar away). I want to make precious things that make people happy.

And yes.. I do accept counter claims that all of this might very well be an escapist, non-committal, defence-mechanism-induced argument. I'm too non-serious about this not to.

However, in everything else connected to what I do, I am dead serious.. and to stretch the simile even further into the realm of action, I am about to prove how serious I am about perfect finishing and perfect fit and my 'one-off' service (unless otherwise stated) by actually leaving the comfy depths of my sofa and walk across towards the kitchen counter where those heavenly kannoli lie in a sterile tupperware box.

Following are photos of two projects I finished in the past week, projects that had been left hanging for quite a while.. torturing me with self-induced anxieties related to potential spoiling of the material as well as the fnal result. Worries that keep me awake (tis true!).. fears that accompany me to the last stitch.. I am pessimistic by nature.. especially where my true concerns lie.. I care about giving the client what they need but not necessarily what they want and since I'm not exactly the most diplomatic of persons, I worry again about pitching my idea as the natural option. I worry about not having 'the perfect' background in tailoring to embark on such projects; I worry about trying to introduce longer hems; about making sure that, since my time has become so limited, I attempt only portfolio worthy projects (but this rule I break everytime, much to my surprise and ultimate satisfaction); and I also worry about worrying too much.

This coat (above) was adapted from a souvenir kaftan big enough to shelter a family of 5.. it has hidden pockets, is fitted with handmade glass buttons which the said lady-client selected herself, and, given the lightweight material, the coat sways should she choose to dance in it.. the rounded 2-piece sleeves allow for easy movement and give the coat an overall casual-jacket feel reminiscient of trapeze coat shapes from my favourite period in fashion. The pattern helps greatly in this regard as well.

And this is an olive green silk wonder.. primly belted at the waist, with a half oval cutout and aged motifs .. The long slits on each side gave the dress a distincly asian feel.. and it somehow came to remind me of In the Mood for Love (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118694/).. a film I had enjoyed slightly too much for my own good. The wearer carries it perfectly and I still think a pair of coral suede shoes would look best with it.

In conclusion... look at this painting by Kirchner. I had been a great admirer of his work for some time before I came across this (supposedly) portrait of his wife; so just imagine how my admiration tripled when in the picture I could see no-one but myself next to a primitive statue I happen to own. I enjoy entertaining thoughts about past-lives where I smoked cigarettes elegantly and a possible time warp where I still wore statement brooches and drank hot drinks in tiny cups.