I love watching fashion shows.
Well, I did until designers decided to get really weird and make garments I wouldn’t be seen dead in.
It was like watching a repeat of “Emperors’ New Clothes” over and over again. Dreadful, ugly garments being touted as ‘the latest’ and no one had the guts to speak out and tell the truth.
I stopped looking about 10 years ago, peeking in now and again to see if anything was worth wearing. I started designing and making my own clothes because there was nothing to emulate. I even invented my own label name “Mimera” and intended to get labels made – ( paving the usual road to Hell ).
Lately I have been rather pleased to see designers going back to wearable garments.
Look, let’s face it, there are only so many basic shapes that a garment can be, but it is fascinating to see the tweaks, colours and fabric choices that are made.
I am in awe of Haute Couture shows. In my wildest dreams I could never afford those glorious creations. I love “Mrs Harris goes to Paris.”
For a few years, in the 1990s at the height of my career as a Cabaret Artiste here in Durban I was fortunate enough to know world renowned Couturier Sandy Day and she made sure I had the most amazing garments for my shows. For that I will be forever grateful.
Not only that, but I worked for many fashion shows as a hostess, with John doing the sound, and sometimes I had my hair styled for these shows. John even had his hair dyed in Tiger stripes one time, which amused him no end.
What I did notice however is that the garments I designed suddenly have appeared on runways. Kaftans and A shaped dresses. Perhaps I am in the wrong career Ha Ha !!!!
Recently I saw an OdlR show with a lovely garment similar to one I made last year, so it inspired me to make another one. I am not allowed to show you the catwalk one, but here are some photos of my process of making mine.
I found a top that I made last year that matched the neckline, so lay it out on the fabric.
The other glaring difference is the price. One costs tens of thousands of pounds, mine is virtually free as my friend gave me the fabric and I had spare binding and cotton !!!!
I always pin first …
then take great delight in sewing the binding on by hand.
I had a favourite hemming stitch on my old machine, and was delighted to find that my new one, that I treated myself to for Christmas 2023 had the same one. It’s such a pretty finish.
I cut the hem to flow nicely and then sewed it. It is always wonderful to do the last ‘cut’.
I also made a scrunchie, because sometimes this hot, sticky weather, it is better to tie my hair up in a pony tail. Otherwise it makes a nice wristband.
Now, they will hang in the cupboard until a nice occasion comes along.
Don’t get me wrong, if I could afford to go to Paris, Milan, Florence or any other fashion house ‘home’, I would happily pay for the original garments with their superior flowing fabrics which can make anyone with style look amazing.
But for now, I will stick with happily sewing away – much of it by hand which I absolutely love – and wearing my clothes ‘out’.
Mind you, at my stage of life, going to the supermarket counts as ‘going out’ !!!!
