First Couture

cou·ture  (k-tr, -tür) n.

1. The business of designing, making, and selling highly fashionable, usually custom-made clothing for women.

2. Dressmakers and fashion designers considered as a group.

3. The high-fashion clothing created by designers.

 read Haute Couture History

So I know I'm going blog crazy this week, and to those of you who read all my post....thank you!  So, I just wanted to share with you one of my biggest sewing projects to date, a "couture" gown.  I am one to really challenge myself, so I thought why not end my fashion show with a bang, a gown that would bring my whole collection together.  Little did I know, it was a lot easier to make my Barbie dolls couture gowns then it was to make a full on gown. First of all, the fabric was like $36.00 a yard, therefore if I messed up I wanted to cry. Then all the boning and the hand-sewing of the details took, FOR-EV-ER!  Never the less, it was all worth it once I saw it on the model this past Saturday. She loved, the other models loved it and my assistants loved it.  I couldn't have been more happy with the out come. Which was a good thing because that same day I was told that the dress I have to make for the contest (details this Friday), has to be somewhat formal.  At least I know now, that this is something I can totally do.

Paris here I come.....maybe not tomorrow but haute couture is definitely my new venture.  I leave you with some pictures of my first couture gown from start to.......

Sorry loves, I can't show the finished dress just yet! You'll have to wait till the fashion show this Saturday. If you can't make, the following week I'll be posting all the fabulous details of night.  Till the next post, (which is this Friday) xoxox!

Barbie Couture

Good day, good day! Ok not so much...I've been sick for the past two days and I'm disliking it very much. I have so much to do and so little will power.  Which leads me to explain why I FAILED at my 52 week DIY challenge.  Basically, I just put to much on my plate. Never the less, I will still occasionally post my DIY projects to share with all of you here on my blog. So stay tuned for those.

Speaking of staying tuned....the new chu-lacouture.com website will be launching soon, hopefully this month.  The reason I decided not to close the website down, was because last month I got a call from an old client who wanted to host a huge Trunk Show in a couple of months. Not only was that good news but  I also got more orders from the east coast, which for me means...we are growing. So with that, I'm just gonna have to completely suck-it-up and proceed with faith!

Ok now on to the fun stuff.....let me start by saying, "the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree".  Like some of you might know I use to make my Barbie clothes when I was a child. When I was accepted into FIDM (college), the counselor ask to see my work and kept most of my gowns without my permission, claiming she never had them.  What I'm getting at is, I wish I was about to show you some of the pieces I had made but instead I'll be showing you something better....pieces my mom has made.

My mom and I

The following dress were all made by hand by my darling mom in her spare time.  It's a hobby of hers that I think is heading for something big.

White wedding dress...

with amazing details, including a crown veil.

A royal blue mermaid tail gown...

with a silver bow and halter tie.

And my personal favorite, a black and cream halter gown....

with a black bow detail on the back.

I am truly amazed at all the details she puts into these dresses. Totally collectible.  How cool would be to have one of these in an actually life size.  I'm currently working on setting up her Etsy.com shop with all these gowns for Barbie and so much more.  Meanwhile, if your interested in any of these pieces, leave a comment or email me at melissavelia@chu-lacouture.com.

Till the next time loves, peace & love!