Halfway Done!

Hey everyone! As promised I worked on the pencil skirt and jacket look these past few days. I really was motivated and excited to get these two pieces made so the process went pretty quickly. I choose to make this look in neutral tones and add a pop of color in the accessory that I am going to make to go with it later. The skirt was done in beige with black quilted side panels and the jacket was made black with black quilted pieces. This look ended up being different than the original in that I decided to add a jacket to it and eliminate the original shirt. As always, here are some pics of the finished pieces and outfit.

 I really wanted the jacket to be something eye catching and unique which is why I decided to do an asymmetric zipper and to have the font be longer and come to a point. This jacket turned out exactly how I had imagined it in my head and compliments the body to a T. The skirt is a basic high-waisted, self-faced pencil skirt that highlights a silhouette with the black quilting on the side.

The plan is to get this look and a few more illustrated in marker soon. I have also been sketching new dresses for the line that I hope will make the overall line even more versatile. Once I pick out the ones I like best I will get that illustrated as well and then begin to work on it. I also have some accessories in my mind that hopefully I will be able to get the supplies for and get started on in the next week too. There is so much happening all at once with this collection and within the next couple weeks it should all come together!

-xoxo Hillary C.

Finished With the Fourth Look

Hey everyone! I have had a very productive past few days! I was able to get the next look done as well as marker sketch the four looks that I have completed up to this point. Okay so first things first. Here are the four illustrations with all of the new modifications that I have done to the looks. The first sketch is the exact same as the rough sketch I started with. On the second look, I decided to shorten the sleeves to make them more comfortable to wear.  The third look went from being a wide leg pant to a fitted dress that works better with the proportions of the capelet. The last illustration was modified from being a wide kimono-like sleeve to being a more traditional sleeve that is gathered into a cuff.  Check them out :)

Original Illustrations

The look I just finished making is the last illustration above. It is a fully lined teal suede-like jacket with quilted white wool side panels and a heavy gold zipper with white trim. Like the cape I completed earlier, I have lined the collar with the faux fur for extra warmth. This jacket went together relatively quick once the pieces were cut out. Most of my time was spent matching up the panels and lining the entire jacket. The second piece to go with this look is a pair of jersey leggings with quilted white wool side panels down each leg. It was hard to get a good picture of the leggings on my dress form so I laid them out flat on a table so you can get the idea of what they look like. Once I take the final pictures on the model they will look much better. Here are some pics of the pieces for the look!

 I already have the next look in progress, the plan is to have it done by the end of this week at the latest. I am working on pencil skirt look. After looking at my entire collection, I have decided that I am really excited about my outerwear pieces and that I want them to be the focus and key elements of the collection. Because of this, I am adding a quilted motorcycle jacket to the skirt look. It's definitely a lot of extra work, but in the end it will help to make the entire collection more cohesive and special. Plus, I am used to adding more work to my already full plate haha! I am going to do the final sketch for this look sometime this week too so make sure that you check back to see how it looks! Thanks for reading! 

-xoxo Hillary C.

First Accessory Preview!

Hi everyone! So on my last post I talked about how I was going to begin to focus on the accessories that go with my collection and true to my word, the first piece is in progress. I am really excited about how this is turning out so I wanted to show you all. It's a gold fringe necklace on a gold chain. Here are some pics of where the necklace is at right now.

 

I think I am going to make a couple versions of this one in different lengths, layers and colors. On this necklace in particular, I want to dip dye the bottom on the fringe in black to create an ombre look. I am also playing with the idea of adding small beads to the top of the fringe. There is a lot that I can do to this necklace base but I think this is a good start and look really good on the garments that have simpler necklines, especially the coats and jackets that have simple tops beneath them. 

Throughout this process, as I create more pieces, I have adjusted the looks and sketches to fit better with the overall collection. Because of this, within the next few weeks I will post new sketches (full color if all goes well) as well as new flat sketches. As far as the next item for me to work on, I am going to turn my attention back to the clothing and work on cutting out and completing a full coat and legging outfit. I'll be posting soon! 

-xoxo Hillary C.

Third Look Done!

Hey guys, as promised I have completed another look for my collection. I was able to sit down and really think about what I wanted to put with the quilted white capelet that I had already made and came up with something that I was really excited about. After playing with the skirt that I had previously made and decided that I didn't like on my dress form, I came up with a solution. I decided to make the skirt into a dress.... I know it sounds a little weird but it really worked out! I wanted to add a cut out on the front of the dress and quilt that as well as the sleeves. I also slightly gathered the back into the back of the original skirt. When the changes are written down, they don't sound like they would not work at all, so instead of just telling you what I did, I am going to show you as well. Here are some pictures to make sense out of what I just described.

I used a textured, light brown jersey that I quilted with the metallic thread for the upper portion and sleeves of the dress and then a solid dark brown jersey for the body. I am really excited about how this dress turned out and when I put it together with the capelet it looks complete. Accessory wise for this look, I am thinking of making and mixing layered bracelets with mixed materials.

I am going to begin turning my attention to some of the accessories at this point and start creating them as well because the more I think about them, the more excited I get to make them. I will still be working on the outfits as well. Make sure you check back to see what I am up to! 

-xoxo Hillary C.

A Long Awaited Update & One More Look Done!

Hey everyone! I know it's been a month since my last post, but things have been crazy to say the least! I got a new car and have had lots of other things going on as well. I have been working and progressing with my collection too though I promise! Once I started trying to think up and create the second piece to go with the capelet I had already made I hit a slight bump in the road. I made a skirt to go with it, but once I put the two pieces together I just was not happy with the outcome and final look. So I decided to move on to another look to clear my head until I could figure out what I wanted to do. 

The look I moved on to was the draped bodice dress. I used the sheer turquoise to create the top, the beige material that I used on the first look for the quilted waistband and then a black jersey for the skirt. I wish the pictures showed the drape better. It didn't seem to make much of a difference if I took the picture with the flash or without it, the drape just wouldn't show up. Hopefully when I get back to Cincinnati and take the final pictures it will show better, but for now, these give you the general idea. In the back, I used a heavy metal exposed zipper for a little more interest. If I get time I also want to make a halter-like black jersey top to go under the bodice so its not completely see through. Here are some of the pictures of the entire dress as well as a close up of the draping (which still needs to be steamed so excuse the wrinkles).

These past few weeks have also helped me to solidify what accessories I want to make to go along with this collection. At this point, I have decided to not do knit accessories as originally planned, but instead to make detailed quilted purses and totes as well as statement necklaces and bracelets. I just think this type of accessories will go with the fabrics better and give a richer, more polished finish. With the particular look I just completed, I am going to make a over-sized quilted tote, but that will come a little later. 

I have a few more things in the works that I promise will be up within the next day or so! Make sure to check back to see not only the coming looks but the accessories I will be posting about in the next week. Thanks for reading!

-xoxo Hillary C.