Time out

Vey rarely in my schedule do I factor in me time, which I'm told is quite necessary for sanity.

So after my morning and afternoon work completing a denim frock coat I am making for a friend I decided to take a few hours thinking about my TG (Torture Garden) outfit. As previously mentioned I am loath to buy materials when I have so much cluttering up the studio, and have found some lovely things to inspire me which absolutely must be made into something dramatic.

The TG outfit HAS to have a corset, and I have chosen to base it around the 1911 corset. For previous musings on this subject you can refresh your memory: chilled out corset days I really want to bring in a cheeky military feel to the whole thing, so tonight I'm planning on making a design for a forage cap in matching fabrics and possibly some spats to go over the fabulous shoes I 'won' (bought) on e-bay. I'm so into bronze and brass right now it's silly so that will feature heavity and I have some gorgeous brown leather that is just begging to be brogue'd up.

Here is my initial design, just a pencil sketch for now because I just love the quality of pencil on paper. I may not be wearing it exactly as drawn, unsure at the moment...but I am fairly happy with the corset design...although the length of the back and it's details are also not fixed in my mind yet.

Brow furrowing today

I have concentrated on clients work today, so I have very little to report, except that I have been doing lots of thinking about the collection, the historical research and how I want the catwalk show to look like.

I've been staring at the 1911 corset mock up from previous blog and I think it will make a really cool skirt. I've been working on a denim frock coat in some amazing black denim - and I think that using the 1911 corset as a basis for the seamlines of a high waisted skirt and a use of contrast stitching as a decorative feature would be insanely cool. I may even leave the corset lacing as a feature at the back. Oh my, that idea is just setting my mind on fire...I'm off to do more sketching.

Chilled out corset days...

Yesterday I had done the calico test version of the 1911 corset, today I have amended the front seam, as I just couldn't let it go, even if it is a test, and have put on the boning cases. I have done all stitching in black contrast and boning channels in black so they are really easy to see:

corset stretched at top left and bottom right to see boning channels positions

corset laid so the top edge is flat

stitching details from the front

back boning channels, long bone casings to subdue any bottom

corset front, note the shorter bone casings

That's all I got done today practical-wise. But loads of lovely fashion drawing done for the collection. Getting very excited now.