I started watching Project Runway about season 3. I found it fascinating and became an avid fan. Watching the challenges and choosing my favorite designers and my favorite designs. By season 4 I had started doing some challenge designs because I thought that it would be such a fun thing to do.
Last year I made a vision board and part of that was to do a design for each of the current years challenges for my American Girl Doll Clothes Collection that I sell on Ebay and Artfire. Not that I ever have any shortages of ideas for clothes, but to give me a focus for my designs. These outfits are perfect for any 18 inch doll clothes collections.
Then I found Project Runway on Netflix. Oh No! Then I decided to start from the beginning. So I got year one and started watching. The process goes on. Now I needed to decide how I was going to progress with this whole thing. If I am going to do this I should do a blog which my husband has been trying to get me to do for years. I just didn’t know what in the world I would write about.
SO! I am writing a blog post and have photographs to follow the process instead of cameras following me around all day, at all hours. At the end on the challenge I will have a 12 item fashion show.
The finished products will be for sale on my ebay site and Artfire. They will all be limited editions.
The first item is to be done by October 1st.
So anyone reading and watching. Wish me luck and come along with me for the ride or commitments, creativity and deadlines.
Some examples of previous challenge outfits.
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I couldn’t do just one for the Levi Challenge.
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Designs from Project Runway’s Levi challenge
Project Runway Challenge
for 18 inch Dolls
Year 1, Challenge 4
2. My Thoughts
Rising Rock Star
Miley Cyrus
Rock Star Runway Challenge Year 1 Challenge 4
I have decided that I want to make an outfit for Miley. She says her design style is hippy chic. That should be right up my line as that was my decade though I didn’t live that lifestyle as I was home with 2 young boys and my husband was in the Air Force spending a lot of time in the Vietnam region of the world.
I am also looking at the current trends to incorporate them into the design. Miley wouldn’t wear something that wasn’t hip.
Project Runway Challenge 4-1 Rock Star
for 18 inch Dolls, American Girl Dolls
Year 1, Challenge 4
1. The Challenge
Rising Rock Star
Sarah Hudson
Performance –Video Costume for Naked Truth
Rock Star Runway Challenge 4
The project runway designers were introduced to Sara Hudson and were able to interview her to learn what she was wanting for her outfit. Some of the things that she said were; Sexy, Girlie, Classic, Alice in Wonderland.
I have listened to Sarah Hudson’s music and read her lyrics and feel that it is a little too old for the American Girl Doll persona. I am looking at designing something more in the line with a younger Hanna Montana as played by Miley Cyrus
Here is a link to Miley Cyrus. I think that she is a good role model for young pre-teen girls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBjyhVzCIhw&feature=more_related
Project Runway Challenge Art Nouveau’
for 18 inch Dolls, American Girl Dolls
Year 1, Challenge 3
5. The Finished Outfit
Art Nouveau’ -*- Banana Republic
The Final Dress and Photo
ArtNouveau The Final Dress for Year 1 Challenge 3
The final dress is done! I got sidetracked with Christmas sales. Then got a slow start afterwards.
I have had this dress in my head for so long it feels good to finally get it done.
I had hoped that doing the prototype would make the final dress easier but that was not the case. I still had some construction details to work out for the bodice and the seam still had some finishing to do on it. I like the final dress. Now I’ll put it to the test.
First will my judges like it? Then will my customers like it?
Thank you for following the progress. The next challenge is already started and will be up very soon.
Project Runway Challenge Art Nouveau
for 18 inch Dolls
Year 1, Challenge 3
4. Editing and Prototype
Fabric Choices
Then I started pulling the items that I didn’t want from the arrangement. I think that I have some good options.
The next step was to find come fabric to use for the proto type to see how the idea in my head translated to fabric and get the quirks out before I start cutting into the fabric.
I found a remnant of lavender satin and several yards of sheer fabric in palest lavender.
I am happy with the design basics it went together smoother that I had expected. The satin is not an easy fabric to work with the this sheer fabric is very light and difficult to get it to hold still for cutting. I think the peach sheer that I will actually be using is a heavier weight.
I love the finished dress BUT it is too frilly. I will need to edit by taking off or in some way limiting the lace.
Prototype
Runway Challenge
For American Girl Doll
And 18 inch doll clothes
3. Fabric and Design Choices
Year 1, Challenge 3
Design Beginnings
I went onto the internet and looked at examples of Art Nouveau clothes or clothes from
the turn of the last century. I found this picture which is an advertisement for an Elgin watch. I liked the color and the simple elegant style or the dress.
The dress that I design will be a party-holiday dress for Molly. So as I think about my design I will be considering a dress for Molly and the year about 1904 which is Molly’s year. I think pink and pastel yellow would either one be good colors for my design but I have some beautiful peach crape back satin that I think I will use.
I wandered abound my studio and pulled everything that I could find that was peach or mauve and laid it out on my cutting table to see what I liked the best. Then I started pulling the items that I didn’t want.
Project Runway Challenge Art Nouveau’
Banana Republic Challenge
For 18 inch doll clothes, American Girl Dolls
Year 1, Challenge 3
2. Design Beginnings
Art Nouveau
American Girl Runway Challenge Year 1 Challenge 3
I have searched the Web to find information about Art Nouveau. I had a sense of what it was and what it looked like in fashion but I wanted to substantiate it.
I love the flow and feel of clothes from the turn of the 20th century which was the height of the Art Nouveau era.
I pulled up the Saturday Evening Post covers looking for examples of the clothing in real life. Or at least real life as the Saturday Evening Post saw it.
What is also a happy circumstance for me is that American Girl has a doll from that era named Molly. The dress that I design will be a party-holiday dress for Molly.
Art Nouveau
Peaked in popularity at The Turn of the 20th century (1890–1905). It is characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly stylized, flowing curvilinear forms. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau
Art Nouveau Era
Art Nouveau was a decorative art form which followed on from the Arts and Crafts Movement. It spread throughout Europe and was a dominant art form in 1900 at the Paris Exhibition. It primarily covered interiors, architecture, and jewelry and furniture design. But its importance filtered through into fashion and fabrics.
The long stylized flowers and flowing embroidered borders with trails of organic forms of Art Nouveau are all reflected in the clothes of the Edwardian Hostess. Their skirts belled out and flowed like blossoming opening floral forms. The embellishment captured the graceful Art Nouveau forms. http://www.fashion-era.com/fashion_eras.htm
Project Runway Challenge Art Nouveau
Banana Republic Challenge
For American Girl, 18 inch doll clothes
Year One, Challenge 3
1. The Challenge
Make a Holiday Dress:
Yellows or Pinks
Sexy Self-Sufficient –
The project runway designers were supplied with fabric that Banana Republic was using for their Holiday line that year and were in their showroom looking at their current designs.
Because I didn’t get that option I went on line to see what their items looked like. The first time I looked there were very few dresses. When I went back these are the ones that I found.
This challenge was at least 8 years ago and of course they have moved on. In their line today there are no pinks, yellows or floral prints which they did have for the designers to choose from.
These designs could be Art Deco’ but there sure weren’t any pinks or yellows.
I am designing for American Girl Dolls so I will look to the pink—yellow pallet.
Next I am going to do some research on Art Deco’.
Getting Started: In the beginning
The first thing that I need to do is make a prototype.
I had some scrap green glittery fabric that I used for the prototype. I split the balloon to make a pattern for the skirt and cut it out.
I made a simple top and lined it with forest green cotton that I have on hand. I then line the bodice as well when I make it out of the balloon material to make it more durable because unlike the Project Runway items, I will be selling my creations and they need to stand up to being taken on and off.
I have finished the bodice and pinned the skirt onto it to see how the hem is going to hang and if the bodice was going to fit properly.
You can see the dress on my doll that I use as a manikin. I have named her Kentra because I like the name and if I had a girl that is what I would have named her.
I am happy with the drape of the skirt though I would of liked it to be more pronounced. The back will have a lot of interest and I need to think about whether I want to embellish the back or if I would rather have the front be the major design point of interest.
It looks like it is going to fit well and I am happy with the design.
The Finished Prototype
I have the dress seamed up and decided that the hem treatment didn’t show up enough so decided to see how the ribbon would sew and try it along the hem. It worked better that I had hopped so I have also put it around the neckline.
I have made a 1900’s style belt that I like because it will accent the cut of the hem in the front. I made the belt too wide so I will cut it down.
So far I am very happy with my progress but still am not sure how the Mylar is going to sew or what else to do with the ribbon and jewels. Not that I have to use them but I think they would be great to use.
