Fashion Focus!

My goodness, I think we are about due for a blog update, no?  It is always busy over here in the lacy confines of Dottie's Delights headquarters, but this month of October is just unprecedented.  But, in a good way, so I am certainly not complaining.  ;)  Wholesale orders, custom orders, special photo shoots, fashion shows, oh my!

Thus, I must be getting back to it, but I just wanted to make sure everyone has purchased their tickets to our fabulous runway presentation at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago for this Tuesday.  We will be kicking off Fashion Focus, which is a weeklong celebration of the thriving local fashion industry in our fair city, and we will have some very special guest and surprises (gosh, I wish I could share them all!)  This will be the first in-person look at our Spring 2012 offerings and I just can't wait.

It will be a grand affair you definitely do not want to miss.  See you there!

SPRING 2011 AND FASHION FOCUS!

I am so excited to announce that Dottie's Delights will be launching the first official collection -- called The Lily Collection for Spring 2011 -- to premiere at Fashion Focus Chicago on October 19th, 2010 kicking off the festivites at Millenium Park!  View the entire line-up of events here.

The Official Fashion Focus website will launch very shortly with full details and links to tickets for all shows, but I wanted to give the heads up here first that you can reserve FREE general admission tickets to see my collection -- along with fellow current and alumni designers of The Chicago Fashion Incubator -- presented by Macy's and Chicago Social Magazine.  Tickets will go fast, so secure yours now!

What sort of pieces can you expect to see from me?  Well, as a matter of fact, I am releasing a teaser shot from the Lily Collection look book to give you a little idea:

Photo: Jane J. Gaspar  Hair/Make-Up: Antje Kastner  Model: Elizabeth Moseley Antiques: Maison Suzanne

  Expect a continuation of the Dottie's Delights classic pieces that have become so popular in the custom world for vamps, brides, and everyday pin-ups, but new and improved with some exciting new additions!  Please enjoy and I will see you October 19th!  :)

Finally! Don Julio Loft Recap!

I wanted to thank everyone who came out for an amazing time for the Don Julio Loft experience!  The space was hot -- in more ways than one!  There was such a packed crowd, the air conditioning definitely felt a little lacking, but I suppose that just adds to the sexy summer vibe of a posh tequila event!
So, as a recap, one of the highlights of the 3-day celebration was each of the Chicago Fashion Incubator designers creating a look based one of the 5 bottles of Don Julio's tequila varieties, plus one based on the man himself.  I of course chose the 1942 bottle, which is one of the higher end options and a perfect year to lend itself to a vintage style designer.  I set out to work researching lingerie ads and other specific sources for lingerie styles that came out in the year 1942.  With the help of one of my interns, Anna Raben, we were able to find some beautiful examples:

I actually started with a one piece design in a various browns with red and gold accents, but ultimately I didn't like the direction it was going, so the night before the event, I scrapped it and started again.  I may have finished with only 2 hours to spare [read: sleep], but I was a lot more pleased with the final outcome:

This piece focused more on the elegance and sophistication of the 1942 variety, picking up the "brilliant golden hue" in the dupioni silk base fabric and the lace colors were inspired by some of the flavor notes.  If you look really close, you can see the shape of the bottle imitated in the accents of the vanilla colored lace, as well as the top stitching on the bottom of the bra cups.  And of course, 1942 is one of their spicier tequilas in the line, perfect for sipping on it's own, and I don't think there's much spicer than a sexy piece of lingerie on a hot summer night.  ;)  For more info on this fine liquor, please visit donjulio.com

The three days featured a media preview and opening night gala, with these tequila inspired garments in main focus.  The second day was a highly exclusive VIP dinner for Chicago celebrities and socialites, and the final day was the full blow-up with a full fashion show and performance by Shiny Toy Guns.  And boy was it packed!

We stayed in the wild hubub that is the backstage at a fashion show: answering questions, prepping the assistants, approving shoes, and making final alterations, while the models went in for hair and make up.

 

Thanks to Ford Modeling Agency, we had some damn fine ladies to rock that runway:

 

That's me on the right, wearing a dress by Bettie Page.  All the lingerie is Dottie's Delights, not the dress!

The liquor was flowing, the amazing hors d'oeuvre were making the rounds, Shiny Toy Guns rocked the house, and people were definitely having a good time, even with a sweat bead here and there.

  

 

Oh, and did I mention the photobooth?

The Six of us: The Chicago Fashion Incubator Designers 2010!

 The party went on all night long, and even as the crowds finally started to thin, fun and dancing continued!  I love this photo.

 

There was so much more happening at these events, including DJ's, artists, live screen printing, a fantastic local jewlery artist on disply....so if you weren't able to make it you really missed out!  Be sure to grab the latest copy of Chicago Social magazine to get the full highlights!  Thank you so much to everyone involved!!

July Events!

So many places to catch a glimpse of the Dottie's Delights action this month!  First up, we have an amazing event brought you by Chicago Social Magazine: the Don Julio Lofts -- a three day exclusive nightlife spot July 7-9th.  The Grand Opening and Media Event on the 7th, I will be unveiling a special piece inspired by Don Julio's 1942 variety of premium tequila, so you know it will be extra 1942 vintage sexy fun!  The 9th will be a grand fashion show, plus a special guest performance by Shiny Toy Guns and more.  From what I've been told, the 9th is at or near capacity, so call ASAP to see if you can still go if you are interested!!

Please click the flyers for more info on each night!

What about for the West Coasters?  Well, make sure you come out July 11th for the special DVD release party of the Viva Las Vegas 13 fashion show!  If you weren't able to make it out to Vegas for the event in April, or maybe you just want to relive all the fun that you had, this event will feature a fashion show, dinner if you want it (with reservations), live bands, and event filming so make sure you are dressed to impress!  ;) 

Need a little sample to whet your appetite?  Well, say no more:

Finally, for a more intimate experience, we are having a Chicago Fashion Incubator Open House event on July 21st.  Come up and see my studio space, where all the magic happens! 

Photos!

Hello lovelies!

So, while photos are still coming in, CD's are being mailed and set shoots are being edited...I just could not wait any more and decided to post round one sprinkling of the fabulous fun had at Viva Las Vegas this year!  It was my runway debut for the lingerie, nerve-wracking and stressful to say the least, but in the end I am in love with all of the talented and amazing women (and backstage men!)  that helped to pull off such a successful show!  Please remember to click on photos for closer detail.

Special thanks to Rockin Kitty Productions for all of their amazing hard work in putting together such an awesome show! 

Awesome shot of the wings backstage and all of the hubbub!

I had six looks to feature in the show, and I centered each one around a pin-up girl archetype.  I selected each of my models carefully, and drew inspiration from my perceived image each of them gave off.

The segment opened with Miss Erica Vaughn, my "cheescake" pin-up.  I noticed Erica is really great at hamming it up in photos, especially on her extended Myspace portfolio, she makes adorable faces and has a really fun and playful air to her.  Thus, she came out to the song "Comic Strip" by Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot. (I was even able to find a version in English, with the same lovable Pops! and Whiz's!)

[Please excuse the "Canada" found behind the girls on screen, there was a mix-up with production and they mistaken labeled my company as being based in Canada.  As much as I love our dear friends to the north, and represented them well with two of my models residing there, Dottie's Delights is indeed based in Chicago and I must represent my home town!]

Erica was followed by my two "good girls:" Miss Margie Maraschino as the "sophisticate pin-up" and Miss Amanda Lee as the "sweet and innocent pin-up."  Walking to the tune of "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" by Eartha Kitt:

 

Miss Margie Maraschino had a little bit more well-deserved snobbery to her character...after all, look at that fur! (and fine vintage lace detailing):

And dear, sweet Miss Amanda Lee donning the newest addition to my collection, the one-piece shaper corsolette!  (P.S. You must also check out her blog, she is a true vintage aficionado and always has some amazing little ensemble to show off!)

Ah, but the good times can't last forever.  So, the two-shoes are soon rudely interrupted by the bad girls, and an old rockabilly gem called "Skull and Crossbones" by Sparkle Moore!  Enter Miss Michelle Gateaux, the "bad-ass pin-up!"

Yes, she even pulled a cigarette and lighter from her bustier and took a puff on stage.  I hear that there a really awesome shots of this to come....

To back her up, in comes Miss Anna Coquette -- our "fetish pin-up" (yes, character absolutely inspired by the legendary Miss Bettie Page) complete with riding crop in hand, in which she has let's say a "moment" with Michelle before taking center stage:

Ah, at this point you may think the show is over.  But you would be wrong.  How can you end a show without a little bit of pizazz? 

 Enter Miss Jolee Blon, my "diva pin-up" coyly hiding our next creation:

 

Jolee had a beautiful fan dance (the fans are actually hers, she is a professional burlesque performer based out of LA, boy did I luck out on those!) that she taunted everyone with against the background of Mae West's "Love is the Greatest Thing."  But, what is she hiding?

And of course, no show is complete without the final walk-through, including a rare appearance by me (no time to doll-up, but I did manage a polka dottie dress for the occasion) and my insanely talented hair and make-up artist Jessi Pagel (check out the "art direction" section of her website, you won't be sorry!):

A special thank you to all of the photographers who have so kindly documented this event and graciously shared their images with me:

Mike Basso
Mike Boyce
JMVFoto

Also, a big thank you to Daniel Kibblesmith for helping me edit and mash musics together, and for general awesomeness.

P.S. You want a comic a day about a ghost?  He's got it.

http://heyghost.com/1