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! 

Barbie Suite with Masuimi Max? Yes, please!

 

Yippee!  Round one of the Barbie Suite photos are here!  I was fortunate enough to work once again with Mitzi & Co. photography, this time with the adorably charming Masuimi Max modeling, looking as bombshell-tastic as ever.  Of course I was already super excited to be working with such fabulously talented women, but I was even more pleasantly surprised to find out how sweet and goofy Masuimi is, as well as the entire crew and everyone else invovled!  So fun!  You can check out more photos on the Dottie's Delights fan page, or the complete set on Masuimi's official website iamtrouble.com  Enjoy! ;)

Fun!

So, I think the warm weather is finally starting to stick in Chicago (knock on wood!), we've had some really beautiful ones lately.  Surely puts me in a pleasant mood!  Today in the studio, I am getting mandatory headshots and cute CFI group photos (eep) as well as going over a a quickbooks tutorial (double eep!)  I am a major blinker when it comes to studio shoots, so hopefully I don't spoil it for everyone!  ;)

Speaking of photo shoots, the images from the Barbie Suite shoot are just about ready, I will be so excited to post them!  Soon, very soon!  (very small behind the scenes preview?)

I would also like to announce that I will officially be at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas June 2-7!  I will be vending there, so if you were at the fashion show in Vegas and were bummed that you weren't able to find me afterwards, this is your chance!  I will be taking orders for custom lingerie with a wide variety of options to choose from, but I also promise to make the process simple, hassle-free, and most importantly fun!  There will be plenty of samples to try on, play with, and get your imaginiation pumping.  And if a sample piece happens to be exactly what you are looking for and your exact size, you will be more than able to take that piece home with you at the end of the weekend! 

Selling along side me will be a good friend, and exquisite jewelry designer Madeline Maciag of Peitit Rococo!  Her jewelery is romantic, ultra feminine, and sophisticated...I think we will be a lovely team for all of your girlish needs, and I hope you can stop by to say hello!  :) 

And FYI, for the most up-to-date information regarding The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend, please add their facebook page, it is definitely the easiet way to be in the know! 

Oh, shoot!  And speaking of facebook pages, Dottie's Delights now has a fan page of her very own!  Boy, this blog entry has turned into way more updates than I realized, I sure am busy!  Please, pretty please, make sure to follow us by pushing the like button here!  Best friends forever!

And finally, I will be in attendance at the Hunnert Car Heads-Up this weekend, just hanging out and watching really pretty traditional hot rod drag racing, so excited!  I will see you there!  :)

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

Phew! I survived Viva Las Vegas 13!

My goodness gracious!  Viva was a trip and a half, indeed!  I had such a blast, I cannot say thank you enough to all of the amazing people that I worked with and met over the weekend!  Photos are starting to trickle in slowly, but I want more, more!  I don't actually  have a camera myself, so I am relying on all of the seemingly endless photos that were taken throughout the weekend.  If you have any photos of me or my clothing designs either from the fashion show or otherwise, please send them my way!  I am holding out on posting until I receive a few more back, so stay tuned!  And if you have any feedback about what you saw, liked, didn't like I would loove to hear it, no matter what it is!

It is times like these that I really do wish the website was up and running, but one step at a time kiddos!  Remember, the official collection will not be debuting until Spring 2011, so until then it is custom lingerie only!  Not a bad deal, though, considering that means the options and opportunities are pretty much endless!  And my prices are more than fair considering all the detail and quality that I put into every piece.

OK, OK, twist my arm!  ONE preview photo, taken backstage at the fashion show, courtesy of the lovely Anna Coquette:

 (that's me in the center and my AMAZING hair and make-up artist, Jessi Pagel, to my right.)  Models, in order from left to right: Miss Amanda Lee, Margie Maraschino, Anna Coquette, Erica Vaughn, Michelle, Gateaux, and Jolee Blon)  Features on each one of these amazing women, coming soon!

Vegas Barbie Shoot!

Another really cool event I will be participating while at Viva Las Vegas: The Ultimate Photo Shoot Experience with Mitzi & Co.!  They have the amazing Barbie Suite at the Palms, and are booking appointments for Friday, April 2nd and Sunday April 4th!  Behold all of the glory:

 

  

  

Can you imagine all the fantasticness that Mitzi will be able to produce in this setting?  I think I will go into sensory overload here.  Not only do you receive the best set of photos you've ever taken, you are also pampered to the extreme -- a CUSTOM MADE Barbie-style outfit (made by yours truly, or several other designers if you're not feeling in a lingerie mood), yours to KEEP!  As well as perfect pin-up hair and make-up by Miss Rockwell DeVil and Chris Colucci, several wardrobe changes with plenty of stock to choose from, food and beverages, and a Mitzi & Co. goodie bag full of delightfulness!  You will never feel more glamorous.  I believe there are still a few spots open, but they may already be fully booked, so if you are interested you'd better move fast and see if she can squeeze you in!  :)

Take one guess as to which outfit I am most excited to be contributing to this extravaganza.....(answers and photos to be included following the event)

You should also look for her on Myspace for the most up to minute updates!

Viva Las Vegas!

Hey All!

I'm so excited to finally announce one of my big upcoming events!  I will be one of the designers showing at the Viva Las Vegas fashion show this year!  Viva Las Vegas is the biggest rockabilly event in the world, it's a huge fun weekend of music, car shows, burlesque and fashion. It will be taking place April 1-4th at the Orleans Hotel and Casino, with Wanda Jackson and Chuck Berry headlining this year!  Check out all the fun and festivities at www.vivalasvegas.net.  Everyone should come and party with me, it's going to be a blast!