Oh man, if you read my last post you know that my vacation was more of a workcation, as I traveled 800 miles back to my hometown for my bestie's wedding! I had the most wonderful time, and got to celebrate my best friend's big day, I also had the honor of making her dress, which was worth the time crunch.
This week I thought we'd talk about the 2nd fashion show I ever participated in, this was before I went to school, before I'd had any formal training, and before I made my own patterns. I believe is was 2012, possibly 2011, if you've heard of RAW Artists I did this show way back when they were grass roots and still figuring it out. (Incidentlly I also participated in a show last year wow was that nostalgic!) It was not long after this they closed down their Sacramento venue although I hear they opened it up recently, and I'm thinking of maybe showing there, NorCal is my second home and all.
First, I'm going to apologize for all the blurry pictures. This weeks photo's really got away from me as I was in a total rush! There was a lot of work for me at the Alteration shop Sew-Fit (1838A North Tustin Ave, Orange, CA) I work there, and my workcation to Yuba City left a stack for me here in Orange.
This dress was not only the last to walk down the runway at the RAW Showcase entitled "Unearthed" It was also the last garment I made for that show. I had originally made this really cute dark blue dress out of a peachskin, but it was too small for my model's so I had to do something different. I didn't have anything floor length so I decided to whip something up.
Okay so I wasn't much of a whipper back then. Not at all really, I was still just learning how to put things together, and my idea of designing was flipping through patterns at Joann's. Well I settled on Vogue V8358 because it said very easy and I needed something easy.
Suggested fabrics is a stretch knit, but did I use one, no course not. I made it out of a Polyester Satin from Joann's Casa Collection, which meant the pattern did have to be modified a little, and a zipper needed to be added. All of which I did. It has a facing, no lining and I pinked the seams because this was before I had a serger and that was the only finishing technique I knew at the time (I know so many now lol)
I think the dress is a beautiful cut, but I really wanted to add something on account of how plain it was once I'd finished it. I went to my box of applique's and picked out a few. But they were white and I needed blue, so I bought some dye and tried my hand at it. First time dying anything I think it came out fine, it's funny whenever I look at this dress I think about how simple and effortless it feels. Although I know at the time it was neither of those things. This dress really stressed me out, that's probably why I've had it hidden away all these years lol.
Okay so I know you'll want to know about my experience with RAW. First off this was like 7 or 8 years ago and is no way a reflection on how they are today. I having worked with them recently and am a proud member of RAW. With that said I had a horrible experience at that Sacramento showcase. Everything went wrong, first I was supposed to have a hair and makeup artist working with me, but last minute I found out that she was doing her own thing and couldn't do my models which meant I needed to hire my own hair and makeup artist. Luckily Andrea Johnson of Beauty by Andrea was a good friend of mine and not the celeb she is now, and did all of my models for free!
I also had my wallet, phone, and camera stolen at this event while I was walking on stage with my models at the end of the show, which resulted in me A. being kicked out of the club (I was kicked out of my own fashion show that I had paid for) to which I vowed never to set foot in Harlows ever again a vow I have kept to this day. And B. I have had my bank account hacked at least twice a year, sometimes more due to having my wallet stolen. Talk about annoying. I also didn't get an interview, which I had been promised, and the people who were my contacts for the whole thing totally fell off the map and never gave me a copy of anything. Luckily the photographer Reese Brindisi (who was amazing to work with I highly recommend) was able to get a hold of me and gave me a copy of all the photos otherwise I would have walked away with nothing, not even proof of having been there.
I mean if your interested I did manage to find this video from that showcase fast forward to 1:52 to see my work! A lot of things have changed since that experience and like I said I am currently a member of the RAW community.
This dress is really one of those that just kinda got lost in my closet, I've never done anything with it besides bring it along every time I move lol. I did pull it out last year for my kids fashion show, as a filler to the event. This is the first photoshoot I've ever done with it ( just my luck the pics would be blurry :p )
As always photo shoot at the bottom and if your enjoying this go ahead and comment! Also check out my Instagram @MadsenCreations and Facebook: Madsen Creations by Rachel Madsen. You can also peruse my sop if the mood strikes you!