What can I say !?!
Kate Moss, THE Kate Moss, coolest supermodel of them all wore a Vintage 1920s silk satin fringed cape from my collection to her birthday party at the Ritz in Paris January 2024.
It doesn't really get more wonderful than this!
This year, started with a visit from a fairy godmother of style in the form of James Brown.
I can't thank Kate and James enough for the sprinkle of magic which has reignited my love of fashion and got my head spinning with inspiration.
Sometimes all you need is a supermodel and a stylist who genuinely know, love and appreciate beautiful clothes to remind you of what you love.
The classiest thing is that they also didn't expect anything for free, paying just as any lovely customer would.
The styling is stunning and so cool, the cape layered over what looks like a vintage 1930s black lace dress. Delicate bodysuit and strappy heels to match those sparkling bracelets. Beautiful.
Happy Birthday Kate! And THANK YOU so much!
Vogue Link Here, my name was mentioned in Vogue ...... eeeek! And Paris Vogue!
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This dress features romantic scenes in a cameo, tied with a bow and surrounded with roses on a lipstick red background. I love the matching belt!
Hollywood stars print with Elizabeth Taylor with illustrated stage scenes in the background and graphic line drawings of studio lights. The layering to this design is wonderful.
The most gorgeous illustration of a seaside town with buildings, shops, boardwalks, boats and seagulls. The style of this drawing is my favourite in the loose 50s brushwork.
It doesn't get more iconic than this! 1950s toy poodles on a full skirt in a lovely textured cotton in black and yellow.
Happy New Year! It's been a while!
Firstly Thank You to anyone reading this and for a wonderful 2023 to all the amazing people who have supported me. I know I said all this on social media, but Thank you so much to each and every person, whether you buy big or small or just like what I do. It means the absolute world to me!
Creatively in 2024 I will be setting myself some goals to bring you extra beautiful things.
I'd like to design and sketch a lot more than I do now. Maybe a 365 project awaits?
Produce gowns that quietly wow me and you, using the fabrics I've been dreaming of using.
Find anything old and sparkly for the vintage collection that makes me excited about fashion all over again. I'll often do a little squeak!
Connect with other like minded creatures who make me want to try harder.
And record these things I make with my hands in great photographs so I can remember how they made me feel.
Personally in 2024, I have a home to decorate (watch this space on soft furnishings).
There's a garden to fill with flowers, in particular roses.
Places to see in the world that will inspire me. Venice just for a few days last year blew my mind!
Spend time not rushing with good friends and family.
Write a bit. Photograph a bit. Learn a lot.
And luckily, I may get to do all this with someone I love.
I'm forever dreaming about what I could possibly do, this year I'd like to open the tiny door in my brain and let all those ideas out into reality.
Hopefully not like some weird ectoplasm!
A new Year awaits and please may it be hopeful and joyful and kind and fun.
]]>I've gone down the dreamy rabbit hole of Barbie whilst the movie anticipation is at fever point. This all reminded me of Sindy and introduced me to the rather wonder Bilt Lilli.
However the Barbie Movie is, I'm super grateful to be inspired with playful fun again! To be serious for a second, Barbie is showing us that there is a need for some joy, some silliness and some escapism in what can be a pretty shitty world right now.
For the past few years I wanted a hero to come and save us from the miserable focus of Brexit, Far right politics, Pandemics and War, someone to bring an epic level of hope. Maybe, just maybe, even for a few hours that hero could be Barbie?
..... And back to my 'Fluffies' shoe clips an AK must have and white Barbie shoes which we have previously coveted.
My Sindy above is wearing Barbies 1973 pink gingham maxi dress which I've styled into a mini. It's cuter. I may have also given Sindy a little foot surgery with my scissors to fit her MASSIVE anatomically correct feet into Barbies shoes!!!!
The Pink gingham mini dress was already in my collection from 2018 but its great to reimagine and restyle. Shop it here.
Looking back through my archives and doing a little Alexandra King googling it appears Barbie has been quite the design angel whispering in my ear over the years. Especially with the Valentines dress, I had no idea there was a 'Loving You' Barbie in 1983 with the same print!
Also influencing are 1992's Totally Hair Barbie with the best Neon print cotton I ever found. And of course the beautiful Indian Barbie in her pink silk Sari. India will always be an inspiration and the handwoven silk for this dress was divine.
This has been a great reminder of my archive and how it needs updating too.
The vintage collection has been pinkfluenced too, what can I say, I love pink. After black its the best colour just before yellow and green and orange!
Take a classic black on white polka dot and an epic tiger print and make them Barbie .... or Bilt Lilli. More on Bilt Lilli here.
My latest colour pop maxi dresses are a small study in the joy of colour. Each a one of a kind as usual and in the ready to wear collection. My friend Spotty Lottie is an expert in this making the most fabulous colour popping prints for kids and adults.
The vintage collection has some bold brights too and I'm loving the rainbow of dresses right now. Take a look here.
The films that bring all the colour and some of my favourites are ......
1. Clueless 1995 - Its everything you could dream of!
2. Funny Face 1957 Audrey Hepburn - also everything you could dream of especially Richard Avedons production design.
3. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1953- Marilyn's pink dress! Those red sequins.
4. La La Land 2016 - the joy was so needed that year
5. Umbrellas of Cherbourg 1964 - influencer of LaLa lands colour palette
6. Sex and the City in particular Season 6 1998 to 2004
7. Grease and Grease 2, 1978 Pink Ladies, Frenchies yellow prom dress, Rizzo's red polkadots .....
8. Barbie 2023 - Please be brilliant!
And not forgetting Mrs Maisel all Seasons all coats! and just as I was typing I remembered Batman Returns 1992. Treats for the eyes.
I'm sure there are so many more colourful fashion films from around the world that I have badly missed? Please do share!
Thank you so much film makers!
Also pictured above the colour pop dresses, an early collection in 2017. I think after LaLa land and the power of the colours. I loved this shoot with the wonderful Kim, Ti and Taylor.
Before we get evening more plastic fantastic, a pause to appreciate all the pinks in nature. Picked just meters away from the studio in the garden. The pink on the geraniums in insanely gorgeous.
Recently I've been buying cheap second hand shoes on eBay. I like to think I'm saving them from landfill but really I'm indulging in the pure joy of trying on shoes and playing dress up. I would encourage anyone to do the same!
This Barbie book by Billy Boy really is the best.
From the best colour pop films for your eyes to the best pop for your ears. The soundtrack to trying on shoes with 80s girl bands The Bangles, The Go-gos, Madonna, Jill Sobule, The B52's, Aqua or Prince or the girls Prince has written for.
The Divinyls', Donna Summer for those disco heels and No Doubt, especially No Doubt!
Spotify playlist here.
Bright colours and black are a neon dream, remember this Liberty Print dress.
And I'll have to save metallics for another month, yes I some fabric I'm eyeing up. Thank you Barbie.
Final Thought .... From the Paul Smith book, 'you can find inspiration anywhere' it really is true. Barbie however is the doll that keeps the imagination fed and after all 'Ideas live forever'. Thank you Ruth Handler x
]]>Three new one of a kind maxi dresses in the beautiful heavy jersey with bishop sleeves and matching belts. Grecian goddesses in colour.
Available in the ready to wear dresses section now.
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This week was about getting my vintage mojo back.
Since my trip away, meeting the fabulous Diana Ashman (pictured above) and rediscovering my love of dresses I have been busy sourcing some pieces that inspire me.
For all the many years I have been searching for vintage fashion, I still get that feeling of what if this is the last, what if it all disappears? Yes its definitely harder to find in good condition but more than ever it's being valued and cared for.
There are so many excellent vintage boutiques out there now, carefully restoring, preserving and documenting these beautiful garments.
My absolute favourite places just to waste away the hours online and dream over are
Willow Hilson
Xtaybay Vintage
Timeless Vixen
Butchwax Vintage
Kerry Taylor Auctions
And don't forget the The V&A fashion collection and Kate Strasdin and Rachel Elspeth Gross
Whilst I was away I found a couple of fabulous vintage boutiques that I shared on my instagram. Well worth the trip to Diana Ashman Antiques in Welshpool (photographed above, the woman was wonderful!) and Bain & Murrin emporium in Hay on Wye. Each packed full of beautiful pieces and no websites so its all just waiting for whoever walks through the door!
Inside Diana Ashmans vintage boutique, packed full of beautiful things.
The delicious shoes on display at Bain and Murrin vintage emporium Hay on Wye.
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Barbie has also been on my mind, a lot. Barbie was only in my life as a child for a short year or so. (I've since realised this was a mix of Sindy too)
My parents were pretty careful with money and toys probably because I was pretty fickle. I'd adored my friends collections and when my birthday came around, a four storey Sindy dream house complete with lift was waiting. Second hand of course and good job too as I think I found it exciting for a few weeks and was on to the next shiny thing. What a brat!
That being said, there was one incident with a white pair of Barbie stilettoes that was a turning point in my life.
No I didn't get them stuck in my ear or nose. They were my friends Barbies shoes and my god did I want these tiny shoes more than anything in the whole world. So much so that I hid them in my hand like I'd stolen a diamond.
I was of course found out. These precious little shoes were not mine and the devastation still haunts me today, I wanted to die! I'm not sure if it was the shame of stealing or that I had to give those perfect white heels back.
I still want the shoes. I still search for the shoes.
And then there were the metallic dresses. I swear to this day there was an advert on TV in the late 80s or early 90s for a Barbie in a blue metallic dress which came with a matching child sized dress too?! I'm not sure if it was true but that idea certainly stayed with me.
Looking through the Billy Boy book I think Barbie might just be inspiration fairy godmother!
The things that inspired me this week are Barbie related. I have been very excited about the upcoming Greta Gerwig film. Amazingly I did get the call from the Barbie Movie costume designers just before production for the pink metallic Victor Costa dress whilst they were filming at Pinewood. Sadly I was in the middle of cancerland as I totally would have dropped everything and made a version for them. Just imagine!, I may have to do this anyway.
I will be working on a Barbie inspired collection in the year to come, It's ok its not in time for the film as I need to think about how its relevant to my own design work and iridescent dresses will be worth the wait!
Below are some of the the things that grabbed my eye this week
The roses have quickly faded in the weather but still so much joy in the garden.
The pink gingham Gigi dress details with hand drown figures.
New illustrations of the pink gingham dresses in the collection.
Three new maxi dresses in canary yellow, hot pink and powder puff blue being added to the collection this week.
Shocking pink silk 1980s Marilyn Monroe style dress coming this week.
1960s beaded dress detail, coming this week.
The iridescent plastic beads on a cheap purse, I just love them.
This fabulous Barbie fashion history book by BillyBoy
Barbies perfect shoe from the Billy Boy book.
The closest I have got to my own Barbie fantasy dress was this pink metallic Victor Costa 1980s ballgown.
My incredibly fickle brain has also just jumped onto the idea of a more zine like newsletter. I wanted to write about what my brain gets up to each month, its literally like a sack of cats all fighting to get their ideas heard, and I thought it would be cool if it was more like pages of my sketchbook.
There is NEVER enough time to do all the ideas in my head!
]]>This blue silk duchess satin, which became the Brier rose dress, was hand painted with soft pink old roses. I loved the way it stood, half slumped in my studio at the time. All that crumpled satin in romantic blue folds.
I'm ready to come back to my work. With the help of a friendly ghost, I'm gently getting excited again and finding new projects. She's bringing me back to the joy of dresses and myself.
]]>The Charlotte Dress
Whitney chose a bespoke made to measure version of the Charlotte dress and added these gorgeous tulle bows to the shoulders. She styled her wedding gown with the most wonderful shoes and birdcage veil. Just stunning.
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Model : Tietia Shotton in the Venus dress. Wells 2017
Happy New Year! Here's a January Blue, with some sparkle.
Introducing the Lapis blue silk tasselled gown. A reimagining of an older design, the Lapis dress has a strapless bodice studded with Swarovski crystals and fine seed beads. The skirt, featuring layers of long fringing is designed to move and what drama it creates when it does. All finished with a neat silk belt.
A one of kind piece added to collection. More info here.
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These metallics were so popular this year at Deadly is the Female. Made in a very small run of midi and maxi dresses with flutter sleeves for the boutique, which Claudia and Scarlett looked gorgeous in.
I held just enough for the fabric back to make one of each design with Old Hollywood style bishop sleeves in metallic gold and silver. And a fringed flutter sleeve maxi version for 30s silver screen look. All with matching buckled belts and sashes.
Each of these are one of a kind gowns, made with a similar cut to ever popular one size fits most Claudia gown for Deadly is the Female.
Available to buy ready to wear here.
The Myrna gown is a one of a kind 1930s inspired design, constructed in a deep red velvet with a beautiful silky drape.
This red velvet had been a remnant in the corner glaring at me to form her into something warm and glamourous. Each piece of fabric in my studio, and there's a lot, has an idea, a form just waiting to be made into. Some have been sat there knowing who they could be for many years and their time will come to made into a beautiful gown soon.
Inspired by early 1930s silver screen Hollywood gowns, imaginingthe legance of Myrna Loy, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford and of course Garbo. The velvet in the deep black toned red, lends its richness to the screen and the hourglass silhouette with dramatic bishop sleeves, draping and a train. I chose to stud the spine and cuffs with dome shaped velvet buttons, punctuating the design with detail. And finished with a matching belt, everything finishes beautifully with a belt.
Style with a corseted waist and velvet heels. Ruby earrings and hair simple, elegant and high.
Now to imagine where the Myrna dress will go.....
Sometimes I get asked for interviews or to participate in magazines, usually I say no and over the past few years with all the distractions I haven't spoken much about my work to anyone else.
When the journalist Bee Bailey sent me a message on Instagram asking for an interview for the local paper, she caught me just at the right time. The following conversation was a pure delight, I hadn't expressed why I did what I do for a while and Bee asked just the right questions to get me fired up again.
Just as I was thinking I might call it day with the dresses (don't worry, this happens a lot!) someone came along to make me feel like Alexandra King the designer again.
Thank you so much to Bee Bailey and The Western Daily Press. Please find below scans of the interview.
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Looking through my archive and revisiting dresses is such a joy at the moment. I'm ready to start on new project designs and collections after an unsettled couple of years and a good way to start is to look at previous work.
I'm very much inspired by looking back and moving forward with new perspective.
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The Autumn dress was made from a vintage piece of silk, woven in large plaid like squares in all the rich brown tones of Autumn. The colours make me think of crunchy bonfire toffee and creamy caramels on frosty nights.
This warm silk piece was used as a whole for the full skirt and bordered with black silk taffeta at the hem and topped with a bodice that cutaway the shoulders. This mash up of 20's, 30's and 50's cuts created the shaping, I love the full skirted dresses of the late twenties, the ballerina length hems and revealing bodices of the thirties. And the clean lines of 1950s elegance also come play in this dress, finished with a large detachable bow at the back for frivolity.
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The Autumn dress is a one of a kind piece available here.
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I was never quite happy with this dress. The bodice had been over worked due to limited amount of fabric and too fussy distracting from the stunning fabric. I love to re-edit when I can.
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The colour is the most electric, fiery burnt orange from the 1950s, with mid century modernist twigs in a heavy brocade designed for curtains. It couldn't be anymore suggestive of October here in the UK, a time of year when the leaves change to rusty hues, harvests of red apples and squashes most notably pumpkins and the change in the air that becomes crisp. Fires start to be lit and festivals take place to celebrate the harvest, death and the near burning of parliament.
I took away some of the distracting ribboning and lightened the bodice. Finishing with extra fine hand rolled straps and a matching belt to cinch the waist and add structure.
Trying it on again, the weight of the skirt almost propels you in a twirl and I really can't get enough of this beautiful colour that will light the dark nights teamed with a soft sweater.
Available to buy the the shop as a one of a kind piece. In house adjustments available.
]]>I fell in love with this Liberty London print a few years ago. Whenever anyone asked for a printed dress we all sent them straight to look at the Liberty collections as you don't get much better.
This is the Archive Lilac in a coral red, a big print featuring lilac flowers in ivory with sage green leaves and this warm fresh red.
The dress was also made a few years ago and for some reason never quite felt finished. I wouldn't show it off as much as the others. I've had time take another look and give this dress the design finishes it needed.
A matching self belt, I just love the buckle and a double asymmetric ruffle hem to add drama, ballerina length and give it more, more!
I love a strapless bodice and understand why some people may not feel comfortable. My bodices always have lots of boning to keep itself up at all times and I love styling these dresses with cropped sweaters over the top or a tight jersey underneath. And everyone's decolletage is so beautiful to show off.
Available in the shop, as with most dresses this is a one of a kind piece. The only one I have made. x
]]>I loved the idea of this sheer red dot in a Claudia gown with extra full sleeves and the illusion of the body through the tulle. So 1930s Hollywood and lots of fun to photograph especially in the red with glossy red lips.
]]>The blue belle dress. The dress I made and I left hospital last year in. The dress that told me I was going to be ok. The dress that made me feel pretty and felt comfortable on my body.
Updated and photographed after my second cancer treatment. I’m going to be ok again.
Dress available ready to wear here with 20% of the sale price donated to Bristol and Weston Hospital Charity.
This is a bit of a scratch the record moment. Please note I am just sharing my personal experience, to help reassure and inform others that might go through this and also for myself. It has nothing to do with dresses!
April 2022
My bowel cancer has returned, I have a local recurrence of invasive adenocarcinoma in my rectum where I haven't healed properly after my initial surgery. I'll be treated with a combination of both Chemo and Radiotherapy at the same time to kill it, then some more surgery.
This is why I am monitored and checked.
Keeping a diary here of what's happening is mainly for myself as it really helps to get this stuff out of my head and deal with it.
My first thought was that I'd failed. That I hadn't looked after my body enough and it came back because I ate a pizza! My logical head knows this isn't true but its how it feels. Like I failed an exam because I didn't try hard enough.
My F**K Cancer banner was made for me by a wonderful friend, thank you!
My previous post about bowel cancer is here.
First and most importantly ...
Bowel Cancer Symptoms
- Blood in or on your poo - take a look!
- A persistent change in bowel habits - know your normal. This change can be diarrhoea or constipation
- Pain or lump in your tummy - I had some sharp indigestion pains
- unexplained weight loss
- persistent bloating and uncomfortableness
- extreme tiredness for no reason
If you see blood in your poo get the the DRs to check straight away.
Resources and support
Bowel Cancer UK
Macmillan
Blood in Stools NHS
Girl Vs Cancer
You me and the Big C Podcast
Cancer Research
Bowel Babe
Jan 2022 How it Started (again) (cancer is so boring!) ....
I'd started feeling a bit extra full after Christmas, as most people do. I'd probably indulged a little, but was still being pretty careful as my stoma reversal surgery had only been at the end of October.
There was a definite prolonged change in bowel habits after Christmas, things slowed down a lot which all seemed normal and then I noticed what looked like a little dark blood and mucus on my poo. I told myself I was overreacting and needed to move on. I had been obsessively checking and thought a lot was in my head. I was really struggling with life after the shock of cancer.
Everything had changed, I had changed and I didn't want to do anything that might bring it back. There was a constant spectre.
My bloods in December were 1, I was all clear. I had been told after the removal of the tumour that it was stage 2 with no spread, no margins, no lymph nodes, no nothing, It was self contained and gone. I was cured. Move on and enjoy your life!
I called my nurse specialist at the hospital in February and she said it all sounded normal but she'd have a word with my consultant to double check about the blood. He said he'd like to check how everything had healed and booked me in for a sigmoidoscopy, but there was nothing to worry about.
The sigmoidoscopy went well, I pooed in my slippers and then on the floor after my enema. Which made my laugh because what can you do when you can't hold onto your enema for 10 mins!
Here I am again, trying so hard to hold onto my enema. I was trying to distract myself with my phone. One second later .....
After cleaning myself up, I had the camera in my bum and there on screen was a little scab around my join in my bowel, at the anastomosis. And some staples which looked like miniature ship wrecks.
In my mind the logical diagnosis was that I'd been a little constipated and one of the staples had been knocked and a scab made which was bleeding. I almost put the words into the consultants mouth. Everything else was squeaky clean but a little inflamed from the constipation,
They took some biopsies as normal and I went away happy that I just needed a little help to get things moving. I had a diet of lots of fruit and veg and so much water and blamed Pizza and camembert for clogging me up!
The results came back all clear ......
And then I had a call
I was speaking to a friend and saw the 'no caller id' flash up on my phone. If you have cancer you always pick up that call. It was my nurse specialist explaining how sorry she was that my name was on the MDT list. My first biopsies had come back clear but a second lot had come back suspicious.
I was called in to see my consultant and the worst went through my head. Everyone was a bit rattled. I was a good news story of catching bowel cancer early and being cured. I so didn't want to disappoint the wonderful hospital team!
Mr.C explained that things looked suspicious, they would run lots of scans and I would most likely need to have some treatment. This just sometimes happens.
There was another sigmoidoscopy with biopsies. I didn't poo in my slippers this time, little wins ;) The scab looked far more healed this time which I thought was great. Maybe it was just healing cells?
Biopsies came back very suspicious again. I was then scanned, MRI, CT and PET scan which was cool being radioactive for a day. A neck ultrasound, bloods and another MRI.
The PET scan is so cool as you can scroll through the inside of your body. The bright dots (on the right image) are my bladder (all ok) and at the bottom the tumour. So tiny yet so horrible.
I then met Tom the oncologist. After discussing in the MDT (multi disciplinary team) meeting of consultants, Drs, specialists, oncologists, radiographers, pathologists, nurses etc. with all the evidence they had, it was concluded that this was invasive cancer recurrence and I needed Chemo and Radiotherapy.
Many people have asked about a second opinion. I have of course asked a million times 'are you sure? I feel super healthy' I had 50 second opinions, that's how the NHS works and I am so incredibly grateful of this.
My husband and I had 24 hours to decide if we wanted to make and freeze embryos. This put my privilege of never wanting children into perspective and though we thought it over, it was a no.
We couldn't take the space of someone who had always wanted children and I wanted to start treatment as quickly as possible.
This will be one of the most awful parts of cancer diagnosis for people under 50 and it was good to know there was lots of support.
Olivia's Got Guts has shared her story of bowel cancer, treatment, fertility and surrogacy.
This is an incredibly important decision to make, the NHS offer egg, sperm and embryo freezing for cancer patients.
So, I will also have an early medical menopause as the radiotherapy to my pelvis will make me infertile. Yay no more periods! - really trying to find the positives.
I'm going to be out of work for a bit, mainly as I'll be driving to my Radiotherapy every day for 5 weeks.
My Radiotherapy Planning Scan
Walking into the oncology centre in Bristol for my planning scan was hard. I went on my own and couldn't help feeling it was all wrong. I'd been for a run that morning and had put on weight. I can't be ill. I feel too good.
I sat in the waiting room, it was all people over 65 and then a child came through. I stopped feeling sorry for myself.
There's a process of downing a bottle of water to fill your bladder, then telling reception and then getting your radiotherapy timed when your bladder is fullest to push your intestines out of the way of the rays. I then will lie on the bed, naked from the waist down and they will blast this f****r away daily.
I have three new tattoos too. One dot of each hip and one in the middle just above my pubes to line up the machine. We thought it would have been funnier if they gave you miniature dolphins.
I'm going to keep a diary and share how it all goes from here. My life is far more than cancer, its dresses, but if this helps just one person get an early diagnosis, feel less embarrassed and get rid of the arsehole that is cancer, then its worth it.
Talking of embarrassing. My cancer is bowel cancer, right down in my rectum. Rectal cancer. I'm saying it out loud and I'm proud to be beating it.
May 2022
Currently typing this after taking Moviprep for my colonoscopy tomorrow. Something showed up on my PET scan and it'll be good to check the whole bowel.
For the record Moviprep is like drinking 2 litres of cheap orange squash flavoured spunk. Picolax is way easier.
Leopard Crepe Flutter Sleeve Tea Dress
Navy Rose Print Chiffon Flutter Sleeve Tea Dress
Navy Polka Dot Chiffon Flutter Sleeve Tea Dress
Painted Floral Crepe Flutter Tea Dress
Painted Floral Crepe Bishop Sleeve Gown
Leopard Print Jersey gown with bishop sleeves
Red Leopard Wiggle Dress
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1910s - Key to my Heart Coat - inspired by Paul Poiret's coats of 1916
1910s too - Valentine Ensemble inspired by Paul Poiret's Sorbet dress
1920s - Champagne Hearts - ruffled tulle dress with hearts. Chest heart inspired by Sophie Fedorovich costume designer.
1930s - Love Spiral Dress - Bias cut silk gown with printed and beaded hearts
1940s - Hidden Hearts Dress - Black tulle gown with illusion neckline and heart motifs
1950s - Candy Love Dress - pink printed silk asymmetric dress with full skirt.
1960s - Mini Hearts Dress - appliqued panel cut mini dress inspired by Pierre Cardin heart dress
1970s - Floaty Love Dress - Block printed muslin dress with hearts and flowers
1980s - Pretty Love Dress - Red velvet mini dress with heart bust and sequin jacket. Inspired by Pretty Woman and would look amazing on Cher.
1990s - Grungy Love Ensemble - Mesh heart vest and layered skirt with white vest and rhinestone straps. Worn with Converse high tops. Inspired by Grunge and Gwen Stefani.
Y2K 2000s - AK Love Dress - Pink satin logo printed bias cut dress with lilac faux fur stole.
2020s - Love is Love dress - Fringed full skirted dress with colour changing hearts. (ready for insta)
I love designing, coming up with ideas and being inspired again. Also realised how old I was when it came to 1990s and Y2K as these designs were a struggle to define. There was so much inspiration to choose from with each decade but like today, no era is defined by just one look. These are just some of my favourites.
Wish I had the time to make these all a reality. Happy Valentines.
Moving from Winter to Valentines, this is a capsule collection of sumptuous velvet gowns, champagne sequins and sheer veils of red polka dots.
The red polka dot gown I was most excited about, its so wonderfully Deadly.
Available now at Deadly is the Female here. Each dress made at my studio in Somerset and are limited in number.
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Wishing everyone very Happy and peaceful Holidays. Thank you so much for all your support this year!
And a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone working in the NHS for being the brilliant, beautiful people they are and saving lives.
Stay safe, be kind, be indulgent and lets make the most of whatever 2022 brings. xxx
I'll be on holiday till the 4th January when all orders will be posted out.
Sketch above by Alexandra King of the Fairy Nurses. Disney really needs to make a film about magical nurses, doctors and nhs workers. It would be a real fairytale!
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Sketch for the polka dot pom pom mini dress. Rainbow pom poms, black velvet, sustainable upcycling and my idea for this little black dress. I just love how neon all colours look against black velvet.
Also reminds me a little of motion capture outfits, maybe this will work in the metaverse too!
Click the photos for more info.
My thoughts on sustainable fashion today.
I just listened to a segment on radio 4 about sequins and the fashion indusrty needing to reduce by 60%. I think they meant cutting production by 60% not jobs?! Hopefully!
The above is a vintage dress upcycled with polka-dot pom poms. I'm a very small designer producing a handful of garments a year. All designed and made to last a life time.
And I still feel guilty for making more dresses!
Upcycling is part of it, but not just for the sake of ticking a green box. At the end of the day a good design can last 100 years and more, in any materials. Today there was 'sequin bashing' tomorrow someone will stress about zips. Whatever the price, just don't consume SO much. Keep that dress in the wardrobe or let someone else wear it and never, ever throw clothes in the bin. Someone had to make it!
Garment workers need to be paid a fair sustainable wage in a safe working environment, fast fashion companies need to produce less and charge more. The days of undervaluing everything need to end. £5 for a new dress is as bad as £5 for sex work. Humans are worth more than that! We need to by less and get better at styling. And second hand is a great way to shop on any budget.
My thoughts on my work today!
Recovery has been a little slower and different from the first op. The 'after' part is harder than being in the whirlwind that is cancer treatment. Survival mode most definitely kicked in and I was motivated, productive and keeping my mind off the terror.
But afterwards when they say you're fine, 'go get on with your life', its like standing on the edge of space with a universe of wonderful possibilities ahead, but all I really want to do is climb back under the duvet because I'm all out of enthusiasm.
Why am I so much better in a drama!?
Maybe I can create a little drama, a design drama, a creative jeopardy, a dress peril. Maybe if I don't sketch an idea I'll explode like the bus in speed? More likely I'll quietly wither away in a boring fashion.
I need to ask myself the question 'what if I don't do this work I dreamt of doing since the age of 11?' I'm in the most extreme form of procrastination and have been for a while. Always terrified to do my own work. But I've gone through far scarier stuff, this is just dresses and no one's even looking anyway. They're all looking at dogs chasing their tails or Britney Spears, doing the same.
The saddest thing will be to die and have never tried to create these things in my head.
Every day I say, sketch something. Every day I don't. Well today I did.
Little ramble over.
]]>So this year, like last year isn't quite the normal way of working. I didn't really expect to do much collection wise after surgery in June, but I am incredibly grateful to have recovered well enough to produce a small collection of my favourite Claudia gowns in some gorgeous variations.
There is still a few surprises to come but this was the core of Autumn Winter 2021 in glorious rich jewel tones, amber, amethyst, emerald, garnet and gold.
Yes that pumpkin amber velvet is incredible!
All dresses were limited edition and available exclusively at Deadly is the Female, Frome.