This year's Omaha Fashion Week March Preview celebrates my one-year anniversary working with the organization. Every show I try to improve things, and I think I was able to accomplish that this time, so I am proud of that.
There are hours and hours of work that go into making every garment for these shows. The clothes are one thing… I know their success or failure is one hundred percent dependent on my creativity, skill, and ability to manage my time. Other things, that are important for the presentation and performance aspect of a runway show, hinge on others’ willingness to donate their time and talents. It is up to me to coordinate all of this and communicate concepts, but I am so thankful to have this help and support.
On to the clothes! For Spring I did simple, easy sundresses with the right amount of my signature handmade trims and fabric embellishments. Every dress in my spring collection is machine washable. Although, I do recommend laundering by hand unless you have a delicate washing machine.
All of the dresses (including linings and fabric embellishments) are made with organic cotton or hemp blended fabric, conventional %100 cotton or vintage fabrics.
The fabric flower bouquets and headbands were made in collaboration with Megan Hunt of Princess Lasertron. I made all of the fabric flowers and she assembled them adding buttons, felt accents, beautiful chiffon puffs and finished the stems in luxurious velvet ribbon. I sourced a thicker, higher quality wire for these bouquets to support their larger that usual proportions. And the extra weight of the fabric flowers.
Megan also made the headbands with felt circles (inspired by my triangle stretch headbands) and other beautiful embellishments like hand embroidery, buttons, vintage jewelry and antique seam tape. You can purchase them at her store until they are sold out! My Mom bought one at the show and can't stop wearing it!
Here are the backstage photos I took of all the looks! <3 Please comment and enjoy. I am planning a photoshoot so you will be able to see the details better, but these will have to do for now.
Easy asymmetrical strap summer dress with matching box pleated trim at neck and hem. Grosgrain ribbon at waist. Unlined. Machine washable.
Shift dress with crossed straps in back. Fabric flower detail on right strap (front only).
Scalloped and pleated trim detail around armhole. Slightly dropped gathered skirt. Fully lined.
Top: Fitted bodice with 2 large flower pins at shoulder.
Last but not least, mulit-talented artist and Dj Seth Warrick of the music group Enso mixed my music for the show. He was so easy to work with during a time of very high stress. I described to him the feeling and mood I wanted to create with the music and he offered me an amazing selection of tracks of which I had no problem picking my two favorite. The best part was how he was able to mix the songs. It was truly unbeleivable to me. I was thrilled that since my collection closed the show, Seth's mix kept playing for the finale. It was a party.
It is remarkable when you think about how much time, planning and preparation goes into a runway show only for it all to be over in an instant. Don't worry it is always worth it! I love putting on the shows and learning ways I can do things better next time. It helps me work harder and dream bigger.
Thank you to Nick and Brook Hudson of Omaha Fashion Week. Thank you to the hundreds of volenteers, models, make-up artists, hair stylists. Thank you to the talented Ellene McClay for helping me backstage. Thank you to my Mom for supporting me, helping me backstage + just being there and believing in me. <3 to all.
What a great post on your process! Thanks for sharing this, I enjoyed it!
Emma this is great! Thank you for sharing - you are such a gem!