Last night at Chalaca Annexo, located near Jack London Square, and Downtown Oakland, at 428 3rd Street, was the first event of several this week, for the 2nd Annual Oakland Fashion Week 2016. I am very grateful to be a part of this event, which is truly history in the making. If you are able, come out and support the hard work of many individuals, particularly the founder of OFW Christal Carthon and Co-Producer, Wayne Clarke. Without the dedication and vision of these two outstanding leaders, we may not have this event that is bringing so many fashion lovers and dreamers together! This year I will be presenting my Spring/Summer 2016 Collection, “Flamingos at the Parthenon” at the Thursday night “Sol Afrik: Ready to Wear” event. In addition, I will be attending all event days, and providing you with an exclusive coverage of each night, and the amazing designs that grace the runway! Last night was a real treat! First… the location! Chalaca Annexo is a beautiful night club decorated in dark red hues, vintage framed posters, and elegant décor. I had the privilege of meeting the owner of Chalaca Annexo, Carlos Anton. Carlos is a friendly, outgoing man, who is extremely hospitable, and welcomed me like family. He showed me around the beautiful venue, and then, to my surprise, took me down a corridor, that entered the restaurant next door, La Furia Chalaca. Carlos owns both locations, and runs it with his family. He started out as a restaurant owner, and then expanded his business by adding the night club next door. He explained that his love of New Orleans, Jazz, and Interior Design, led to his creation of the ambiance in both locations. La Furia Chalaca offers authentic Peruvian Cuisine, and all of the dishes looked amazing! Unfortunately, I was not able to try the tasty dishes, but I am making plans for a date night with my husband as soon as possible! As the program began, Mr. Wayne Clarke introduced the night and thanked all for coming out to support local fashion. Although Oakland Fashion Week is still in its infancy, we truly have a first class team of co-ordinations, photographers, hair and make-up artists, designers, and models! Mr. Clarke told me after the event, that he is really seeing a momentum going this year, that is opening up more possibilities for this event in the future. That’s great to hear! As I first-hand have been able to take part in many of the pre-events of OFW, I myself have made many friendships with fellow designers, models, and so many others who are taking part in this event. I too can feel the bonds of the Oakland Fashion Community growing stronger! Next up to speak was the iconic local designer, Mr. James Head. Mr. Head is a very talented designer, who has a long history of experience and accomplishments. Mr. Head is the creator and designer of MC Hammer’s iconic outfits! His designs have been featured on many magazines, and music videos! He was even the founder of a popular denim company in the 1990’s called SagWear. He is truly a designer before his time! Be sure to check out his designs on the runway this Saturday! Mr. Head told of times when he and fellow designer Mastahn Fanaka (Check out Mr. Fanaka’s Swimwear Collection at the Friday event!), were just beginning 30 years ago, as fashion innovators in the Oakland Community. Truly it is remarkable to see these men helping to grow the future generations of Oakland Fashion! They are both such an inspiration! And now the Featured Fashions! First up on the runway was a presentation by Audrey B. Boutique. Audrey B. Boutique is located at 332 19th Street in Oakland, and is open Tuesday thru Saturday (T-F 11 am-6pm, Sat. 12pm-6pm). Ladies be warned: these garments were so beautiful you may have to spend your entire pay check at this boutique, I know for a fact that I will! Here's one of my favorite looks! Next on the runway was Designer Mario B. Mario told me before the show that he is a professional stylist and this is his first collection as a designer. I must say, you would never know that this was his first showcase, because the designs were polished, and beautiful. Mario B. had both a men’s wear line, as well as a women’s line, which is quite ambitious and impressive. The menswear offered looks constructed in lightweight fabrics, bright bold colors, paired with whimsical scarves, rolled up pants, and fedora hats. The men looked fashion-forward and bold. I could imagine these fellas walking casually down the streets of Havana! Mario B. had several stunning women’s dresses that flowed endlessly around the beautiful female models. All I can say is…WOW! I even overheard a few in the audience exclaiming with excitement that his looks could be used as bridal wear. Indeed! Here is a schedule of the remaining OFW Events: As you can see, each day is packed with amazing presentations of a wide range of fashion styles and designs. I can tell you with certainty, you don’t want to miss any of these events! Thank you for taking the time to read my coverage of Oakland Fashion Week: Day One! Be sure to check out my next blog article tomorrow: “Oakland Fashion Week 2016: Day Two “Fashion Boulevard”! Related Links:
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Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, in an impoverished neighborhood, attending college never seemed like a realistic option for me. My parents only attended a few community college courses prior to my birth, and no one in my family had ever finished a college program. While I was in grade school, education didn’t interest me much, and despite my later proven potential, I was not a kid who excelled in academics or sports, and I had no hope of obtaining a college scholarship. I recall during my high school years, occasionally, various professionals would visit my class and present the details of their career path. I remember one such individual who told the classroom that regardless of the career we might hope to pursue, and even if we receive training or education in preparation for that career, many times, an individual will find that they will have many careers throughout their lives. Someone can change careers due to many factors; job loss, a networking opportunity, or just accepting a job that is available at the time they are searching for employment. I found that interesting, since many people will ask children and young adults, “What would you like to be when you grow up?” As if we only have one choice. Right now, as I write this, I am 33 years old. I have worked many jobs, some longer than others. I have worked as an animal shelter employee, a tele-marketer selling magazine subscriptions, a retail customer service representative, a bank teller, a call center representative, a waitress, a voter register, a hotel front desk receptionist, a dress maker, a fashion designer, a tailor shop administrator, a lip-balm crafter, and an insurance agent! I have even once worked as a construction worker! Traditionally, a woman working on the construction worksite is a rarity. Now-a- days, with the progression of women’s rights, it seems as if there is no job that a man can do that a woman cannot. However, construction work can be very physical, and although there are many strong women, not many seem to enjoy carrying 4x4’s, tools, and climbing roofs. Maybe some do, but I am sure there are not many. In the fall of 2011, I had un-expectantly lost my job at the local credit union, and was offered a position at my father’s construction company. It was a very different work environment from what I had been used to up to that point. My previous job at the credit union was with a team of all women. My new job at the construction work site was on a crew of all men. The jokes were more crude and perverted, but I am not one to easily take offence. I am also certain, that the fella’s held back, due to the fact I was the boss’s daughter. My work duties primarily included administrative paperwork: typing workman’s comp reports, and payroll, as well as keeping an inventory of all of my father’s tools. I cleaned the wallpaper machine, I moved furniture, installed curtains, and carried 4 x 4 beams of wood from one location to another. I got muscle tone. I learned to use some power tools. I re-upholstered benches. During that time, my step-mother surprised me with a gift: a sewing machine and sewing lessons. Wearing my pink construction boots daily, I decided that when the job we were working on, a remodel project of a hotel that my dad had built 10 years prior, was completed, I would enroll in a college program and get training in a field that I enjoyed. I did enjoy learning about construction, and the process of how buildings are constructed. I also loved learning sewing techniques, and how to read commercial patterns. I knew for a certainty that going back to a career in the financial industry was not what I wanted, nor did I want a career in a medical field like many of my college-going peers were pursuing. Eventually, I decided that if there was such a thing as a sewing college out there somewhere, that is where I would enroll. I Googled “Sewing College” and, slap my head, it was called… Fashion Design School! I enrolled, and started my courses immediately. During my year as a construction worker, I took hundreds of photos of the crew and job site. Perhaps because I grew up having very little, or perhaps because I have always loved and appreciated art, I tend to see the artistic beauty in many every day scenes. I appreciate a cool breeze on a hot day, a fresh rose blooming in the rain, and a hot fresh baked pastry. I appreciate the luxurious beauty in simple things; such as the contrast of color and shadow as the sun beams down on an ordinary object. As I would walk briskly around the job site doing this, or doing that, I would see intriguing images that I could not help but snap a picture of. I have sifted through these images and compiled my favorite photos for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy the photos I have taken documenting my experience as a construction worker! Enjoy! Related Links:
My Whirlwind Wedding Engagement: From The Cliff House to Las Vegas, In 4 Months and 3 Dresses!2/2/2016 All photos featured in this blog article are the sole property of Roxanne Rodriguez, if not cited otherwise. Dress #1. May 2015, The Proposal. This past spring, in the spring of 2015, when I was finishing up my senior year of Fashion Design College, I came across some yellow and green fabric in a fabric donation bin, and I used this fabric to create a day dress as one of my final projects for my Pattern Drafting II class. I absolutely love this dress and happily received a high grade on the assignment. The bodice of the dress features a lapel collar, and is made in a yellow and green floral printed fabric. I then used a solid yellow linen fabric for the skirt. The skirt has an exposed lining at the hemline, showing the bright green lining beneath. The dress fits me perfect. Roxanne Rodriguez Day Dress with Lapel Collar As May approached, and my final day of college arrived, Javier and I planned to enjoy a lovely weekend trip to the city of Napa. The two of us left immediately from my last class at my college campus in Sacramento. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and then headed North West to Napa! Javier had already suggested that we would be dressing up that Sunday, so I brought a few dresses, including my new yellow and green dress, in addition to skirts and blouses. Javier and I enjoying a lovely weekend in Napa, California. Wine tasting, bike riding, and dinning! Then as Sunday approached, you can imagine my surprise when Javi told me that he would be taking me to The Cliff House in San Francisco! We left Napa dressed in our finest for an early champagne brunch in San Francisco! The Cliff House, San Francisco An amazing panoramic view, taken by Javier Rangel: myself gazing upon The Cliff House and the Pacific Ocean. I had never been to The Cliff House before this day, nor had I been to this particular area of San Francisco's Land's End before. If you have not visited this area yourself, I highly recommend that you do! If you have been here before, it may be time to visit again!
Interestingly, The Cliff House is rich in history. The original Cliff House building was built at this location in the year of 1863. Tragedy soon struck this dwelling, causing it to become severely damaged in 1887, then becoming destroyed completely due to a chimney fire in 1894. The Cliff House was re-built and became the beautiful massive structure shown in the illustration pictured above. Unfortunately, this building too was soon destroyed by fire in 1907. The Cliff House was re-built, yet again, this time in 1909, and in a similar style to that of the simple original Cliff House building. Today it stands as a very beautiful neo-classical building, situated next to the ancient and decaying Sutro Bath Ruins. Now, back to the romance at hand... Javier and I had been dating for a little over three years at this point, and things were quite serious. I had a feeling that he might propose marriage to me during this particular romantically planned weekend, but I was still very surprised when he actually did! The food at The Cliff House brunch was amazing! The champagne was really good too! A harpist played music while the waves of the Pacific Ocean crashed around just outside the windows overlooking the sea. We had an amazing time... which we always do when with each other... I was feeling the champagne...I think Javi was too... But the endless seafood, water, and coffee was helping dull the effect slightly to a sensation just beyond utter contentment. I excused myself to the restroom, and giggled out of sight. When I returned, Javi proposed! He had the ring placed in the bottom of my champagne glass, and when I noticed, he asked. My solitaire black sapphire ring was so pretty. How could I say or think anything other than yes! We drank more champagne, talked endlessly, and ate more food & desserts, and then we headed happily together down to the Sutro Bath Ruins, and then to the beach! Javier and I enjoy our "Engagement Day" at The Cliff House. Dress #2: July 2015, Our Garlic Love Story. Javier and I began to discuss the date we would plan our wedding to be on. One day, as I was reading some Northern California event news, I came across an advertisement for the Gilroy Garlic Festival Dream Wedding Give-A-Way Contest. The contest advertised a “Dream Wedding Give-A-Way”, in which a winning couple would be chosen to win an all-expense paid wedding ceremony, along with cake, Gilroy Garden tickets, and a year supply of garlic! This contest sounded great, and since we were planning to be married soon, this contest seamed made for us! Javier and I looked up the entry form, and began to get together the requirements needed for our submittal. Although not required, a video was recommended to tell our “Garlic Love Story” to the judges. As we thought about our love story, I thought about making a garlic inspired dress, perhaps for the wedding! Then one of my friends suggested that I make a garlic themed dress for the video filming instead! Why, that’s genius! So that’s what I did! You can watch our “Garlic Love Story” by clicking on this link: Enjoy! Roxanne and Javi during the filming of "The Garlic Love Story". Much to our dismay, it was announced that Javier and I were not even contestants for the Gilroy Garlic Dream Wedding Give-A-Way contest! It was very surprising! We stopped eating garlic for a while, picked our wedding date, and began booking our venue and reservations for a wedding in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada! Dress #3: September 2015, Our Perfect Las Vegas Wedding. Dress #3, is not a dress at all, but a Formal Ball Skirt that I created especially for my wedding. When Javier proposed to me, I knew I would design and create my own wedding dress. As I started brain storming ideas, I continually was drawn to the concept of a formal ball skirt, paired with a charming blouse. Completely untraditional, I selected a gold satin fabric, and then I layered grey netting, for a truly unique look. The skirt features a hand beaded design, all designed, constructed, and sewn by me! However, time began to run out as our wedding day quickly approached. Instead of making my wedding blouse (as planned), I happily found a blouse, beyond perfect, on the sale rack at Wet Seal, just days before our wedding, while in Las Vegas! Getting ready for our big day, at the Wynn Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. My family and I on our way to the chapel, we pause to take a photo in the lovely lobby garden of the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rangel Wedding, A Special Memory Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, Nevada. Bride's hair and make-up by Stevee Danielle Hair and Make Up Salon, Las Vegas, Nevada. Our Wedding Day experience was truly perfect! Everything planned went accordingly. The ceremony was held at the Our Special Memory Wedding Chapel, in Las Vegas, followed by a dinner reception at The Fremont Hotel's Paradise Buffet. We then enjoyed a wonderful honeymoon night at the Wynn Hotel and Casino, before departing to The Grand Canyon! I loved being able to design and create the three outfits that I wore for my wedding and pre-wedding occasions! Creating my own bridal wear allowed me to be the unique, fashionable bride that I wanted to be! If you have any of your own special occasions in the future, contact me regarding your custom outfit! Related Links:
I love creating fashion! I love everything about it. I have a million pieces of clothing in my mind that I would love to make into flesh and bone reality. But Fashion isn’t that simple. Fashion starts with ideas, but then is refined by research. Trend forecasting and then conceptual sketches can really narrow down that dream closet in my mind, and help me focus on what other people, beside myself might enjoy, along with what’s on trend for the upcoming season. After I’ve sketched out my illustrations, and have an idea of the theme I am going for, I get to shop for the fabric and supplies I might need to make my vision a reality. Like most ladies who love fashion, I love to shop! I love looking at a variety of textiles, and like a fine wine with a delicious meal, I love seeing which textile combinations pair well together. Once I have selected my textiles, it is back to the sewing work room for pattern drafting and sample making! All that I have mentioned so far is painstakingly hard work! But when the designs are working, and the pieces are coming to life in a way that is even better than I had originally envisioned, all of those hair pulling moments are long forgotten! And then comes the best part… A Fashion Show! This past summer I had the privilege of showcasing my Fall 2015 Collection in two fashion shows that were held in Sacramento, California. My Fall 2015 Collection, “Purple Moonlight” is my debut collection; the first collection I created since graduating college this past May! Designers Unleashed: A Tribute to Tamisha Ridge On May 16th 2015, The Designer’s Unleashed Fashion Show featured several local fashion designers, and was held to raise awareness about domestic violence in our community. I was first contacted about participating in this event, by a former professor of mine, Mrs. Esther Amato, who had met a man named Dakista Jones and his fiancé, Tyniece Hall, at a recent fashion event. Mr. Jones was planning a fashion show to showcase Ms. Hall’s work, along with other local designers, with a goal to raise funds to assist with domestic violence awareness. The issue of domestic violence was important to the couple, because a woman whom they had known, Tamisha Ridge, a talented young fashion designer herself, was killed by the hands of her boyfriend. It was truly a life that ended too soon, and for what reason? While learning more of Tamisha Ridge, I found that not only did she inspire many people to sew, she did so by creating sewing tutorials that she posted online. This was a great way for Ms. Ridge to teach others, perhaps people who might not be able to attend a formal sewing class, new skills and techniques. Her tutorials are still available for viewing, and are still inspiring people. You can view her tutorials by clicking the link here. While working on the Designers Unleashed Fashion Show, I was pleased to find it was a wonderful networking opportunity in which I was able to meet talented designers, hair and make-up artists, photographers, as well as beautiful talented models. Check out a few back-stage photos: One young lady, who I met, was the runway model, Charis Hill. Charis contacted me a few months after the Designer's Unleashed Fashion Show to see if I was interested in participating in another fashion show: The Soul Incredible Unity Fashion Festive! Soul Incredible Unity Presents: Fashion Festive! On August 30th 2015, I along with several other designers, and artisans presented our work at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom. It was a stunning location. The Fashion designers who featured their collections in this event were a different group of designer’s than the previous show I participated in, and it was really cool seeing so many different design aesthetics. One unique feature about this show, is that it featured contemporary dancers, singers, poets, musicians and even a Hawaiian dance group! It was a lovely night for all in attendance! Behind the Scenes Prior to any fashion show, model casting calls, model fittings, and runway rehearsals are a must! I am immensely grateful for people like Mr. Jones and his team, as well as Mr. Lam Nguyen and the Soul Incredible Unity team, who worked so hard in securing our venue, finding amazing hair and make-up artists, a wonderful modeling coach, photographers, as well as all the other million things that go into making a fashion show a Fashion Show! I am looking forward to presenting my Spring/Summer 2016 Collection soon! See you at the next Fashion Show!! Related Links:
Today, I am taking a trip down Memory Lane, to share with you my experience entering a Rubber Chicken Photo Contest, and surprisingly taking home the coveted Third Place Prize... Although slightly bizarre, this is my Award Winning Photo: I am not a professional photographer, but I love taking photographs. I believe I have an eye for an aesthetically pleasing photo, and have used my skill to photograph my own work, my life, and most recently, as the Creative Director for OFW Art & Style Magazine. I purchased my first camera in 1994, when I was around 12 years old. Back in those days, when digital photography didn't exist (at least to the mainstream public), I was thrilled to have a small camera that used a roll of 110 Film, and had clip on flash bulbs. Do you remember those? Truly a relic of antiquity! Technology sure has advanced at a surprisingly quick rate over the last 24 years. Now, everyone has a camera in their pocket, equipped with high resolution, filters, and different lens options. I heard comedian Dave Chapelle say on TV recently, "Do you remember when people used to say, 'I wish I had a camera!'" No one says that anymore. Murphys, California Living in California, where picturesque landscapes abound, I found myself exploring the local region in my early to mid 20's, when I finally owned a somewhat reliable car... During my road trip travels, I found a fantastic little Gold Rush mountain town, called Murphys. In Murphys, the historic downtown still looks very much like an 1800's frontier town, with wooden storefronts, and a tranquil creek streaming under Main Street through a delightfully peaceful public park. On the outskirts of town, vineyard after vineyard can be found, each with a modestly priced tasting room. If you love wine, as I do, Murphys is a fabulous destination.
Leave me a comment about your thoughts on my article, or on my photo! Have a Remarkable Day!! Related Links:
Looking back in fashion history, it appears that the Tote Bag has been around for as long as human beings began to carry objects. In the times that we live in now, many people are conscious of the use of disposable bags and the negative impact that they cause to the environment. These days, society is shunning plastic, and embracing bags made of fabric. Today, many people use various sized and stylized tote bags to carry the items that they purchase. If you live in the California, as I do, you will know that many counties have outlawed the use of plastic bags altogether. Almost every retailer now offers a re-usable tote bag for sale, or a paper bag, also for sale. If you are like my household, you more than likely have a slew of random re-usable totes thrown in a pile in the kitchen, the car trunk, or in the entryway. However, as a consumer, trend forecaster, and clothing creator, I like to wonder into local boutiques, sewing stores, or spend the day exploring the city… and I would rather carry a tote bag that is fashionable! Over time, I have collected totes that are a little more stylish than the totes that I also have with a retailor or grocery store logo printed so dominantly upon them. While I was in college, one topic that I studied was Textile Design. I loved creating digital art that could be used for screen printing or textile application. Options are endless in this avenue of fashion, and can be extremely fun to create, after learning the daunting features of the computer programs that is! A few years ago, I created a digital art work that I call “Beauty Kills the Beast”. This piece was inspired by one of my favorite love stories of all time: King Kong. I am an animal person, for sure. And as a girl who once had a dog, I can understand the bond that pets and masters have for each other. I feel so bad knowing that that the poor ape, King Kong, was killed so brutally, when he did nothing wrong, but love his human girl. It was tragic! I cry when I watch that film! Since I graduated college this past May, I can now use the time that I have after my full time job, to build my clothing brand and promote my brand at local events, such as fashion shows. This summer I was privileged to showcase my Fall 2015 Collection, “Purple Moonlight’’ in two Sacramento Fashion Shows: The Designer’s Unleashed in May, and The Fashion Festive in August (More on these events in the upcoming blog post: “Behind the scenes: Fashion Shows- Designer’s Unleashed and The Fashion Festive”). As a promotional gift to my models who worked with me during these events, I created a re-usable tote bag of my own featuring the digital artwork that I had created previously, “Beauty Kills the Beast”. I love this image, and it is a nice reflection of the sometimes, odd, quirky, eccentric, pop-arty aspect of my clothing designs. Although my brand primarily offers women’s ready to wear dresses, and custom made clothing, I want to do my part in creating re-usable tote-bags that can be fashionable and fun to carry! I am now offering my “Beauty Kills the Beast” Tote-Bag for sale, right here, through my web-site! If you would like your own hand painted “Beauty Kills the Beast” Tote-Bag, order yours today! Hand Painted Tote Bag Small Size "Beauty Kills the Beast' King Kong Inspired Tote Bag, is hand-painted, and perfect for shopping, carrying books, or tossed in your bike basket. A must have for those that care about our environment and seek to minimize the effects of waste when using none re-usable bags. Made in Northern California! While studying Art History in college, I was continually inspired by art works of the past to create fashion of the future. Today, fashion influenced by art is a familiar concept. The examples of art and fashion in Fashion's Modern History is plentiful. Looking back, Elsa Schiaparelli collaborated with Salvador Dali in 1939, creating several Haute Couture pieces, including her famous Lobster Dress, worn by Wallace Simpson (The Duchess of Windsor). In 1965, Yves St. Laurent created a couture collection inspired by the fine-art work of Piet Mondrian. Recently, popular clothing e-commerce retailer, ModCloth, has created dresses inspired by Vincent VanGogh, with his famous Starry Night Painting printed on the fabric. Examples of Minoan Frescoes As I learned about the ancient Minoan Culture, which was located on the island of Crete, now in modern day Greece, I became inspired by the lovely Minoan Frescoes that were depicted in my history book. The beautiful hues of blue, brown, and gold, alongside stark black and red, were striking and distinctive... The word fresco, is an Italian word that means 'fresh'. The term fresco refers to an art work where the artist has used water based pigment applied to the plaster on a wall while the plaster is still wet. As the plaster dries, the paint that has penetrated the plaster becomes fixed, or bonded to the wall. Frescoes were popular in the ancient world, and were quite common for painting large murals during the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci, used this method while creating The Last Supper, as did Michelangelo while painting the Sistine Chapel. Here are a few examples of Minoan Frescoes that I found to be quite beautiful, and inspiring: Conceptualization
Creating a Minoan Inspired Hand-Painted Skirt Later on, in my college career, I decided to create an article of clothing inspired by the Minoan Fresco of the women, for my final project in Art History Class. For this project we were asked to create something inspired by the Art History we had learned about during the semester. The options were endless. Some students who were working towards a degree in Graphic Design decided to recreate historical artworks through their use of photography, while I myself wanted to re-create an artwork using my education in fashion. I decided instead of creating the Minoan Inspired Swimsuit I had illustrated previously, I would create a Hand-Painted Minoan Inspired Skirt. To create this look, I first assembled the front panels of the skirt, made of canvas, and then, laying the fabric flat, I Hand-Painted the Minoan Inspired design using Fabric Paint. I then layered a sheer aqua blue Organza over the painted canvas to create dynamic dimension. I wanted the final look of the skirt to be just as striking as the Minoan Fresco that had inspired me. Check out the photos I took as I Hand-Painted, free-handedly, my rendition of the Minoan Woman: Here I am wearing the finished skirt during a Student Showcase at my college: Here is a photo of the lovely model, Marisa Johnson wearing my skirt on her trip to Greece! I hope that you enjoyed this Blog Post about my fashion inspiration, and creating a Hand-Painted Minoan Inspired Skirt! I was very pleased with the final result, and have since used the technique of hand-painting motifs on other outfits I have created. I would love to hear your feedback, on my Blog Post, my skirt, or what historical art has inspired you. Leave me a comment below! I look forward to sharing with you more adventures of fashion creation, in my upcoming Blog Articles! Until then... Have a extraordinary day! Related Links:
In 2014, I ventured into a wholesale display store in Sacramento, California called Continental Display, located at 525 Display Way, Sacramento, California. I had heard of this store, that has been in business for well over 35 years, while I was in fashion design college. Although I myself do not own a store front location, as a Fashion Designer, I sometimes may need display materials for Tradeshows, Pop-Ups, or Vender Booths. As I arrived, I was surprised that Continental Display had so many items for sale. Display Cases, Hat Racks, Garment Racks, Shelving, formed huge rows in a warehouse building. I walked through the rows and came to a separate area full of used mannequins. Hundreds of mannequins were pilled on top of one another, or arranged neatly on shelves or on the floor. Mannequin parts were organized by body type. It was all visually jarring. The human-like realness of many of the mannequins gave me an unshakable eerie feeling. Some of the mannequins have very realistic features, and are even decorated in what appears to be professional cosmetic make-up. Some of the mannequins are generic in appearance, with cartoonish faces and blunt hair styles. I couldn't help but see a grim beauty in the composition of these lifeless forms. With camera in hand, I took a few pictures of what I was seeing. I hope you enjoy this bizarre photo collection as much as I do! Thank you for reading my Blog, and viewing my photo collection! Leave me a comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts on my post or on my photos! Have a great day! Related Links:
Last week, my Fiancé, Step-Children, and I, took a day trip from Hayward, and journeyed across the bay, to The Legion of Honor, located on Land’s End in the beautiful city of San Francisco. Although I grew up in the East Bay Area, I relocated to the Central Valley as a teen, limiting my exposure to historical sites of the Bay. I had never visited this museum previously, and was happily surprised to find a tranquil palace atop rolling hills veiled by a curtain of cloud-like fog. The building itself is a large Neo-Classical structure, a three quarter scaled replica of Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris (1788), and was completed in 1924. When walking up to the museum entrance, I felt like I was walking back in time, as a colonnade of large Ionic Columns peered down upon myself and the other lowly human visitors staring up in awe. Although I adore architectural design, the reason for our visit, was not to study the architecture of the building, but to “ooo” and “ahh” over another type of human design… The “High Style” Fashion Exhibit, which had traveled all the way from the East Coast, to make its appearance here, in the West! The Legion of Honor I love visiting museums. I have always enjoyed not only creating art, but admiring the masters of art of times past, for as long as I can remember. My family and I arrived at The Legion of Honor with sketchbooks in hand, eager to draw out any inspiration we might glean from our trip. Before making our way to the "High Style" Exhibit, we leisurely walked through the large rooms of historical paintings, sculpture, and other artifacts currently on display. Check out a few of the photos that I took: One of my favorite exhibits we came to, were the mammoth tapestries on display from The Triumph of the Seven Virtues Series, 1535. They were so intricate in detail, and beautiful in color. I could only image how vibrant the colors would have looked when these tapestries were first woven almost 500 years ago! High Style And now, for the real treat! The "High Style" Exhibit! The “High Style” Exhibit is composed of selected Masterworks from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When I first heard of this exhibit’s arrival, I knew I had to, (absolutely, positively, had to) see it for myself. Can you imagine, my fellow fashion lovers, being in the same room as vintage pieces designed by the masters we have all studied and loved? Worth, Dior, St. Laurent, Schiaparelli, and James, just to name a few! And to think, their gowns were right before me, in pristine condition, decades after their construction! Here are some of the photos I took of this lovely exhibit, along with more in depth information I learned about the some of the designers. The House of Worth Charles Worth is often known as the man who started it all, the “Grandfather of Couture”. When Charles Worth, an Englishmen, started his dressmaking business in Paris, in 1858, he applied innovative concepts and artistic elements to dressmaking that had never been done before. Worth’s clientele were royalty, and other wealthy citizens of the day. The Brooklyn Museum obtained their first dresses that were made by The House of Worth in 1926, and continued to grow in their collection of Worth pieces. What I found most interesting is that Charles Worth, was the first designer for his design house. Following in his footsteps, was his son, Jean-Philippe Worth. Then, in the following generation after Jean-Philippe, was Charles' grandson, Roger. Fascinating how all three generations of Worth's were master couture dress makers. Elsa Schiaparelli Since her debut in 1927, Elsa Schiaparelli, an Italian born designer, captured the imagination of the fashion audience with her bold visual designs and uniquely surreal artistic qualities. Often, her designs include one-of-a-kind embellishments, such as piano shaped buttons, bright metallic threaded embroidery, or unique textile combinations. It is obvious that Elsa loved to push boundaries and create garments that were both functional, one of a kind, and, at times, bizarre. Her love of art, and great talent led to much collaboration with Surrealists artists such as Jean Cocteau, and Salvador Dali. Elsa Schiaparelli extended her talents not only to dress making, but Elsa also designed jewelry, shoes, and hats. Elsa Schiaparelli is one of my personal all-time favorites, and I find that she and myself have similar design aesthetics, as I too enjoy creating garments with bold unique designs and interesting color and textile combinations, as she once did. Designers 1920's-1970 "The Essence of Fashion is Change." While exploring the displays presented in the "High Style' Exhibit, I could see clearly, the change in both silhouettes, use of textiles, and the progression of innovative concepts used by the designers over the course of the century. I loved that many of the costumes were free standing and not in any enclosures, which allowed viewers to lean over and see each stitch and design detail clearly. Following, are pictures that I took, in the museum, of Couture Designer pieces from the 1920's through the 1970's. I hope you gain as much inspiration from this beautiful collection as I did. Enjoy! Charles James Charles James is by far one of the most fascinating designers I have ever viewed the creations of. His construction techniques are awe-inspiring. Interestingly the book, High Style, describes James as "not having had formal dressmaking training, he developed his own methodology based on mathematical, architectural, and sculptural concepts as they related to the human body." I was able to capture a few of his stunning works of art in the following photos: Enjoy! I hope that you enjoyed this article about my recent visit to the Legion of Honor! Be sure to subscribe to my blog by clicking the "RSS Feed" Button to the right-hand side of your screen, under my Author Bio! Works Cited Reeder, Jan G. High Style: Masterworks from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 4th Printing, 2014. Tortora and Eubank. Survey of Historic Costume. Fairchild Brooks Publishing. 4th Printing, 2011. Related Links:
Hello there! Let me start out by introducing myself. I am Roxanne Rodriguez, an emerging Fashion Designer and Tailor Apprentice living in Hayward, California.
Not sure where Hayward is? Why, it is The Heart of The Bay, located in the East San Francisco Bay Area! Although I currently live in Hayward, I previously attended college at the International Academy of Design and Technology, in Sacramento, California. I am a recent graduate of IADT, completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising in May of 2015. Previously, I lived in the Central Valley city of Modesto! I am a full blooded Northern California gal, who loves my beautiful state! The best part about living in Northern California is being able to visit coastal regions, valley regions, as well as mountainous foresty regions, all within a day trip! The multi-cultural melting pot, that can be found in so many of our towns and cities, is awe inspiring! When many people think of American Fashion, they instantly visualize the bustling streets of Manhattan, the sun beamed upon movie stars of Los Angeles, or the Southern Beauties of Atlanta. However, there is a plethora of Fashion in Northern California as well! I strongly feel that there is a new Zeitgeist upon us, with a large fashion scene from Northern California emerging. I hope that you join myself, through my Blog, for everything there is to know about Northern California Fashion, Historical Fashion Facts, Behind the Scenes footage of the Design Studio, and more! |
AuthorHello Readers! Welcome to my Blog! I am Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, a Fashion Designer from Northern California. I love all things Fashion, particularly historical fashion! Join me, as I take you around Northern California, covering fashion events and related topics! Categories
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