The Question From The Larger Ladies

Finally, Im getting some of these up on etsy! I sold most of them at Tribal Fest and after I got back - Ive got a few back orders to fill and then I can start making these and variations of them. They are awfully cute! They go well over pants and longer skirts. They even look great as is!

I like having things that I sell be versatile. I like that you can mix and match and dress it up or dress it down. Sometimes you can wear it as a costume and the next day as a sumpthin to run around town in.

Now, I have been asked why I dont make things for the bigger girls. Well, I do. In fact, Ive been making custom wear for plus sizes for years! Bridal, dance, fashion - you name it - Ive made the plus sized ladies look glamorous indeed! But the problem is this: I can only buy a certain amount of fabric at any given time. And it usually isnt a whole lot of yardage. So I have to decide what to make out of it and how to make it g o the farthest. Lets face it - plus sizes take up more yardage and I have to spend more money to change the pattern. The reason you see mostly dumpy clothing for plus size women in say, Ross, is because the patterns are graded up from little people. That just doesnt work. Plus sizes have a whole set of rounder dimensions and if you want something from a size 4 to look good in a size 18, you have to have a whole new pattern. If you want it to look good on you, it simply has to be a different garment altogether. Some may disagree with me on this, but this has been my experiance. I have made both big and little garments for both men and women. Its just more efficient and cost effective to make a few sizes and specialize in them.

Also, I HAVE made belly dance costuming for some of the larger ladies, but I dont often get pics - just like I dont often get pics of my bridal creations. And I dont have the time or energy to hunt these people down.

So if you are a larger sized person, I can make you look amazing. But it cant cost the same as regular sizing. It will always cost more and there isnt much I can do about it. It isnt fair, I know.

model and photo: Kristine Adams
www.kristineadams.com


kc.costumecouture@gamil.com

Tribal Fun At Tribal Fest 9

Wow! Tribal Fest was intense and amazing!

5 days - count em: 5 days of shopping!
For each day there, I had to take a day off after. Vending is very hard work and not for the faint of heart!

I sewed every single thing by myself this time. Crazy, but I just find nobody can do it as well as I do yet. I'll find that person one day, but I didnt want to take chances so close to due date. I really only had two weeks to prep. This isnt much time AT ALL!

Its Always fun to catch up when you get there and get set up.- and hanging out and vending with the Salome's Suitcase gang was a blast........ I think I can safely say that we all had a good time and there are lots of crazy stories to tell one day if I have a moment! I have posted lots of photos on myspace and tribe. Christina of Black Lotus Clothing has the best photos of all on myspace - so check em out!


Now its back to the getting orders out again. Back to normal for now - whatever that it!


Sandi Ball of Hi Beam Bindis

Collective Merchandising!

Katherine Summer

Medina Maitreya

Lee Kobus of Foolproof Studio

Christina of Black Lotus Clothing

Rachel of Minerva's Antennae

Photos: kathleen Crowley and Christina - Black Lotus Clothing(the nicer photos!)

Kc.costumecouture@gmail.com

pretty things at Tribal Fest!

Ive made over 30 pairs of pants. Yikes. Im fried.

I'll have some really pretty things at Tribal Fest! You should come by!

kc.costumecouture@yahoo.com

Pallete For Spring

I had the craziest dream last night. I went to a fashion party with my friend Chris. I was supposed to present a sample of my work. Because I never have time to make anything that stays in the shop, I made a little cake out of things I WOULD LIKE TO USE and colors that are on my mind right now. It was like a potpourri of whats hanging around in jars and bags and scraps I have stuffed in corners.

Someone sat on my cake and ruined it. So I had to quickly use what was left and create something new and unique. I just couldn't come up with anything quickly and everyone was growing very impatient. I was taking forever. I knew I was working from a place of extreme stress and behaving irrationally. Even Chris was getting mad at me. Steven Meisel was supposed to photograph this display and was disgusted with my unprofessional ism and ready to bail. But in true NOT NY fashion, they let me come up with SOMETHING. So I just started grabbing whatever I could find that caught my eye and made a display on the table in my hodge podge style. It did have a color theme which I thought was pleasing to the eye, but it didn't really make sense. Some fashion world big wig was telling me to get the hell out of there and Steven was growing very irate. I was filled with anxiety, yet I continued on. When I was satisfied I told Mr. Meisel that he could shoot. He refused and said it was crap or something like that and I said said, shoot, you moron. Everyone did the gasp of horror. And he looked me in the eye and I said "Its the pallet for spring." So he shot the best photo of his life.

Just a little anxiety there and I did talk to Chris last night about the drama in NY at the moment. So of course, I'm playing out a Project Runway theme in my dream. And I am a Little under the gun right now. I just don't remember my dreams much these days, and since it has to do with the fashion world and trends, I thought Id share!

And no.......I'm not sharing the next "pallet for spring"! That's for me to know and you to find out!
XXX

Tribal Fest 2009

Tribal Fest is almost here and I'm sewing frantically like a crazy woman! I'll have lots of Sampants and some skirts. Hopefully I can get some fluffie things - I'll have my fluffie bloomers for sure! I'll have some sleevelets and bum ruffles. I'll even bring some cholis and regular (ish) pantaloons.

And it will be super fun as I'm sharing a booth with Salome's Suitcase! All these amazing talents under one tent roof!!!!!! Or I should say under 2 roofs as those of us going will be parked next to Black Lotus Clothing. Oh, it will be wonderful to say the least! Only a couple of us will not be attending. And Minerva's Antennae will be there, but I forgot who she is sharing a booth with. I'll post it when I remember.

Back to sewing I go!
kc.costumecouture @gmail.com

Tribal Fest
Sebastopol Community Center
Sebastopol, Ca.

May 13-17th.

Come early for the good stuff! Its gonna go fast!!!!!!

Salome's Suitcase!

I am so please to announced our newly formed design collective called Salome's Suitcase!

For the moment, we have a new tribe (on tribe) where you can go and see who we all are and what we are all doing. You can keep up with where we will all be vending! (although I think most of are getting ready to vend at Tribal Fest on May 13th!)

Our customers range from the world famous, to the aspiring, but as Sandi of HiBeam Bindis said so eloquently: "you are all super stars to us!"

Each one of us has been at the forefront of design, bringing our vision into the public, starting and propelling trends that inspire many!

I am honored and feel blessed to be included among such a group of highly talented designers and artisans.

KathleenCrowleyCostumeCouture
Katherine Summer
Black Lotus Clothing
HiBeam Bindis
Medina Maitreya
Yasmine Yildiz
Minerva's Antennae
Rosehips

kc.costumecouture