WHEN A DRESS FITS....Wear It!

Mr. and Mrs. Nthoba

2013 was an interesting year in regards to my business and clients I had. I had two different extremes of clients. I had easy clients and difficult ones. The highlight of ending my year was a 17 year old who had no understanding that fabric shops in South Africa do not have the same fabric as overseas fabric shops and the different fabrics will never make the dress flow the same way as the one in the picture. I went to 4 different fabric places (Oriental Plaza, Chamdor, Lenasia and Jozi CBD) to find the closest fabric to hers. She did not even believe me that shops don't stock all colours anyone dreams of.


She came for her first fitting and did not like the dress fabric so I went on a journey to find another one and by God's grace I found it. I asked her sister who was paying for the dress to accompany her but she could not come. To cut a long story short she came alone, fitted the dress, said nothing to me but sent her older sister a text. She said nothing on the way I went to drop her off by her taxis stop. Istead her sister called me. After spending all the money I did, doing all I could to make a teenage girl happy, I cancelled the order and refunded her sister the money. I figured my health is much important in this instance and here I was taking my family time to make a dress which at the end costing more than I quoted the clients. Her sister understood very well I did not do this out of anger or bad service she understood her baby sister was impossible to please.


Well thanks to the young girl I had a dress for a friend's wedding since I am the same size as her (client) and I never found time to make an outfit for myself for that wedding . I have never liked royal blue colour ever but wow I loved how it looked on me. As the word of God goes: "All things work together for good for those that love God", despite the time and money I spent to put this dress together it was not a loss after all and I really looked good on that day with my red bag and matching red shoes. I even received over a 100 likes on Facebook and got an order for the same dress. My beloved hubby even bought a royal blue and white shirt and navy blue suit to match my couturegeous royal blue dress.

In My Husband's Loving Arms

The Newly Weds, Mr. and Mrs. Jiyana

AFRICAN PRINCESS DISCOVERED BY FOREVERFAITH COUTURE

I have grown to know that you do not really know a person until you get to dress them or rather have them in your closest circles of acquintances or friends. 

How I run my business is that I prefer building lifetime relationships than just necessarily having once off high priced sales of my products and services.

Well, here's the story of an an African Princess I have gotten an opportunity to know and dress. Her name is Nyiko Khoza. a beautiful Nubian Princess who goes by many African icons' names on her BBM (Blackberry messenger) and Miz Coza on Facebook (Ai sorry if I blew your cover). Why I call her an African or Nubian Princess? Well apart from her beautiful chocolate skin and dreadlocks this one proudly South African woman. However what makes her African is her values and character she upholds. I got to know her mother before I even met her because Nyiko had already represented her in her good manners and people-oriented character.

Check out Nyiko's blog: www.nyikospeaks.blogspot.com

Nyiko is so polite and the most happy client I have ever met. Well I am blessed with clients who are always happy and satisfied. It is just that I was astounded by when she placed an order for the first time she ordered 3 African-inspired dresses all at once and got excited with everyone of them. Just a month later she brought her mom as a new ForeverFaith Couture client and her mom was exactly as I imagined her (as friendly and full of love like Nyiko). .

By the way, Nyiko and I serve in the same ministry as teachers at our churh which is Children's Church Ministry. I first met her when I was a visiting her class. She was the first to arrive at my Pre-Marriage Ladies Bring and Share Gathering (way better than a bridal shower) and she was the funniest of them all.

See below Nyiko's dresses she ordered for The African Day on one of her out in Africa visits and work.

Nyiko In her ForeverFaith Couture

Nyiko dressed to "woww!"

Nyiko at a friend's Wedding

Nyiko with the bride,Gugu (centre) and a friend

 

Because my childhood dream was to be a model and be featured in magazines, I have a tendency to try on the clients' dresses that fit me and pose for the cameraman (my hubby) who never gets tired of snapping at me, I got into Nyiko's beatiful dresses as well....*hides*

 Wondering where is the third dress? Well Nyiko has not sent me her picture wearing it so I can't post my picture in it. I must say those dresses looked good on her. I appreciate her trusting me to dress her. As you should know by now, ForeverFaith Couture dresses are "Designed To Fit You".


                                            ForeverFaith Couture
                                         "Designed To Fit You"
 

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS SOAKED IN CHAMPAIGNE

Champaigne... I know that just caught your attention. You were probably already thinking you too will start popping bottles since the saved Fashion Designer is now condoning alcohol-drinking. No dear, come back and renew your mind. Alcohol and Faith do not mix.  I am referring to the colour of the dresses I made for a beautiful Phumzile's (now Phumzile Ximba) bridesmaids; Mpho, Refilwe, Jabulile and Lucia. Yes I know there is non-alcoholic champaigne but it is called something else. Let us talk dresses now.

Phumzile was referred to me by my other client from where she comes from in Kwa-Thema. (My God brings people from far places to drive to and fro for my service. All glory to Him) Her husband Themba is actually the one who made the first contact via email and brought her for our first meeting. I was inspired by the love and excitement in this Godly couple. Phumzile showed the kind of dresses she wants me to make for her bridesmaids and the sample of the fabric.

It was quite  mission finding the exact colour as I had to go to a couple of fabric retailers to find it and finally found the fabric on my fourth trip. It was quite pricy and I had to buy the whole remaining fabric of the full roll so in case I have to change anything or run out I do not have to go back to the shop. Fabrics look the same from different rolls even if it is the same fbric and colour. The shade can be different. I also had to buy the chiffon for the over dress as per her design and this is well was pricy because it was not the dull-looking R30/m chiffon.

The dresses also required diamante motifs on the belts. Real diamantes were quite expensive at a cost of half the dress cost so I had to find something beautiful but not as expensive. This was another search adventure. I only got the right ones two weeks before completing the dresses.

It took me twice or thrice the time it takes me per dress to make each dress. The ladies came for their first fitting. I had to do a couple of adjustments. One of them, had just gotten married two weeks before fitting and had lost weight since the last measurements but when she came back for the second fit her dress was now small as she got her normal weight back. The other lady the top part of the dress was just not fitting like the other ladies' dresses. One could not come for her second fitting and the other one's dress looked like it was designed on her.  I changed the dresses from having zip up backs to loops and tie at the back.

I had to resize two dresses and make another top for the other dress. The ladies came back for the third fitting and only two dresses needed a last touch for a perfect fit. The last two ladies had to come back and were very happy. What I learned from  this work is that women's weight flactuate due to our hormonal changes (Phisiology Lesson 101). Another lesson is that women can be the same body and breast size but we are not shaped the same therefore the same dress will not fit the same on all of us.

Making dresses two months in advance is time consuming however the advantage is when you finish way before the wedding day you have time to do final and perfect aterations. Bridesmaids do not end up in dresses too tight or dresses in safety pins(the bridesmaids' worst nightmare). Brides must also consider different cuts or design for their bridesmaids dresses or go try on the same kind of dress they want to see if it looks good on everyone. I thank God for enabling me to get it all right with these dresses.

My thanks goes to God first and to Phumzile and her bridesmaids for being so patient, so understanding and full of peace. Their energy is remarkable as they left a godly presence and I was never tired to make and resize their dresses ever. It was a pleasure serving you ladies. May the Lord bless you all.  

ANOTHER GOLDEN MOMENT...GOING FOR THE OSCARS

I love the Oscar Awards and The red Carpet Moments on E-entertainment just to see what the celebrities are wearing. E-entertainment is not eTV but a chanel made especially for the Hollywood entertainment industry, which shows the lives and fashion of the stars. Ok don't be offended now feeling like I am undermining you. I am just explaining for those who don't watch TV. I am not a TV person myself as I only watch TBN, Style Network,Girlfriends and I tolerate America's Next Top Model. I visit Fashion TV cos it's either I am watching it deliberately or it is making me sleepy with the music they play if it's on in the background. Okay, enough about TV this is a Fashion Designer's blog.


Well my point of the Oscars and Red Carpets was on the dressing up. I love dressing up more than just dressing other people. The one challenge is that I dislike looking like anybody or everyody else so I always think of what no one else would not think about. Unlike the young girls coming to me with pictures of celebrities hoping that I can put together the same garment forgetting that I am not a Fong Kong copy machine, I visualize then conceptualize and make a dress from my head. I miss those days when clients would just tell me they want a dress of a particular color and then I would go look for a perfect fabric and make th dress suitable for the particular client.

Ok, I did not mean to sound like I am complaining or boasting. I was just reminiscing on how life was easier without Google images. But hey there is a posive to this because it saves me sketching time and I am blessed the clients I get do not expect a "Made-in-China-replica" of an outfit. By God's grace I am empowered by God to make a dress "Designed To Fit" the client's body, personality and style.

I designed for myself this golden number with gold chains draping in front and at the back. I felt very expensive and couturageous as I arrived very fashionably late for our company's Award Evening. It was not on purpose as I missed receiving my own award. Oh, by the way I am a former Financial Advisor. I previously worked for Liberty Life for a year and went to Old Mutual for 3 years where I said good bye to focus on my passion, which is fashion.

I know, from Financial Advise to Fashion Design...well I was passing time because I never left fashion because I have been breathing fabrics and fashion since I was born as my granny was in that industry and I have been making clothes from since I knew how to hold a needle and pair of scissors.

Love the back draped with Gold chains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wore my gold and chain drape dess with gold chain bracelet and gold earrings. Yep, I even had a gold ring and added with glittery gold nails. I really was a typical Gauteng-Place of Gold girl who looked like she was touched by King Midas himself and turned me into gold. But truly speaking I had received the Golden Touch of the one and only King of Kings who owns all the gold in the world. I was dressed by God and covered in His glory as always for Him to shine though me. Umm...what colour were my shoes? Not gold this time but broze with gold diamantes. If I remember well I think I had a gold clutch bag. If I had a chice I would not carry a bag but hey I can't be holding my mobile phone and keys in my hands so I need a bag that fits into the ooutfit,  Are you on overkill again? No don't worry if it was I would have opted for another colour. Ok tell me what colour bag goes with a head-to-toe Golden everything?

Draped in Gold

I just had to have another pic

I missed the pic with the whole team and my Distinguished gentlemen colleagues posed with me

BALLING BEAUTY IN WHITE...FAITHFOREVER COUTURE ALL DRESSED AND BRIGHT

White and Silver Dress

Making an outfit for myself is always such a challenge because I never want to look like over the top or look way too simple. It was not even easy finding the fabric that spoke to me because I got the idea of the dress when I saw it.



I wore this white gown to our church's End of the Year Gala Event. I trully felt like I was getting married to Christ that evening. For someone who understands spiritual cleansing and preparation, I felt like I was a bride in waiting as this was just after a long time in God's presence and white seemed the perfect color for me to wear that night. I am not much of a white clothes fan but this was an exception.

Chain Detail Dress

The dress as you can see had silver motifs in it and silver accessories were the perfect fit for this gown. For the love I have for chains my dress was accessorized with silver chains and so since the dress had its own accesories in it all I needed was silver earrings, silver watch as a bracelet and a silver clutch bag. Oh you might think this was a silver overkill but believe me silver shoes were the best option.

Faith and a friend from Church

I love these pictures because even my skin glowed like a bride's skin on her wedding day. All that was missing was a Prince Charming holding my hand but I had Jesus Christ embracing me through out the whole night.

THE TUTU TORTURE TO TIMELESS TRENDY TREASURE

I remember my English grammar teacher asking what is the reason of using the same letter as the first letter in every word in one sentence, I answered that it was for emphasis. This is called alleteration of the the letter T. well I used that in order to emphasis the transformation and outcome of a time consuming  process into a beautiful tutu dress for a beautiful teenager.

Tiisetso wanted a a royal blue with red corset-tutu dress for her matric ball. We had a mutual understanding that I would call her once I am done for her to do her first fitting. Surprisingly as she heard me that I had other orders I was working on and I will get to her order once I am done.

To tell the truth I had never made a corset (Lady Marmalade) top before so this would take me a while as I had to work on a mock one first. Then Tiisetso started calling me. At first her sister had not yet paid the deposit  then she brought it late one evening which caused me to go buy the fabric late. I then went to buy the fabric. Tiisetso could somehow not understand the words: "I will call you." She got her sister and her dad calling me. I could no longer take this torture and was adamant to refund them their deposit which is not good business.

I finally got to make and complete the dress. Tisetso came, put on the dress and fell inlove with it. Even her dad texted me to thank me.


At the end of all the panicking and the calls a young girl was happy.

ANOTHER RED ONE

I love this red dress which is inspired by the 6 Way Grecian-Inspired dress. It is best for someone wanting a tight dress but not have it reveal her whole body shape.

           Worn with a belt to create silhouette and a waistline but still letting it loose at the back.

DRESSED FOR THE DURBAN JULY HANDICAP

Hey stranger....well I am referring to my blog as I have not written in it in ages. But I really appreciate you following my posts and hope you do enjoy them. i have been so busy since my last post. I was attending Entrepenurial workshops at Y- Age(you can google and find out who they are).

I also went to our Children's Church Ministry camp with the children for a whole week. ForeverFaith Couture is making waves and getting established and know to people living as far as Boksburg. I had the previledge of making dresses for three beauitiful women, Tumi Tshelane, Nomvula Masina and Cecilia Mathe, who were going to the annual Durban July Handicap. The ladies did not adhere to the theme which had something to do with conservation or recycling but preferred couture clothes they could wear again. They sure stole the attention at the horse race.

The ladies loved their ForeverFaith Couture dresses and felt like celebrities as they rubbed shoulders with some of them.

                          

I meant to upload Cecilia's picture in her red dress above but I need to find it and do so afterwards.
Oh i did find Cecilia's picture she emailed me. See her ready to step out in style and wowww people.

Lady in Red

See below Tumi and Vuvu at the event with familiar faces.

Safe to say: "They make an eye candy couple"

For some style is as easy as COUTUREGEOUS!!!

Thank you ladies for rocking ForeverFaith at the popular annual horse race. You all looked couturegeous!!!! Glory to God for everything.

                                                          ForeverFaith Couture
                                                          "Designed To Fit You"