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.  

SHOPPING! SHOPPING FOR FABRIC, Colour, Texture, Style and the Shoes and Accessories to Match!

Well today I am not going down Fashion and Fabric Lane because my mind is on present mode after this afternoon's long search for the perfect fabrics, perfect accessories and shoes to match not just the dress I will be making but the person who will be wearing them as well.

Yep, it takes all of that to design and style an individual. That is why it is difficult to operate like a retail supplier. This is when people would think they just call and place an order. No, I am not Edgars retail or some online clothing boutique (though this is something in the pipeline for a particular range of mine). Yeah, going global baby!! God said we must be fruitful and multiply!

I need to see my client, get to know him/her and understand how he/she likes the world to see him/her through what they wear. I also get to understand what colors can bring out the best you without overshadowing your personality and character. This is why I spend 3 hours in one shop that even my favourite fabric store owner jokingly said: "I must start charging you rent."

Well that is how I operate. I find a retail outlet I connect with and become so used to the staff that I end up feeling at home and that is where I will spend most of my money. So yes I spend 90% of my money and time in the same shop. You are probably wondering to yourself: "Why does she take so long to buy just fabric?". Okay, I visualize, conceptualize and design in my head inside the shop. I get served by the same person and I always bounce ideas on him. I can hear you thinking; "What kind of a designer is she bouncing ideas on fabric cutters?". Well I do that with everything except on what to wear or what to eat but I tell you this young guy is good. He has a creative mind and can visualize what I share with him. I will hire him in the near future.



Today I had to shop for fabric to make a lime green and black outfit for a lady (sister from another mother) and her 2 year old daughter for an unveiling ceremony, where as family members they are to wear black with lime green. I found the fabric for little one first, a lime green slinky (kinda like thin lycra) fabric with tiny black polka dots, a black tulle and lime tulle. This will be made into a lime green and black tutu dress. For the lady, I found a black stretch thick lace fabric (I forgot what it is called) and a lime green lightweight bonbon (stretchy) fabric. So you will see what I am going to make for her.

I then had to find fabric for my good friend and sister, Zita Ceza who has now become my most loyal client and is ordering her 3rd dress in 3 weeks! I connected with Zita on Facebook 3 years ago and only met her 3 weeks ago when I went to deliver her dress. Well how did I manage to design for her without giving her a fashion consultation? Well, Zita is like my soul twin sister. I know what she would love to wear and how she wants to be perceived.When she ordered the first and second dress she chose the dresses she likes from my previous designs. Both dresses look great on her. Actually she makes the dresses look great. With this last one she has given me the liberty to design the perfect dress for her, choose the colour and fabric.

So walking up and down the isles of the fabric shop, touching this fabric, pulling this roll and carrying it to the cutting table, matching it against another fabric, visualizing the fabric and maybe the dress on the client and telling the young man how many meters to cut and then see another one that looks woww for the client after he has cut that one, then ask for the other one as well...is not child's play. It takes mental energy, stretching your arms, squatting for the one on the lowest shelf, carrying it to another fabric when all the cutters are occupied, leg work (especially in my heels) and financial shock when you get the cost of all that you bought. Mhhh...and then you must carry around all that fabric in the plaza in and out of other shops. Thanks to Moosa's Sales Room for my lovely Pulley/Trolley Bag that I just pull around.

The shopping does not end there. There's zips, cottons, ribbons, elastics, beads, needles and all you need to complete the garments. And yah, I had to go look for and buy afro/traditional beads for an afrocentric ensemble for my other client as well as buy a bow tie and stirrups for my male client.

Shoo!!! I was exhausted, hungry and sleepy. Guess what? I have to work through the morning again! So yah let me start working on Zita's dress. Which color and fabric between the two? Oh I still have to design the dress. BTW! I found shoes I fell inlove with at first sight!!


Thank you for reading and I am looking forward to dresssing you and styling you too!!!

                                         ForeverFaith Couture
                                         "Designed To  Fit You"  

Going Down Fashion and Fabric Lane (Continued)

What does Faith, Fabric, Fashion and Fabulousity have in common?                                            Well I don't have to spell it out. Faith, Fashion, Fabric and Fabulousity are Forever. 
                         

                  For Fine, Fitting, Fashionable Fabulousity, Find ForeverFaith Couture.

                      

Ok, going back down Fashion and Fabric Lane; people always ask me:"Did you study Fashion Designing?" Well the answer is.... "No". To tell you the truth, I was born for Fashion. I am not a self-made Fashion Designer but actually a born and anointed Fashion Designer. Even my mom saw it at a very early age. She never bought me toy tea-sets or toy stoves. She bought me a play sewing machine, some hand crafting sets and dolls not teddy bears but dolls that needed a Fashion Make over. I remember my Alice in Wonderland doll who came wearing a blue and white frock with an alice band! Oh my I gave her a total make over. Well she is still around to speak for herself since 1985 and she is wearing a micro mini denim dungaree dress. LOL!

I then started redesigning clothes by sewing frills onto my denim shorts, making bags out of denim pants, making my own little tops and skirts then my friends brought their own to be redesigned.

Ok fast forward to my Matric Ball- I designed my matric ball gown but it was sewn by some lady and then I designed for my friends in tertiary as well. I realized how people trusted my Fashion advice and kept thinking...mhhh this could be my career: "Advising and assisting people on what to wear, how to dress, what hairdo to have and shoes and accessories to match.

Why did I not study Fashion Designing? Well... That is another story. What remains is the truth and the truth is "I was born for Fashion and yes I am anointed to do this."

           " Watch this space and see God's glory flow and shine for the world to see."

I will be blogging and posting pictures of my work as and when I get time off my work which God has called me to do. Dresss and style the world.

                                                       ForeverFaith Couture
                                                      "Designed To Fit You"

FOREVERFAITH COUTURE, Going Down Fashion and Fabric lane

ForeverFaith Couture is my clothing label and it is the name of my Fashion Design and Image Consultancy. ForeverFaith Couture was born ForeverFaith Fashion, Fun and Image Firm in 2000 and was changed to ForeverFaith Design'a Dream and then from Dreams it was Creations.

I have been passionate about Fashion, Fabric, image and style since I was 7 years old whe my granny taught me how to use a sewing needle by sewing a handmade carpet with pieces of fabric. Sewing and Crocheting was more like a fun period a school rather than a school subject. When my classmates made one pillow each for 6months I made tons of them.

I also had the pleasure and opportunity of cutting out the pattern and shirts with my teacher for my classmates in grade 7. I finished all my grades items: apron in grade 5, shirt in grade 6 and a dress in grade 7. 

I grew up loving dolls and making clothes for them and none of my dolls had no clothes. I even took my friends' dolls home and brought them back to their owners with loads of clothes. I had actually forgotten about this until a former school mate reminded me. I was never fond of playing in the street. If I was not on the floor by the side of my bed with pieces of different fabrics all over you would find me with a book and a pen writing a story or poem or maybe reading anything I got my hands on.

I love fashion. As cliche as it sounds...my passion is fashion. My addiction is writing and my prescription is reading. I have stored Cosmopolitan magazines dated as far back as 1993. I always had this fantasy that one day I will have a Fashion, Image and Beauty House where these magazines would be put all around the house as wall displays. LOL!

Let me end here just to keep this short. I will surely post some pictures soon!!