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When I start making a dress thereís so many considerations and its funny because I talk
to my interns about this, about..When Iím standing in a room, staring into space, and
it appears that Iím spacey, instead, I think itís highly relevant to think, I wish I could
graph out whatís going on. First, Iíll think, like, dress and then from dress comes a million
thoughts, always as abstract as possible because you can always, just like with a meal, better
to have too much food than too little food, the same applies. But Iíll think of dress
so then Iíll think of a ton of different kinds of dresses but then you have to think
about the season, you have to think about whoís going to see the dress, you have to
think about the budget, you have to think about what other applications divergently
in your life you can use this dress for something. But you shouldnít even be thinking about
what fabric youíre going to use until youíve examined whatís going on in your surrounding
environment and how you can use this piece that youíre working on to best communicate
to the majority of those. No one, no matter how good your work is, is going to show up
at your house and invite you to have the best job ever, so you just need to get involved
in as much as possible, in your community and branching out of your community. The more
your name is out there, the better for you.
Charleston Fashion Week is essentially a local fashion week sponsored in the downtown city
of Charleston and itís exciting in a city of note and a show of note just because itís
an east coast juried competition where 16 designers get in and the competition is stiff
and if you win the benefits would be that Elle magazine and Marie Clare magazine feature
you. So itís really exciting and I cannot wait to take part.
My career, the plan is to go somewhere between the land of academia and the red carpet success.
I just plan on continuing to do more and more commissions for more and more recognized people.
I constantly pursue interesting interviews. My plan is just in the same way that you could
pick up this Versace book, and I mean I donít own all this Versace stuff, I just own this
book. Iíd like there to be a Marie Cordella book. Thatís where Iím going.
Well, I studied in Prague two years ago. I took a fashion and costume studio and fashion
illustration. I was there for three months and ever since Iíve come back itís been
a huge inspiration for everything I do. Just the architecture and all the stories they
had behind it. I loved the black and gold that was everywhere in the buildings and thatís
reflected in my collection. The way the city looked after a huge snowfall. It was just
really classic and beautiful like things I hope to design.
Hereís where I keep everything once I finish it so that no one messes with it. This is
a jacket thatís lined in lame and itís laser cut with this motif Iíve been using throughout
referencing the cobblestones and dappled light. This jacket, I hand cut all the circles for
it and then sewed them all on. After I did this one I did another one that was laser
cut circles which you can see in this dress. These were all laser cut and then appliquÈd
on. I also have this skirt was what I entered in for my application for Charleston Fashion
Week. Itís laser cut and then gold leafed on the edges with a lame and chiffon underlay.
I design more for fantasy me than really what I would actually wear. Iím a really casual
dresser. But Iím really attracted to the old style of dressing and I guess if you knew
what the inspirations were for all of my stuff you could tell who I am. Because Iím attracted
to childhood stories and just the fantasy aspect of fashion.
Itís a lot of work. Basically you just want to, you know, kind of do all your drawings
first of what you want to make and then it kind of changes along the way sometimes.
I think you have to do what you like. And you have to have your own kind of vision.
They donít want to see something that theyíve seen before so what I think the judges will
want is probably innovation, creativity, something different.
This is the kind of vest slash jacket slash dress thing thatís over here. And then, this
is the blazer. Itís not done yet. It needs to be though.
Iím going to be very nervous in Charleston. This is like a huge deal. And hopefully, I
donít know. Maybe my stuff will get picked up by Saks or Neiman Marcus or I donít know,
or be in a cool magazine.