Welcome to my Salon!
"A Passion for Fashion"......This phrase is indeed descriptive of something that has been a lifelong vocation, fascination and joy for me....melded with my personal artistic vision and love of all things antique and vintage. I spent five years in college gaining a formal education in Textile Science and Costume Studies as well as many art history programs, and for over thirty years, I've made successful careers out of a blending of all of these elements, as well as being a truly dedicated antique/vintage clothing collector, restoration expert and model of those fashion treasures of the past which collectors covet, endeavor to preserve, and love so much.....
Through the initial establishment of my millinery business, I became aware of a lack of truly exquisitely made, genuinely-true-to-the-era reproductions of Victorian, Edwardian and 1920's clothing....and even fewer designers who actually were 100% faithful to the fabrics and elements used in those eras....most employing modern synthetics at some point. It became my mission to fill this void and to create truly authentic, historically accurate clothing, yet with my own interpretation of elements of taste and design.....also comfortably adapted and wearable for modern figures.
In this I was, and have been, greatly encouraged by many, many of my millinery clients who repeatedly told me of how they yearned and wished for clothing that was of the same fine quality and meticulous workmanship as my hats....It's truly become my mission to provide garments which not only evoke the beauty and elegance of bygone days, but to make the wearer feel truly beautiful.....and transported for a moment, back to lovelier simpler times. Every piece that I design or restore is born from, and backed by, 30+ years of experience in restoration, handling, modeling and personal collecting of fine antique clothing, formal training in costume for theatre productions, as well as the aforementioned college education.....and last but not least a true sense of the beauty and artistry of fashion and clothing.
As with my hats and every other artistic endeavor I attempt, my goal and focus is to create the most exquisite, perfectly made, old-world-craftsmanship-style pieces....and no amount of time, expense or quality is "skimped" on here......Again as with my millinery and other work, I do NOT employ the use of any synthetic fabrics in the making of this clothing.....only the finest of silks and other natural fibers, as well as many actual antique laces, trims or other elements which I've spent many, many years collecting. If it's synthetic, "fake" looking or too "new" looking, it simply won't be found on or in my work! Whatever arguments there might be to the contrary, I believe undisputedly that synthetic fabrics just don't drape, handle or feel like pure silks, cottons, linens and wools nor do they have a truly authentic look.....therefore I go to any length necessary to provide that truly antique look and feeling to the clothing I design and create, including searching the world for the very finest NATURAL materials. In restoration of an antique garment, I use ONLY antique materials apropos to the period of the garment.
In addition, 100% of the detail work (ie. trims, laces, appliques) on all items is entirely and painstakingly hand sewn by myself. No sergers, pinking shears etc are used here; all seams and raw edges are hand-finished, French seamed or lined! In more than thirty years of doing the finest of hand sewing for my miniature sculpture/doll work and restoration of my own antique gowns, I find that I simply can't use "shortcuts" or settle for anything less than the same sort of superfine hand-craftsmanship of the past....That is, always has been, and will continue to be directly reflected in what I create.
All clothing in the Edwardian and Victorian sections is created by me, and solely by me....therefore I can only produce a very limited quantity....just as each being an individual artwork. At this time I am not planning on doing custom work or custom orders of any kind----all garments that you will see on this site are one of a kind, and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. However, I do welcome any suggestions about what sort of garments, styles, sizes etc you would like to see offered in future.....your input is most valued!
I do not do alterations of any kind, therefore each piece of clothing is sold as described, as far as sizing....it is up to the individual buyer to then be aware of and to take charge of any necessary alterations after purchase. (I also don't add final fastenings to most gowns/clothing before listing them, so that they can be individually added as needed by the actual buyer for the optimum fit for that person..please be aware of this before purchase.) I also do not at this time have a layaway system, all articles must be fully paid for prior to shipment. Items will be shipped as soon as they are available, and are NOT returnable; all sales are unequivocally FINAL. Sorry, I do not offer credit card payment options anymore due to chargeback fraud by certain dishonest buyers; all items must be paid for by money order ONLY, please email HERE for mailing address to send payment.
In the "Restorations" section, beginning soon I will be offering genuine/antique vintage pieces that I have fully restored to wearable condition. The first piece, a VERY rare and gorgeous one, is an antique 1894 authentic Charles Frederick Worth labeled evening gown which I have painstakingly restored and that has been in my personal collection for over ten years....This is a most extraordinary and beautiful example of the breathtaking design genius of the most famous "Father of Couture" and it extremely difficult to find a genuine House of Worth C.F. piece available outside of a museum collection....so this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the serious vintage clothing collector.
To order or ask a question, just email here......Please click on any link below to navigate the site!
Enjoy your visit!
Me in 1982, modeling in an Antique Fashion Show for the UFDC Convention at the Seattle Trade Center. This magnificent gown dates from 1889 and was originally worn at a Royal Court Presentation to the King of Denmark. It is of mauve silk brocade and mauve velvet heavily embroidered in gold. Collection of the Museum of History and Industry, Seattle.
