EXTRAORDINARY FABRICS FOR BRIDES . . . .

As a bridal designer you can't imagine how jazzed I was to get engaged some twenty odd years back.  The first thing I did of course was mentally design my dress.  My then fiancee now hubby had one request: Ed wanted to wear full Scottish regalia including kilt, jacket, sporn, tartan, the works.  It didn't take long for the dress above to evolve in my head.  Once it did I made a beeline to Britex Fabrics in San Francisco,so stoked was I to get on with the creative process of fashioning myself as a bride.   What Toys R Us would be to a kid, Britex Fabrics is to the designer: An emporium chock full of extraordinary fabrics sourced from all over the world. Back to my dress, the lace was imported from Paris and most of the silk florals you see were found in the bridal notions department; the rest were hand-rolled silk dupioni.  Not bad for one day's shopping . . . .

Last Thusday Britex Fabrics kicked off celebrating their 60th year with it's Designer Spotlight Series. I'm so honored to have been one of six bridal and evening wear designers featured at the opening.  Others included were, Karen Tierney, Meslissa Bolin, Monique Zhang, Helena Chenn and Hester Michael--all incredibly talented.  If you're local to the San Francisco Bay Area, this series continues in May with Wardrobe Essentials, to Costumes & Corsetry in July and Menswear & Shirtmaking in September.

Dina and Geana, the awesome coordinators of this event . . .

Me and my gorg model Laura wearing the VALERIE dress

 Above: The work of designer Karen Tierney

Believe it or not these are pieces of crepe and Duchess satin simply draped and pinned on the dress forms to show off the incredible hand of the fabric . . . .

 Evening wear designer Hester Michael

 Hats by Melissa Brolin

Designers Monique Zhang and Victor Tung

Photos 3, 4, 5 and 7 courtesy of Styrous