Join Deco Modiste December 6th!

Deco Modiste will be participating in the Boutique Culture Warehouse sale Sunday December 6th.  Prices will be slashed on Spring/Summer 2009 and there will be great deals on our Fall/Winter 2009.  Come down and start your Christmas shopping.  A wrap skirt for your sister, Sailor skirt and Paris blouse for you……..

Date: Sunday December 6th

Ti me: VIP Shopping: 9-11amem

General Admission Shopping: 11-6pm

Clothing Swap: 11:00 am – 4 pm

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We would especially like to welcome Malia of Lady Konnyaku Clothing to our storefront.

“Seattle fashion designer, Lady Konnyaku, finds inspiration in the vintage materials that she has foraged from the depths of thrift stores and is constantly on the hunt for old cuts of vintage fabrics. Nothing compares to the stylings of super-cool vintage fabric. And who doesn’t love a unique print or use of color? She designs her patterns to maximize the preservation of worthy finds, as many are found only once and in small yardages.

In this sustainable clothing line, one will find an easy-to-wear assortment of 60s Mod and Japanese Street fashion-inspired clothing that uses a mix of brand new, vintage and reclaimed knit and woven fabrics and findings. High-fashion techniques are used to produce a long-lasting, high quality, thoughtful garment that is on the forefront of the “modern-vintage” Seattle fashion. Each garment is made 100% by the designer -from start to finish- resulting in the utmost in smart stylings and quality assurance.

Fiercely unique and crazy stylish clothing feels great. Simulate the feeling of love with Lady Konnyaku Clothing!”

Her designs are outrageously wearable.  The bright colors give a vibrant pop to any wardrobe.

Blue Arrow Skirt with pockets. This a-line skirt is a part of the :::60s Mod Style Collection::: and is made to sit on the hips.

Made from a mix of vintage polyester and cotton knit. Polyester means lasting forever, so you can wear this skirt a million times and then give it to your granddaughter’s granddaughter. Now THAT’S thinking to the future!

Rockabilly Pinup Shrug -  Somewhere out there, one belongs to a fan of the Rat City Rollergirls.  The other? Well… it’s this one – made from a striking orange/black nylon with black-on-black polka-dot trim.

Embrace sexy and tough rockabilly lady style.  The seams are serged and ready to party. Also, ready to drink Ranier beer.

Each Lady Konnyaku piece is unique, or one of a few, so there aren’t likely to be many girls who’ve got YOUR style.  Every piece is a unique statement – find your statement at the Deco Modiste Showroom sale, as well as Frida in Georgetown and Pretty Parlor on Capital Hill.

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We’re excited to be working with Shannon from Flutterbudget to outfit the models for the runway show.  Eco Lavish has paired clothing and jewelery designers to come up with amazing finds and Flutterbudget is *definitely* amazing.

Each piece is made from vintage or reclaimed buttons and beads, with a few interesting modern ones thrown in.  Flutterbudget designs embrace the minor imperfections of vintage items as part of their beauty and charm.  All items are unique, and look fantastic with our line.

Let us illustrate:

The Astrid Bloom necklace – This stunning necklace pairs a vintage, reclaimed earring with gorgeous goldstone glass beads. The lovely silver bloom features hammered detailing on its petals that add a beautiful texture to the piece. The dark violet goldstone beads have tiny gold flecks that sparkle and make this necklace truly enchanting.

A-dorable!  And there’s this:

Autumn Bloom vintage reclaimed necklace – Such a lovely necklace for Fall! Vintage, golden etched beads, rescued from an old necklace, alternate with vintage Japanese silk wrapped plastic beads in a gorgeous chocolate brown. A sweet, vintage enameled flower (formerly an earring) in soft orange with an amber rhinestone center provides a charming pop of color.

What a compliment to your new fall outfit!  The enameled flower is gorgeous.

Shannon also offers rings, earrings and other accouterments like this:

Chelsea vintage button ring – Sweet, carved floral button with a sapphire blue colored center sits nestled inside a gorgeous, sculpted vintage button in a beautiful caramel brown hue. A unique and lovely ring.

Stay tuned for more previews from our Showroom Sale designers!

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Just a reminder: the 2nd annual Eco Lavish Fashion Show is this weekend!

Deco Modiste will be holding it’s second showroom sale offering limited-run, handmade clothing from emerging Seattle designers.

Designers for the showroom sale will include Deco Modiste, with their line of vintage-influenced ready to wear.  Also showing, Lady Konnyaku will offer a line of Japanese-inspired streetwear, and Lekkerlife will offer clothing reminiscent of the underground music and art scene.  Each designer will offer up to 70% off on Spring/Summer 2009 clothing.  They will also be premiering limited items and samples from their Fall/Winter 2009 collections.

Deco Modiste will be premiering their Spring/Summer 2010 collection at the Eco Lavish fashion show on Friday, October 9, 2009, at the Engine Room in Georgetown.  The Deco Modiste showroom sale is offered in conjunction with the Eco Lavish fashion show, produced by Half Past Lavish Event productions, as well as the Georgetown Artwalk on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

For information on the showroom sale, contact:

Kimberlee Iblings

Deco Modiste Clothing

6015 Airport Way S.

Seattle, WA. 98108

info [at] deco-modiste [dot] com

The NYT article quoted Celia Dean of Visionaire as saying, “Creativitiy blossoms when resources are limited.”  With consumers looking for pieces that will hold up wear-after-wear, while still being seaosnally relevant, designers are being challenged to think out of the box, and to also create items that will be continuously wearable as the recession rolls on.

Today, in the spirit of creativity, we’re looking back on those women who had to creatively endure in times of Depression, Recession and Rations: In the 40’s when materials like silk were rationed for WWII, women had to selectively choose what they could afford to wear based on War Ration Coupon Books like the one pictured above.

As Pauline Weston Thomas writes at www.fashion-era.com :

This meant that women were forced to wear clothes that they had in their wardrobes before the [1941] announcement [of rationing clothing], adding items only as if essential. The coupons were also reduced as the war progressed. Mid war they fell to 48 a year and by 1945 clothing coupons were as low as 36 a year. The scheme continued to issue coupons until 1949 with all forms of rationing ended in 1952.

One aspect that never seems to be much accounted for is the fact that even with the coupons some women and families were simply too poor to buy new clothes at all. To some having the coupons made no difference as money was still needed to pay for the goods.

–

Imagine you’re living in wartime Europe, and you’ve been given a coupon book that rations not only your groceries and household items, but your clothing as well.  The notice for clothing rations reads:

Rationing
Of Clothing, Cloth and Footwear
From June, 1945

Rationing has been introduced not to deprive you of your real needs, but to make more certain that you get your share of the country’s goods – to get fair shares with everybody else.

When the shops re-open you will be able to buy cloth, clothes, footwear and knitting wool only if you bring your food ration book with you.  The shopkeeper will detach the required number of coupons from the unused margarine page.  Each margarine coupon counts as one coupon towards the purchase of clothing and footwear.  You will have a total of 36 coupons to last you a year; so go sparingly.  You can buy where you like and when you like without registering.

–

If you were a 40’s version of yourself you would be allotted clothing items out of your food rations.  If you could only afford to buy yourself 3 things for the coming season, what would you buy?  Stockings?  One new dress?  A coat?

Say you only had enough to buy yourself 10 items for the next year; what would you buy?  Think about it, and leave us a comment!

For extra credit, read more about rationing here: Fashion-era.com

As an example, here is a chart of how clothing was rationed for women and girls:

Preview what’s new and amazing for fall, from designer fashions to gorgeous jewelry and accessories at Pacific Place, downtown Seattle’s premier shopping destination, when the All For Fall Art & Fashion Event takes place Saturday, September 19th.

Informal modeling will showcase fall’s finest from Barneys New York, Tiffany & Co., Twist, True Religion Brand Jeans, Something Silver, Club Monaco, Benetton and more from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Atrium on Level 1, followed by a design competition from 5 to 7 p.m. R&B band Leroy Bell & His Only Friends will provide musical entertainment during the informal modeling.

Under the direction of Event Impresario Eduardo Khawam, up-and-coming designers will compete at Pacific Place to earn a spot as one of the Top 12 Designers at the Columbia Tower’s Masquerade Ball on October 24. The challenge is to incorporate art into their designs as inspired by our partner, Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Judges include Project Runway Season 5 designer Blayne Walsh.

Guests can also enter to win a pair of SAM VIP tickets to see the Michelangelo Public and Private and Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act exhibitions. Simply stop by the Concierge Desk on Level 1 to register (no purchase necessary).

For more information, please visit: www.pacificplaceseattle.com or call (206) 405-2655.

2nd Annual Masquerade Fashion Show Designers

Sarah Harris

Susy Gregoire

Jason B Arrington

Angela Sasmita

Justin Z Bartle

Arturo Sanchez

Israel Gonzalez

Fernando Valenzuela

Kimberlee Iblings

Shawna Clark

Anna Dicklttuber

Ginger  Bellus

Shanghai Pearl

Victoria Landis

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Design-savvy Seattle is buzzing about PRODUCT RUNWAY, part runway fashion show, part theatrical production and part indulgence for guests, PRODUCT RUNWAY is the showcase for innovative and creative design, and the fashion event of the year!

18 leading interior designers, architects, and students will flaunt their creativity by sending couture garments crafted from a diverse range of interior materials and finishes down the runway. Innovative teams from regional firms will design and construct their creations using everything from carpet to lighting – as they compete for prizes and bragging rights!

Part runway fashion show, part theatrical production and part indulgence for guests, PRODUCT RUNWAY promises to be the event of the year and a show case for the Puget Sound design community.

Event Information:
Friday, August 28th, 2009
Doors open at 7pm
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109

Designers are you up for a challenge?

On Saturday, September 19 – “All For Fall” Art & Fashion Event, we plan to have a fashion show from 5- 7:00 p.m. where fabulous designers from the “Masquerade Fashion Show” compete to be the Top 12 Designers. We have partnered with Seattle Art Museum (SAM) to give you, designers some inspiration! Your challenge is to create outfits that are “inspired by art” for the “All For Fall” Art & Fashion Event. Please use SAM as a guide and for direction. Good Luck Designers!”

Deco Modiste has entered the costume competition.  We have chosen four works of art to inspire our costumes:

Leda and the Swan and Her Children, ca. 1540
Vincent Sellaer, Flemish

Sabine Houdon at Age Four, ca. 1791
Jean-Antoine Houdon

Mosaic from the House of Menander with Zeus, 3rd – 4th century
Roman Daphne (modern Southern Turkey)

Paysage d’Hiver aux Borde de la Seine, ca. 1904-05
Henri Matisse

Still looking for the Image…

Check back for progress on the costumes.

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“located in the front of Georgetown Tile Works… It sells new and used clothing, art, handbags, jewelry, belts and other “plucky finds.”

“The merchandise sold at Frida represents a veritable who’s who of local designers, including clothing from Lekklerlife and Deco Modiste; belts from Steel Toe Studios; vinyl bags from Mish Mash; T-shirts from Sam Trout and Revival Ink; and prints from Georgetown artist Mike Poetzel.”

Read more about Georgetown’s new store, Frida… via the Daily Find, NW Source Shopping, July 30, 2009