VALENTINO RED

SWATHES OF BUTTERFLIES

The colour red is beautiful

“Red has guts…. deep, strong, dramatic. A geranium red. A Goya red…. to be used like gold for furnishing a house… for clothes, it is strong, like black and white.”

— Valentino

Valentino designed his own distinctive red many years ago, and it has become iconic among his collections of stunning gowns. I simply love his designs, and my 2010 formal dress reflected a few classic Valentino elements. The mermaid silhouette with a subtle sweetheart neckline, and halter straps echo Valentino's minimalist shapes and forms. The fabric is a rich red silk Dupioni, of course. 

I spent a good couple of hours making metres of same-fabric ribbon, and then hand embroidered that ribbon into flowers. With the needle and thread, I worked the fabric into a garden, visited by a flurry of tiny butterflies.

Taking pictures in the garden was a lot of fun, my sister and I climbed over rusting pieces of corrugated metal, and mossy rocks to get these shots...

ROMAN SILK

Back in high school, I dreamed up a vision of pink silk...

Made out of a floaty and buttery 100% silk, the top of the bodice is hand pleated, the straps are pin tucked and adorned with a self-fabric plait. 

I adapted the design from a vogue pattern. I love the colour, very pink yet almost nude. I was inspired by the amazing draping techniques of the ancient greeks, and I remember wanting to look like a greek goddess with that laurel-wreath style headband. The dress was worn to my year 12 formal.