Chocolate Cherries has added some new and super adorable pieces to her collection. There are some bikinis, cute and flirty dresses, and more. Check out all of her pieces today to get one for yourself. Not only does she cater to every size, but she offers most of her pieces in other colors made to your specifications. They are all worth checking out and telling your friends about, too.
As some of you already know, I have been starting to dabble a bit into designing for Mini-Me's. I've been considering the fashion trends popular with adults and interweaving them into children's designs. While designing altogether has been lacking in my studio, I am starting to get creative again and design new pieces, starting with the younger crowd. My cousin, an avid Bcat Threads follower had asked me a while back to design a dress for her daughter's one year pictures. She gave me an open slate to work with, asking only that it would be purple, which is her favorite color. I took on the custom order excitedly knowing that I needed to start creating new pieces and that I wanted to attempt some children's pieces, so it was the perfect opportunity for me.
I started the process by scoping out purple fabrics to see what caught my eye. I took in to consideration that the dress was going to be used for pictures and what I have learned through photo shoots and fashion shows is that what looks best in front of a camera or on a runway is usually shiny or sparkley and typically something that gives a "wow factor" when in person. I took this idea and decided to look for fabrics with shimmer. I settled with a few different color variations of silk shantung, some tulle (to add a little puff), and some lace for a little added touch if needed.
When I got back to the studio, I brainstormed, sketched and began the patternmaking process. In the end, I came up with a assymmetrical top with ruffles, a puffy circle skirt and lace trim to added the last needed look to the whole. Here is it on the hanger:
Since this custom dress was ordered from across the country and I don't know of any other children her age to fit it to, I had to take my precautions in sizing the patterns very precisely to ensure that this dress would fit. Even after checking and double-checking, I was still a little nervous to send the dress without seeing it on a body. As with all custom pieces, I get a case of the nervous jitters, hoping the customer will like it and it will fit well. Well, today, I got an email about the dress. My cousin loved it and sent a pic to show me that it fits perfectly.
It sure looks like she likes the skirt, for its full enough for her to grab and play with. Looks like my job here is done and I am happy to have been a part of the whole process of this darling little girl's 1 year old pictures.
Bcat Threads is proud to announce a new featured designer to our site. Her line is called M.Dot Design Studio. She designs feminine clothing with vintage flair. I have been honored to add this new line to our store as well as become friends with the designer, Michelle. Check out her line here! The designer has a heart of gold and a rather large passion for design. You can sense it just by looking at a few of her pieces. Go and get yours today!
Radokri has new fashionable new hair and shoe clips to our store and we are so excited about them. As usual, she has perfected the soft touch and beautiful look of hair accessories. They look so beautiful and have been very popular with brides all over the country. Check out her section in the store to find your perfect piece.
A while back I talked about how I had moved my design studio from my old house to the new. See blog post here. I said I was going to share the finished product, and that is just what I am doing today. Unfortunetly, I don't have a picture from my old studio to compare it to the new studio, but trust me when I say, it was much more organized and well thought out. Here is looking from the view when you walk in. You see alot of white and some bare walls, but it is just what I needed so that I didn't feel that I was surrounded with clutter. Simple and Clean.
I have organized drawers for everything that I use, from pencils and paper to buttons and zippers. They all have their own place and each drawer is hidden behind the doors of the cabinet or the curtains of the closet. It works perfectly!
Simplicity at its finest. Don't you think? :)
Check out Radokri's section in our store to see the new products she has added. They are perfect for this time of year, and so hot for the season. With weddings and outdoor events beginning to take place, this is a perfect way to add variety to your outfit. They are so feminine and flirty, and best of all, they are one-of-a-kind designs made by hand from a local San Diego artist.
Over the last weekend, Jennafer Grace and I participated in a fashion show at a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe. With the help of our assistant, Bryce, we were able to combine our peices and create a 22 look segment for part of the show. Before we got there, we just planned to help each other put our looks together and work with the models, but what we decided is that we love the combination of both of our styles and thought it could make a much stronger presence to join forces. And, we were right! We got so much positive feedback and had so much fun working together that we left the event fully embraced and smiling from ear to ear.
We also had the opportunity to work with other designers who went to the same design school as us (Fashion Careers College). There was everything from casual t-shirt and jean looks to wedding dresses and ball gowns. We had designers Prince Charming, Saeed and Siddiq, Ray, Jessica, Jennafer Grace, and Brooke Catherine. The collaboration of everyone involved look fabulous. It was a "had to be there" moment. For those of you who weren't able to make it, you can still see the pictures in our photo gallery. Thank you, Joy Willard for putting on an amazing event, you did great!
Back in January, stylist Jennafer Grace wanted to play with snow. Being that we live in Southern California, snow is not something that exists (except for up in the mountains). And so the story began that Jennafer planned a trip to the mountainside of Julian, Ca to do a beautiful photo shoot in the snow. Minh and Rochelle Huynh, of Mahal Style, gathered their photo equipment, makeup, and hair appliances, Jennafer and I gathered our clothing, food, and a couple bottles of wine, and models began to filter in as the weekend in snow began. We rented a house in a secluded area and hung their day and night, while dressing and styling models who were posing in our cabin and in the snow. The whole weekend was very productive and so much fun. We grew closer as a team and as friends. Check out the pictures by clicking on the picture below. (Picture below was taken in the lofted bedroom of the house). Talk about Cabin-fever made beautiful!
If you get the chance, please check out the April issue of Pacific Magazine I was featured on page 22, with pictures of some of my designs and an article about me as a designer. It was a fun interview with the magazine and an exciting outcome. The pictures that were used were from two photo shoots that I worked on with Mahal Style and Jennafer Grace.
A while back, I worked on a photo shoot with my favorite team of professionals Mahal Style and Jennafer Grace. We created a few different looks, mixing my designs and Jennafer Grace's. We asked a good friend of mine, Jen, to model for us and also experimented with adding in a male model. Jen's fiance, Carlos, had been teasing me for the past few years, asking to keep him in mind if I ever needed a male model. I thought I would take him up on the offer and see what he could do. The dynamic of the two of them worked perfectly for the photo shoot that day and I couldn't be more impressed with the results.
We started the day with Jen posing in yoga wear by Jennafer Grace, which can be found on our website as well as in The Local Boutique. As the day went on, we continued to add more elements, until we ended the shoot with Jen wearing my Red Cocktail Dress, Carlos wearing a tuxedo, and the two of them wearing face masks. The look was very dramatic, dark, and lustful. As soon as I received the final photo from the shoot, I was in awe at the beauty. You can see the picture below.
Check out more pictures from this photo shoot here.
I've been experimenting a bit on different ideas for design. Sometimes I get stuck in a bit of a funk, so I need to try something new. My newest idea has been to make little girl versions of my dresses. Thats right, matching mother and daughter dresses. I've googled the idea to see what else is out there and I couldn't believe how little there was. And, I know that all the mothers I know would have loved to find a fashionable dress that came with a matching one for their little daughters. The funnest part of having a girl is dressing her up! So, I began to make wrap dresses, for a mini-me for a little girl. Check out the picture below:
Wrap dresses are every woman's best friend. They fit so many body types and can be tightened or loosened as our waists tend to do through the different seasons and holidays. The wrap dress seen above also has pockets. I've been excited about adding pockets to my designs lately because I notice that every time I have tried something on lately, I want to put my hands in the pockets.
Wrap dresses are also a marvelous idea for little girls. We all know how quickly children grow, so these wrap dresses can last much longer than your average dress. The adjustable wrap straps grow with your little girl.
The best part about these dresses is that they are fashionable. They are current, stylish, feminine and work with so many different women. To buy your own, check them out here.
Another great model and another great photo shoot. We are starting to receive the pictures from a photo shoot we did right before the new year. The style team did such a fantastic job putting their ideas together and making the photos look simply splendid. Minh, the photographer also used his fabulous skills to add so much depth to the photos. I wish I could find the right words to describe them. They have a vintage touch with a lot of feeling and drama. Hmm, that doesn't do them justice...well, you can see for yourself and let me know what you think :) I love the rain in this picture, it looks like it is hitting so hard, but the model is just soaking it all in. And, I love how as the rain touches the model, it creates a beautiful glow. Click on the picture below to see more pictures from the shoot. As the week goes on, we will be adding more. Enjoy!
A few blogs ago, I wrote about a model that I had worked with who had done exceptional work; Kara Willingham. During the same day as the other pictures that were taken, we took some inside photos of her wearing an outfit designed by me. But, that isn't even the exciting part. Not only is she wearing my metallic pencil skirt and black blouse, but she is seen posing with my little Chihuahua, Rocky. You see, not only do I love fashion and everything it entails, but I also love my little dog, Rocky. Weighing in at 5 pounds, this little guy keeps me company all day while I am in my studio desiging, drawing, sewing, and blogging. And, now, he has participated by being in a photo shoot. If you don't have a dog, you may not understand the feeling of pride here, but thanks to the wonderful job of Mahal Style, Jennafer Grace, and Kara (the model), they sure made my little guy look like quite the stud muffin.
As a fashion designer I work with many models, they all have a different look, style, and personality. Those three things combined is what makes their unique look noticeable. I have been honored to work with so many talented models on all levels of the modeling scope. Some are beginners, just learning the ropes, some are advanced and take their careers very seriously, and some just like to have fun. I recently worked with model, Kara Willingham, from San Diego with whom I was so very impressed with. She has a look that immediately says "top fashion". She is the sweetest girl ever and she really knows how to move in front of the camera. Watching Kara during this photo shoot made it look so effortless. I had to share this picture because as soon as I saw it I was so excited. This belongs on a billboard somewhere. What do you think? I hope you agree!
For more pictures from this shoot, please click here and I promise you won't be disappointed. In the picture above, Kara is wearing my Black High Waisted Pencil Skirt. This entire shoot was produced by an amazing team of people including Kara Willingham, Jennafer Grace, Nicholas Tibor, Minh and Rochelle Huynh (Mahal Style) and myself.
I just received photos from a photo shoot that I took part in a little while back. Elle Leary, a makeup artist and stylist, asked if my designs could be worn for a photo shoot at the Gillespie Field airport. Of course, I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity. How cool is that? An airport photo shoot! Click on the link below to take you to the full gallery of shots from this day.
I was once again surprised by Minh and Rochelle Huynh this morning when they tagged me in another photo they released from a photo shoot we worked on a few weeks ago. I was excited to see these ones because it was the first time that I worked with them where they used a male model and that we used a different back drop. The location was so interesting, and so many places to shoot. Jennafer Grace took us to a warehouse she uses for some of her work, and these are the kind of pictures we got from it. Amazing! I can't say enough about how happy I am with the outcome. I can't wait to see the rest of them. Although you can't see my skirt too well in the picture, if interested, you can purchase it on the site. To view pictures from photo shoots in the past, check out our gallery.
A while back I told you all about a photo shoot I had been involved with Mahal Style. And, now I want to keep sharing the photos with you because I get so excited with the work that they do. Minh, the photographer, takes a little time here and there to Photoshop one picture every day or so, then tags me on Facebook when he has finished. So, its like my birthday every morning when I wake up and see that I've been tagged for another photo. This is the one that I got today.
In the last month, I was introduced to an amazing team of people who have all collaborated to create photo shoots that allow everyone to show their talent and put it together. My friend, and fellow designer, Jennafer, introduced me to Minh and Rochelle Huynh in the beginning of October and asked if I wanted to be part of the team. After seeing Minh's photography work and Rochelle's hair and makeup work, I couldn't pass on the opportunity. Together, they find models, organize shoots and Rochelle begins her work, making there face come to life with bold colors and beautiful hair. Jennafer and I compile a collection of our designs to dress the model, then Minh begins his work with the camera. In the end, the photos turn out to be so amazing. Thank you to all who have been involved. This is a picture from the first shoot. I will be posting more pics as they come my way and compiling them in our photo gallery with Mahal Style.
Check this out! Brooke Catherine designs were featured on US Trendy. A place where fashion designers and enthusiasts alike can share their portfolios and be rated on their designs. Today, my high waisted skirts were featured in the US Trendy Blog called This Just In! And was featured in another US Trendy Blog called A Classic Peice- The Trench.
This website also allows you to vote on designs for money and prizes. I have entered one of my peices for this week and I would love it if you would give me high ratings, as one my supporters :) Go to http://ustrendy.com/contest/ and find the One shoulder Navy dress with turquoise lace...the higher the ratings, the better my chances!
Jennafer Grace, a local designer that we support at Bcat Threads has launched her own website. On her sight, she displays many photos of her latest designs and photo shoots. She has also included a blog where she talks about her adventures in the fashion industry, new trends, and all the wonderful people she works with in the industry. Jen is a good friend of mine and an accomplished designer in the San Diego fashion world. I praise her work and ethic and think you will all enjoy a little bit of Jennafer Grace designs in your life.
Model Courtney Davis collaborated with Stylist/Designer Jennafer Carter and photographer Garrett Lund to create an edgy photo shoot. Jennafer pulled designs from herself and me, from my Brooke Catherine line. The pictures turned out fabulous! You can check them out in our photo gallery. Some of the items you see in the pictures are also up for sale on our site in our Fall/Winter section.
After meeting at a fashion industry mixer, Elle Leary (http://elleleary.com/) contacted me about working together for a photo shoot. She wanted to use some of my designs, and work with her own photographer and models to create a vision she had in mind. I think you will all agree that her vision was well thought out and presented beautifully. She captures the natural beauty of the models and their surroundings. You see each photo as a work of art capturing the nature of fashion. You can see more photos in our photo gallery (http://bcatthreads.com/g-1136-new-photo-shoot.html).
Every once in a while our happy customers will send us an email or a picture of themselves wearing our designs. It always makes me happy and excited about putting a smile on someone else's face when they wear my designs. This picture was sent by the mother of the girl wearing my suspender skirt to a poetry reading. The mother wanted to buy something special for her daughter's birthday and asked me for suggestions. Thank you, LuAnn for supporting me in this wonderful world of fashion. :)
Jennafer Grace, one of Bcats top selling designers just added a few of her newest designs. Her style is definitly vintage, but she brings a modern twist with the patters and colors she chooses. You can simply add a belt and cinch that tiny waist of yours to add a new appeal to it!! She has also added a few bikinis and one pieces for the hot summer season. They are also vintage designs, and for those of you feel the need to be a little more modest, some of these designs will be perfect for you!! Check out all of the her newest pieces!! http://bcatthreads.com/b-146.2-jennafer-grace.html
Bcat has added a new line this week called Eclectic Couture. The designer is San Diego based and has a Southern California cute girly feel to her clothing. The designs are short mini-dresses and are perfect for the hot weather coming up this summer. Another plus to this new designer is the moderate prices, which make the dresses all the more appealing!! Check out the website (http://bcatthreads.com/b-733-eclectic-couture.html) ASAP and look at this up and coming designer!!
