WAISTCOAT PATTERNS

I wanted to write a little bit about waistcoats in this post, since that is the subject of my latest YouTube videos.

The Waistcoat/Vest is a very versatile piece of garment. It can be used in many different ways, depending of the choice of fabric. 

For example in the summer, without anything else like a T-shirt. Or you can use more informally with just a T-shirt or shirt under.

Or more formally, as part of a three-piece pant- or skirt suit of course. You can create the Waistcoat in different styles, with or without lapel and collar, and evt. add a back-strap for adjustment.

 

-And to illustrate I tried to find some examples of the Waistcoats, that I have made. But it was before the Internet took off and I started to document what I make.

But at least I found one, that I made many years ago. The same summer as I made a Gala dress for my cousin.

As you can see, this waistcoat was a very casual one. It was made of Ikat-wowen fabric, that a good friend from Copenhagen brought home from Burma. 

Ikat fabric is a dying technique used to create a distinct style of textile patterns and it is done by rersist dying sections of the yarns prior to the weaving. In Ikat the resist is created by binding individual yarns or bundles of yarns with a tight wrapping, applied in the desired pattern. 

My cousin Lotte and I, late nineties.

THE STORY OF A GALA DRESS

I don't think I ever told the story about this particular Dress, that was made for a very special occasion years ago.

This dress was created during my formal years at The University of Fashion Design and Crafts in Odense, Denmark. Take a look at my Resume in the menu above.

 

Dress design and Lay-out, John F. Clément, Model, Trine Bolander

One day in 1998, a teacher, the late Bente Solander approached me, to ask if I would like to participate in the Danish Master ships competition for Tailor and design students in Copenhagen. I think it was well in advance, so of course I accepted the Challenge.

We were only two from the University that were asked to participate. I participated in the Gala Dress category and my friend Coco in the Tailor suit category with a pink pants suit.

I became quite busy, working on this dress next to all my studies.

Beside filling out the participation papers, I had to decide which design I wanted to present and what kind of material was best suited. So, I designed different suggestions, before I decided which one to use.

I ended up with this Corset dress design, that you see above. I choose a multi patterned viscose fabric and used a polyester organdy as underlining. I hand-basted all the layers together, before overlocking and sewing them together. To hold up the dress I attached a supporting inner corset with boning to the dress and hand-stiched the facing inside the corset. I also used a lot of hand-stiching to finish the wide train-hem.

From the beginning I knew I wanted to use my good friend Trine as a model. Luckily she said yes and I had a few fittings in Copenhagen, where she lived. 

She used to model, so she presented the dress very well on the runway in front of the audience and judges.

All in all, the event was a very nice experience although neither of us won anything. 

Later on, I decided to transform this dress into a short cocktail dress with a cowl neck, that eventually was sold. Additionally I made a Corset out of the leftovers, that is still available, should anyone be interested. 

MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST

I realize, some people might find it difficult to categorize me, because I from time to time am alternating between Designing and making clothes to different Art-forms, as Abstract painting, Photography or Content creation on YouTube.

 

 Lisbeth wearing thunder-blue Couture gala dress with black tulle. 

From a photo-session at the Kgl. Gipsafstøbnings Samling, Copenhagen.

That's just how it is. I see no reason to constrain yourself to only one specific Art-form, if you have the ability to be creative in various artistic fields. Do you?

I've always have had the urge to create something with my hands. This process often begins with an idea and then they just keep coming. -Almost to the point that I can't keep up.

So, some projects doesn't always get finished, before I start new ones. Except for client requests of course. 

I always have several projects going on at once. -And before you know it, you end up with a lot creative projects. 

My Atelier are full of special designed clothes on several racks and abstract paintings in all sizes. 

So, if you are intrigued and want to own an exclusive designer dress, -skirt or a piece of abstract art, you are more than welcome to come by and have look. Just notify me in advance. 

I am curious, if this resonates out there. It would like to connect, if you know what I am talking about and have the same abilities. 

ONLINE ART GALLERY

For a long time I have experimented with online presentations of my paintings.

-And since I have closed my Instagram account long time ago, I thought it was time to explain my experiments here on my blog. 

Often, I zoom in or out on my originally abstract paintings, to get a new perspective and ideas for coming paintings.

-Illustrated in these particular paintings, that is from a series I called Cosmos.  

 Paintings from Online Gallery by Atelier John F. Clément

As mentioned before, in my view abstract art leaves plenty of room for different levels of interpretations. 

I am especially attracted to expressive abstract painting, because it has the ability to uplift, transform and even heal, if you give it a chance and take your time to wonder and reflect in front of it. 

My paintings are usually worked over a longer period of time. My approach is often intentional at first, with specific colors and a composition in mind. 

But as soon as I start, intuition takes over and the composition, often ends up in surprising ways, with bold colors, a lot of texture and several layers, until I find what I’m looking for. 

This process continually allows me to explore new possibilities. I never know where this journey leads me and how it turns out, which is why it's so intriguing. 

Take a look into this Virtual Gallery on LinkedIn, where I play around with different formats and sizes of my paintings to illustrate what I mean. I am open for commissions and would love Gallery representation.

To know more about me and my Art-practice and prices, reach out and connect. 

Feel free to comment or ask, if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day everyone.

ORGANIZING A FASHION EXHIBITION

Photo Session at Tidens Samling, Odense

This particular Cocktail dress was made for a very special occasion many years ago. My ten years Fashion Jubilee Exhibition in 2010 at The Exhibition building for Art and Design in Odense, Denmark.  

Ten years of making Made-to-measure clothes for a discerning clientele called for a celebation. The exhibition took a lot of preparations, so it had to be planned well in advance.

First I booked the place. Then I decided I wanted to design ten unique dresses, one for each year. 

But I also wanted to put something relevant on the walls. I chose ten famous fashion quotes from different designers, that I admired, bought the frames and glued on the quotes.

I had two dress-forms myself and borrowed the rest from my former Principal at The University of Fashion design & Crafts, where I graduated from in 1999.

And I wanted to elevate my designs, so I had three big podiums made with some help from my father and one of his friends. 

Along side all of that, I was designing the dresses, making the patterns, buying the fabric and sewing all the dresses, with some help from friends and interns with the finer details.

For example, on this asymmetric cocktail dress, that is made out of a duchess silk, underlined with silk organdy, a friend was hand sewing the black applications and a lot of different jet-pearls on to the dress. It’s about a size 8/38 Eu and still available.

I had to write and send out Press releases and not to forget Invitations for the reception that you can see here. 

Just to show you what goes into an exhibition like this. I could not have done it without all this help and the support from my husband.