WHAT´S ON IN FASHION?

If you need a fashion fix during your summer vacation, I have a few suggestions. These Fashion Exhibitions are going on at the moment and is definitely worth a visit. . .

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier - From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk. . .

- at The Barbican Centre, London from 9 April 2014 - 25 August 2014.

Jean Paul Gaultier: Be My Guest

- at Fashion Space Gallery, London from 11 April - 26 July 2014

Charles James - Beyond Fashion
May 8 - August 10, 2014

 - at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

- both at The Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Let me know what you think, if you get there. Or leave a comment if you have other suggestions. Enjoy and have a nice summer.

EXCLUSIVE COUTURE PRESENTATIONS

The Rack

For the reason of my previous post, I am going to sell most of the dresses I have on the rack. These one-of-a-kind dresses can be yours for a very favorable price.

If you have a hard time finding a really unique dress, you should consider to gather together a few girlfriends and book a private presentation of my unique collection of cocktail-, evening- and gala- dresses for all occasions.

These exclusive presentations is only for groups between 3-5 ladies and is on offer for Dk 150,- per person. It includes a glass of champagne with a little snack.

I will tell a bit about my background, motivation and present you for special made-to-measure dresses, where the hallmark is design, quality and fit.
You will be able to get answers on some of your questions and try on some of the dresses. The dresses are primarily in sizes 38-42.

Check out the Menu for inspiration and to see what I have done during the years.

Notice! This special offer will only run through this summer - so don´t hesitate to contact me.

 Photos: John Frantsen

ONCE UPON A TIME. . .

Model: Trine, Photo: Karen Relster

-There was a small shop, situated in Overgade, Odense, Denmark. The shop was named, John Frantsen Couture.

At John Frantsen Couture all your dreams, regarding dressing for whatever occasion, fulfilled.
As owner and designer, I created made to measure and fulfilled every clients wish. From that time, I have many good memories and nice experiences with various clients.

I even tried to pass on my knowledge by taking in as many apprentices as I could.
Since then, years went by, where I subsequently changed business name a few times, due to different circumstances. 

This might have passed unnoticed, but nevertheless I continued my business from my own private home.

Even though it´s a rarity these days, I am still holding on to this metier, because I am very passionate about it.

The Atelier, where I am fulfilling the wishes of every individual customer, conscious of style and quality, still exists to this day.

For more info, take a look at the Services at the top-menu or explore the Galleries.

Old customers are very welcome to share their experiences here on my blog. -In what ever language they prefer  ;o)

A NEW EXPERIENCE !

Since last, I´ve started at "The biggest Bridal shop in Denmark", as a correction-tailor in their workshop. We are a small team, that takes care of all the corrections from the fittings of the party- and wedding dresses they sell.

I am getting some new experience and already I´ve found out that it is not something I´m going to do forever.
I have just been confirmed in my own assumptions, how quality and price is linked together. You get what you pay for - nothing less, nothing more.

It can be really frustrating to fix corrections, that staff who haven´t got the knowledge to do, have done. It would be much easier to find the right dress in a size as close to the customer as possible. Then the corrections would be easier to do in time.
Even if the shop has the biggest selection, it can be hard, if there is only one of each, especially if the dress you like, is not available in the right size.

Simply because, there is a limit for, how far from one´s size you can correct a dress, so that it is fitting well without losing all of it´s features.
Some corrections can´t simply not be done and others are so complicated, that it takes hours to fix them. Sometimes it´s actually almost faster to do a new dress instead.

 Inspiring weddingdress from the American designer,  
Irene Lentz (1900 - 1962)

Do I need to say, that its a completely different story to have a made-to-measure dress made.

Here the starting point will be your mesures, your idéas and wishes. You will get a totally unique wedding dress in a good quality, that fits perfect.

If you are interested, read more under Services in the menu.

A NEW SALON

Since I / we haven´t been lucky looking for a new workshop/showroom, I decided to rearrange my workshop and showroom and move it into our living room, to have it more presentable.

The Salon Collection is displayed here. I´m open for business and have some very good offers, if you or you and your friends would like to take a closer look and try some of the dresses. Just get in touch and make an appointment.

 Photos: John Frantsen

Read more about what I can offer in Services and take a look of some of the dresses in the Dress Gallery. I´m looking forward to see you.

THE ONE AND ONLY MRS. BOND

  

The 50 anniversary Exhibition of Agent 007 alias James Bond at The Barbican Centre in London has now moved on to Toronto and will also show in Shanghai next year.

But I would like to present Countess Tracy di Vicenzo, played by Diana Rigg  "On her Majesty´s Secret Service" in 1969. She is the only Bond-girl who ever married James Bond, played by George Lazenby, though it only lasted to the end of the movie, where she was killed.
Maybe some of you also remember her as Emma Peel in the cult British television series The Avengers. I was a big fan back then.

Since I have been especially fascinated by the 60´ies style in some of the first Bond Movies, I would like to show her bold wedding-outfit from the movie, as an inspiration for coming brides.

I think it was the very contemporary style and the attitude that made this decade so influental in fashion until this day.

  

 Photos from Google Images

A BRIDAL FEATURE

One of my first assignments, when I first opened my shop, was given to me by Ulla Sandberg, a local fashion-journalist,.

She asked me and two other local designers to give our take on an unconventional bridal gown for their upcoming special wedding-section.

It was a welcoming commission and the attention meant a lot for my business. My proposition turned out like this. . .

It was back in 1991, but I wonder if time has made brides more courageous. Would you wear something like this today or do you prefer a more traditional gown ? Feel free to leave a comment below.

THE BRIDAL CORSET

As promised last week, here are a few pictures from the happy bride, in the laced, creme-coloured bridal-corset with black lace on top and sleeves.

She had a wonderfull day and everybody liked her dress. It´s always nice to get feedback like that. Don´t you think she looks radiant in her very personal weddingdress?

NEW FASHION FABRICS

As promised here are the new fabrics, that I purchased in Montreal. I draped them on a mannequin to make you imagine what could become of them.

This beautiful silk-piece would be perfect for a woman who is not afraid to stand out.

This neutral, but effectful silk-organdy could even be used for a short wedding- or cocktaildress.

Last, but not least this "burned-out"-piece could be a nice choice for a premiere or an evening out.

If you would like to be dressed in one of them, please don´t hesitate. There is only enough for one-dress-of-a-kind and you will not see anybody else look-a-like.

FAIRYTALE COSTUMES

-Once upon a time, there was a Snow Queen. . . and a Nightingale. -You know how the story goes.

 

 

Costume Design & photos by John F. Clément

 

These were two of three dresses from a past Costume-exhibition, that were inspired by the fairytales of world famous writer, Hans Christian Andersen, who was born in Odense, Denmark.

I put together this exhibition with friend and colleague, Birgitte Ubbe, at The City hall of Odense.  -To celebrate his 200 years anniversary in 2005.

The exhibition consisted of six costumes all in all, three each.

The Nightingale that is shown here, wore a fine silk brocade corset with a peplum and long skirt with tulle and a train. She carried her own empty golden cage in one hand.

The Snow Queen wore a long flared skirt, a corset top with a long triangular train and a bolero with an attached pointed hat. All made in underlined silk taffeta.

The third mannequin wore a black transparent dress with long flared sleeves and a pointed hat, posing as the witch from the Tinderbox. All made in silk organza.

But, I was just thinking, that these costumes also might do as wedding-dresses as well. If you imagine them in the right fabric and colors of course. -For the dramatic bride, who wants to make a statement perhaps.

How does your wedding dress look like? Like a Fairytale Queen or more simple or practical ?

Get inspiration from my previous posts or take a look at Designer- and Wedding dresses in the top menu, for more.

A VINTAGE WEDDING DRESS

My mothers pale blue wedding-dress with white lace and beautiful rose detailing from Lilly is 50 years old, but looks quite stylish and contemporary, I think.

Maybe it´s because short dresses and the look of it, has a revival in these years. With that I´m wishing all of you a very nice weekend.

My parents 1962 

FABRIC ADDICTION

If you are in a creative field, you may be familiar with this addiction.

Even though I have a lot of fabrics on stock, I always get tempted, when I shop for sewing-stuff and discover new exciting fabrics, ideas immediately pops to my mind. 
Usually it is a nice colour, a special pattern, texture and the quality of the fabric that attracts me. I always buy it, because you never know if it will be there later on.

But - I have plenty of projects to finish before I can start new ones.

At the moment I´m trying to finish four different bridal-projects : a short skirt, a short- and two long dresses. With that, have a great weekend out there everybody.

"SAY YES TO THE DRESS"

-Is a TLC reality series which follows events at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. 

-And "What Not to wear", are programs  I have been watching while in Montreal. But now TLC appears here in Denmark too, as a program you can select, after a free viewing period.

It´s funny to watch as a professional, because you get a glimpse of how things works over there.
Watching the first one from the famous bridal shop today, made me wonder about how woman shop for their wedding gowns.
 

Women wants to feel very special on their wedding day. So, a One-of-a-kind dress should be their first choice.
But I guess most women wants a big selection to choose from and that is what Kleinfeld´s is offering. They have the largest and finest selection of designer wedding gowns in the world. Of course that´s great, except when you don´t know what you want. The bigger the choice, the harder it is to choose.

In case you didn't know, I can make The One-of-a-kind wedding dress, if you know what you want. Just give me a call and make an appointment without any obligation.

A PHOTO SESSION

In 2002, I was co-organizer of and participant in a Wedding Fair that took place at the Odd fellow Mansion in Odense, Denmark.
We wanted to do a small and intimate Wedding Fair as an alternative to the big ones, where you often get lost.

In connection with that, I needed some studio-photos of my dresses. Luckily one of the participating photographers offered me to take some photos at her studio, because she needed pictures like that, a win win-situation.

-And my dear friend, Trine from Copenhagen, who worked as a model once, agreed to pose. Which she did quite good, as you can see in these photos.

Design: John Frantsen, Model: Trine Bolander

Photos: Karen Relster

Do I need to say, the Wedding Fair turned out to be a success. A one-of-a-kind experience, but a nice one.

ROMANTIC BRIDALGOWN

Take a look at the gown I have been working on, next to the orders I had recently. It is part of my wedding collection. 

Are  you a romantic Bride-to-be? Just imagine, wouldn't this very romantic gown be perfect for your spring-/summer wedding. The cut is pretty classic, but the nice fabric sets it apart, I think.

The gown is made out of embroidered shantung-silk and underlined with silk organdy and about a size 8/38, just waiting for the right bride, to be lined and finished.

Photos: John Frantsen