Ok, this week was the avant garde challenge. (There was also a second challenge on the show to remake a losing look, but I am just doing the avant garde one). Not only did our look have to be innovative, but it had to be inspired by butterflies. My inspiration was the idea of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.
My idea was that the skirt is a cocoon from which the “butterfly” top of the dress is emerging. The skirt has a straight black inner skirt which is topped with layers of tulle. It is tight at the top and bottom yet billowy in the middle to mimic the shape of the cocoon. The top is bright and silky with a batwing sleeve and simple lines. (Yes, I used that fabric again. It was the best butterfly fabric in my “Mini Mood”.) I don’t know why, but I feel like the finished piece has a little bit of an Asian feel to it.
Oh, I am tired of the Belk accessory wall. I went back and forth between “pretty” heels and work boots with this look. I went safe and went with the heels, but a boot could have been a cool juxtapositioning on the runway.
Am not even sure what the judges would say at this point. I hope they would see my inspiration. I think my playing with shapes is more avant garde than what a lot of the designers on the show did this week. I certainly stand behind it and got the look I envisioned. On to the finals!
© 2005 – 2013 Kathy Lewinski & Susan Cornish
