The Main Event - Part 2

Fashion has a reputation for being a superficial scene full of egos and competition, but my connotation is basically the (silly edit) photo above.  I design because I love it.  When I'm showing my garments in a gallery, on stage, or in a fashion show, I am displaying my most honest self because designing allows me to express myself in ways I wouldn't be able to otherwise.  It takes hours and hours to create each of my one-of-a-kind dresses, and although it's frustrating balancing time between designing and everything else, I can't stop doing it.  I won't stop, because it makes me feel like the photo above.  My whole heart goes in to each one of my designs, and I appreciate everyone who has been following my fashion adventures.  Your support means the world to me! 

Anyways, on to the fun stuff!  Here are the runway photos from last week's MainEvent20 

Fashion Show.  My models totally owned the outdoor runway.   

Ribbon Dress
Model: Chelsea Korte

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Hydrangea Dress and Necklace
Model: Alaina Agnello

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Summer Dress and Peony Necklace
Model: Mychaela Cooper

Venice Dress
Model: Alexis Susalla

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Dogwood Dress and Necklace
Model: Stacy Binelli

Caftan Dress
Model: Mya Wilson

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Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Hurricane Dress
Model: Courtney Peterson

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Tulip Dress and Neckpiece
Model: Elizabeth McBryde

Crane Dress
Model: Alexandra McLeod

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Magnolia Dress and Necklace
Model: Mychaela Cooper

Ghost Dress
Model: Alaina Agnello

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Spring Dress
Model: Chelsea Korte

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

You know how I was talking about how much I love designing?  You can tell at the end of a show by the way I look...similar to a happy spastic lemur.  Maybe one day it will get old and I'll look cool, calm and collected...but I really hope it doesn't. ♥ 

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Photo by Anastasia Cheatham

Hydrangea Dreams

 

hydrangea dress and necklace

Here's another painted dress/kozo jewelry combo from my most recent shoot!

Photographer- Anastasia Cheatham
Designer- Bridget Sullivan
Model- Emilia Schmier
MUA & Hair- Cory Peltier

 I've been loving experimenting with painting on dresses. It's so meditative...a major stress reliever!

Fashionspeak 2014

This past October I had the opportunity to present at Fashionspeak 2014.  My boss at Lear Corporation and I conducted a 70 minute workshop in front of an audience of over 200 people.  We talked about what we do as automotive fabric designers, and how fashion influences our work.  I never imagined that my education in fashion design would lead to a career in the automotive industry.  We hoped to show the audience, especially the students, that design skills can be transferable, and inspire them to possibly try something out of their comfort zone.

Jeanette and I presenting

Samurai Ballerina

I am one of 10 fashion designers competing in the "Beyond the Armor" fashion challenge sponsored by the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Garment Guild.  We were given a private tour of the facinating "Beyond the Armor" Samurai exhibit at the DIA, and challenged to design garments inspired by what we learned and saw.

Here is my final design!

I was inspired by 'Reeds and Cranes," a silk painted folding screen painted by Suzuki Kiitsu.  He was trained by a powerful Samurai artist named Sakai Hoitsu, who adopted him and elevated him to the elite Samurai class. 

Leather Paaaants

I got to collaborate with NYC jewelry designer Alex Streeter in a photo shoot for his most recent lookbook, photographed by Easton Schirra.  Featured were the Titanic Dress and pair of leather pants I custom-made for this shoot, seen below!

For more information on this dress, click here.

Michigan Style!

Oh my gosh I have so much to write about!  

Last month I had the honor of being featured in Styleline Magazine:

I was also part of the NOiR fashion show at the University of Michigan.  The event supported Food Gatherers, an Ann Arbor organization that works to alleviate hunger in the community.

Without Limits

Or at least it feels that way...Esperanza Spalding performed in my Marie Antoinette jacket Austin, Texas at the Austin City Music Festival on Friday!  I love this picture of her!

Photo by Matt Ellis

The Barnacle Dress in Tokyo!

What in the world?  One of my dresses made it to Asia!

Esperanza Spalding performed in the Barnacle Dress in Tokyo, Japan this week!

This Titanic-inspired dress is made from kozo fiber and hand-dyed raw silk.  

You can find more information about in earlier posts...here and also here, and below you can see the process of making the dress from start to finish!

New York New Dress

I bought this dress for $10 at thrift store and gave it a makeover!  

This is the first dress I've made in New York! I don't have a machine here yet so it was all done by hand. 

Musica e Moda in Italia!

My dresses have been having such a lovely tour of Europe this summer, I'm a little jealous!
Esperanza Spalding performed in the Delphinium Dress in Bard Fortress, Italy on July 21st.

Concert photo by Dan Hallas

You can see more pictures and inspiration behind this design here, 

and also on Esperanza's amazing style blog: Happily Ever Delphinium