The Norma Desmonds: The new wardrobe

Filippo: You did a great job Giovanna, this idea of using old Edith Head models for Tecla's wardrobe was a stroke of genius
Giovanna: Thank you Filippo, I hope she likes them. The hardest part was adding the leopard accents to each of them. That was boring!

Filippo: You know, the leopard accent is her trademark. The used to own one in the old days. Oh yes, Virginia, the fitting is good, nice job.

Virginia: Oooh, thank you Mr. Filippo!

Giovanna: I won't come with you, I think Virginia shall present the models to her. Because of Enrico, you know.

................

Filippo: Madame Tecla? Your wardrobe is ready, if you wish you can come to the atelier and have a look at the models.
Tecla: Well Filippo, I don't really feel like coming to the atelier. You can bring everything up at my mansion so I shall see it at my convenience.
Filippo: Naturally Madame, how silly of me. We will be there in the afternoon.
Tecla: Very good, Filippo.

.................

Tecla: Max! The wardrobe is ready, finally. They will be here today.
Max: I'll supervise the defille, Madame. Everything as you wish.

..................

Filippo: Madame, let me introduce you to Virginia. She's our designer. She will introduce you each piece of the collection she designed for you.
Virginia: Good afternoon Madame, the clothes shall be modeled by our  models: Greta, Veronica, Vittoria and Camilla
Tecla: They are a bit fat, aren't they? It doesn't matter, let's go ahead. I've been waiting for this collection long enough.

Virginia: As you indicated, I designed dresses in marroon and black, with cheetaa accents.  Each dress has been named after the defining moments of your carreer. The first dress is called "how to divorce a millionaire"

Tecla: I like this one.

Virginia: Thank you Madame. The second dress is called: Untamed

Tecla: Excellent!

Virginia: And this  one is "Indiscreet"

Tecla: I like the coat, the line of the dress is interesting, too.
Virginia: Something classic and something new, Madam. As you requested. And now the Dressing Gown. "Beyond Breakfast"

Tecla: Perfect. Filippo you outdid yourself.
Filippo: Thank you Madame. You're very generous

...............

Filippo and Virginia are going to give the good news to a nervous Giovanna, their ordeal is over (for the time being!)

I'm curious about which is your favourite dress, I'm willing to make some more late 40's early 50's dresses, those Edith Head sketches are beautiful and Costanza wants a wardrobe of her own too!

The Redhead Connection presents: Strolling in Venice

This post has been long overdue, but there's a reason for this. When I planned it I was sure I could use some pictures of Venice we took some ten years ago, unfortunately after desperate searces in the pc and backups we found out we've lost them!

This was pretty bad, so it took me a while before I made up my mind to prepare this post anyway with stock pictures from internet.
As I was free to pick and choose the kind of images of Venice I wanted to use, I decided to show you a slightly diffrent side of Venice. No San Marco Square, no Lido, but little canals, calle and corti (coorts).

Venice is wonderful, one of its wonders is that you have to walk or take ferries to move around the town. Or a Gondola.

I finally managed to start working on a Poppy Parker's wardrobe, so Berenice is very happy to star in a post after quite a while! Furthermore she's here with Giacomo.

Calle de le colonete

Maybe you remember, or maybe not,  they are the "pretty couple" around here. They are just so neat looking!

Corte della Comare

I have to work more on Poppy's dresses proportions, the dress is acceptable but it doesn't fit as I hoped 

Giacomo is wearing mostly an IT outfit, I only made his jeans (these jeans are a favourite over here, I have to sew more of them!)

ca' Barnaba

Calle dei Botteri

The purpose of the  Redhead Connection is  to showcase my beautiful redheaded dolls, so here is our wonderful auburn haired couple: Vittorio and Emilia.

Calle dei Botteri

Vittorio has a new pair of glasses and, with a colourful tank t-shirt and jeans jacket, looks a bit less stuck-up.

Corte dei Preti

Since Margherita found her husband and children, Vittorio needed a girlfriend as gorgeous as he is! Emilia is his perfect match.

Murano - Rio dei Vetrai

Corte Sconta

Emilia is wearing one of Odette's floral dresses, it is a bit short but it really befits her!

Ponte del Megio

Of course as soon as the photosession was over he took Emilia on an extensive tour of Venice's historical Palaces and museums....

I must learn to photograph them always in natural light: they look awesome!

Our medieval trip to Venice is over, the girls loved it!

The Cover: Threats for April

Dressing up Agata: A straw in Boccadasse
Off to Madagascar!!!!
Back from Madagascar


I mixed up the articles of late march and april, so Cecilia will star this month:

Cecilia's quest: Meet me at Universal's

Little Black Dress 5: the 60's - The Golden Era - Dior

The 60's were the golden era of the LBD, I think mostly thanks to Breakfast at Tiffany's and the asounding collection Givenchy designed for Audrey. But the 60's were also the era of the empire waist, so I picked this wonderful dress by Dior.

I love it because is so incredible elegant, the quintessential LBD. And also I wanted something new for Berenice, as soon as I saw this dress I thought it was just the right thing for her to wear!
I used a gabardine fabric and some black ribbon. The shoes are by The Vogue HK (I've ordered some new accessories from them and can't wait to get them!).

I'm pretty proud with the result, I'm seldom truly satisfied but I absolutely adore Berenice in this dress!

As you can see, I couldn't stop photographing her! She's the perfect 60's model, classic but full of spirit!

I even found Poppy's body fun to pose (and at first I nearly hated it) who knows, maybe I should think about adding a new Poppy to my collection!

This issue soundtrack is one of my favourite songs from my all time favourite musical: My fair lady, again a hommage to Audrey and the 60's: "I've grown accostumed to her face" by the great Nat King Cole

Previous instalment:
On the next instalment: Contemporary LBD by Karl Lagerfeld

A Merry Christmas from Billa and the girls!!!

Here's the Christmas Special I've been working at. All the girls wanted to partecipate, but they are too many! So this year the models for the Christmas Cards are:

Costanza

Camilla

Virginia

Caterina

Margherita

And we all wish you all a

70's pinafore dress

Also this dress comes from an old Symplicity pattern, I'm going to do some "variations" on this theme, as I really like how these pinafore dresses suits the dolls. I choose a silk and wool fabric for the pinafore and a pique cotton for the underdress.

Here it is presented by Egle 

 

and Berenice, she's more of a 60's girl but she looks very fine

yes, I'm going to try to fix her hair.....