Trim &Fit

The girls headed out for Marché St. Pierre, Paris' infamous neighborhood known for fabrics, notions and trims. The best known stores in the area include Dreyfus, Rennes Tissus, Moline, and Coins des Affairs (the latter selling only fabric remnants).


And while the French really don't like selling less than 50 cm lengths (about 1/2 yard), we found lots of floral cotton squares sold (2€) for quilting. The scale of the prints was perfect, so we purchased a few to make Spring floral dresses and flowered pants.



It was not until we entered the 'notions' annex to Dreyfus, that the girls became very excited. It is a veritable treasure trove of ribbons and trims, notions and craft supplies. Here is where we found sheer ribbon with wired edges--something normally used for gift packages. We were able to wrap and wind them into original shapes around the doll shoulders. And Voila!! Instant fashion.



Earlier, while climbing up the rue de Steinkerque which leads to the Sacre Coeur cathedral as well as the fabric district, we passed endless junky tourist shops. But one man's junk is another doll's treasure!



My dolls spotted ruffled lace scarves that add a feminine touch to any outfit. We bought 1/2" crocheted lace to duplicated it.





And finally, with the Cannes Film Festival less than two weeks away, we thought we'd better start preparing. The more beautiful the lace or trim, the more impact it adds to the look and the less work you need to do.



For the gown featured here, we cut a length and created a 1-piece corset for the top. The bottom is a simple gathered skirt cut from silk taffeta. We twisted the skirt close to her ankles. The fabric is crisp and stays in place. We took another small length of the lace trim to use as a stole and wrapped it around the doll's arms. Simple and elegant.



Follow us on Twitter:@FashDollStylist

All text and images property of © Fashion Doll Stylist. 2013. Please do not reproduce without prior permission.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone