Fun Fashion Dailies #22-28

Four weeks ago, I began an illustration project. It was one fashion drawing per day using the same illustrated body template. Over that period I have drawn 28 different looks. Some of which were inspired by pop culture, and most were my own ideas.

I initially thought to make this a 365 day project, but I wasn't sure I could maintain that. So I took it on a week to week basis. And if I managed to keep it up one month then that would be an achievement. So now the question is, do I take the project to five weeks?

Day 22
Dusty Rose

Day 23
Purple & White

Day 24
Lagoon

Day 25
Sci Fi

Day 26
Funny Face

Day 27
Palm Trees

Day 28
Hydrangea

Fun Fashion Dailies #15-21

Recently, I began a new illustration project. One fashion drawing per day using the same illustrated body. I have been doing this three weeks straight. In the scenario that I miss a day, then I play catch up by doing two drawings the next day.

Day 15
Inspiration: loom bands

Day 16
Inspiration: flowers

Day 17
Inspiration: Veronica in Heathers

Day 18
Inspiration: leaves and fence

Day 19
Inspiration: hooded dress

Day 20
Inspiration: blues

Day 21
Inspiration: Romana the Timelord

Leonard St Display

© Leonard St.

I am proud to announce (I love starting an entry like this) that Leonard St. are stocking my handmade pieces in their Fitzroy boutique.

Leonard St. is an ethical, Australian based fashion label with emphasis on bold statements and individual expression.

If you're in the Fitzroy area, or plan on visiting there, go into Leonard St. Check out the clothes and my handmade pieces currently on display.

© Leonard St.

Leonard St – Fitzroy
132 Gertrude St
Fitzroy VIC 3065
T: +61 3 9415 7821fitzroy@leonardstreet.com.au

Guilded Fire

© Melissa Gaggiano

Another gorgeous doll design concept. She's on fire!

Ripponlea Draws Me In

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

A spontaneous trip to Ripponlea Estate was the perfect anecdote to suburban winter blues. The estate is host to a 20s-30s fashion exhibit, so between that and walking the gardens I exposed myself to a new source of inspiration in my work.

The exhibit Night Life continues for an extended period (until 27th August) at Ripponlea Estate. Check it out while you still can.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

Concept Futura

    This afternoon I created in Adobe Illustrator this idea that was bouncing around in my head. An outfit that could either be sportswear or office wear depending on the materials that are used to make it.

Cat Rabbit & Sausage Dogs

    Today I took the girls for a train ride into the city. It was a beautiful day for it, and I wouldn't even let a squished banana [gross!] mar the day. We visited NGV to say hello to Cat Rabbit in the Great Hall [I just love saying that – Great Hall], who was running a workshop: Dog Mechanics with Soft Stories. The girls sat down and made their own paper sausage dogs and got to admire a hilarious and colourful sausage dog factory which was designed and built by Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles.

© Melissa Gaggiano

    This was followed by a roam into the NGV atelier, which housed the Viktor & Rolf for Kids event. The girls sat down and made their own fashion art using a variety of paper materials, staples and a hole puncher. I couldn't help myself! I had to sit down and join the fun. I made a hat that would have made Isabella Blow rather proud. Gwen proudly wore the hat for me and paraded it for the rest of our city trip. Perhaps I missed my calling as a milliner.

     Before heading off to eat lunch [prepared Vegemite and peanut butter sandwiches] I chose a kids fashion activity book from the Viktor & Rolf souvenir shop. On the train ride home I read some of the book to the girls. Going to have some rainy day fun with the girls doing the activities in this book.

© Melissa Gaggiano

    I look forward to returning to NGV to visit the main Viktor & Rolf exhibit.

    The Cat Rabbit workshop will continue to Thursday this week. If you're going to be in the city with the kids and looking for free fun NGV is a great place to go. The paper crafting is good, quiet fun, and the sausage factory on display is worth a good long stare. If you can't make it you can check out this video of the factory.

Pretty in Pink

© Melissa Gaggiano

    When I came across this small metreage of pink tulle it called... Nae, in a whispering cry it told me to pick it up and pay for it. At the time I had no need for the fabric. There was no master plan for it to be turned into something more beautiful, or alternatively disastrous. Any fabric addict can understand what I am talking about here.

    As luck would happen I did find a use for this gorgeous material, and much sooner than I had imagined would happen. This tulle had me imagining Marie Antoinette, as played by Kirsten Dunst. Of course I didn't have nearly enough material to create anything that grand. The next best bit of inspiration did come along, in the form of Kylie Minogue.

    The previous week I took my daughters to the Kylie on Stage exhibit. All three of us were utterly enamoured and arrived home with stars, pearls and sequins in our eyes.

    This week is my eldest's birthday and I decided to make her a pretty party dress to celebrate. And so a meeting of many wonderful ideas – Kylie, pink, tulle, sequins, birthday, love for my daughters – culminated in my pattern making and sewing this gorgeous slip of a dress, which can be worn with singlet, shorts and leggings.

By the way, did you know the fabric tulle is named after the French city in which it is manufactured.

Totoro Summer Dress

© Melissa Gaggiano

    This Totoro summer dress has been waiting on the back burner for about a year. Finally it got made with a little help from my eldest. Technically it was her sewing project, but after a round with both the overlocker and sewing machine she gladly let me do the rest. Would you believe I got this made in one day?

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

Thank Glam It's Friday

© Melissa Gaggiano
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    Yes, it's Friday… and how about we add a little glam to it. This Doll Eyes piece is now available in my Red Bubble store. Check it out now!

Lady Down the Street

© Melissa Gaggiano

How I Dress

© Melissa Gaggiano

Splatter that Shoe

Buy "Splatter that Shoe"

    Newsflash: I have new work for sale at my Red Bubble store. Yay for the shoe lovers! Check it out now!

And Sew

© Melissa Gaggiano

    And so, this morning I finished work on the final draft of a new fashion doll. Just a couple more pattern piece tweaks are required before I go ahead and produce a doll for my store.

    After thought: I'll have to think of a name for this doll.

    Just a reminder that I have a blog competition going, which ends this Thursday. Get in there and have a read.

Walk + Dress This Way

Melissa Gaggiano illustration

Made To Order

Made to order: my Etsy store

    In addition to the mermaid dolls, I now have three 'made to order' doll designs available in my Etsy store. Come along, check it out, and share with your family, friends. There is something for everyone - steam punk, fantasy and fashion.

www.etsy.com/au/shop/MelissaGaggiano

Last Minute Doodle Before Bed

Melissa Gaggiano illustration

Goodnight Melbourne!

Lady Squat

A quick fashion doodle. Being in high heels is hard enough. I can't imagine being able to squat in these shoes. But in my imagination anything can happen.

Melissa Gaggiano illustration

FFD

FFD?!?
Fun. Fashion. Doodles.

Melissa Gaggiano illustration

Tropical Doodling

Melissa Gaggiano illustration.

    This was today's doodling. You know, I can so totally see myself wearing a dress like this.