new things...

I'll be debuting a new dress collection next week...can't wait to show you "the new girls." Stay tuned!

Hello, Spellbound.

New for 2012. 

Just a little new thing I'm working on.

Don't worry, it's not a bridal belly shirt. It will go all the way down. Silk crepe + Alençon lace = double nice. Excited about this one.

Sometimes, you just know.

It's French (of course), ornamented all over with a twining foil embroidery, and it's the most elusively perfect shade of platinum-y ivory, like it leapt out of the 1920s and into my arms. My little head is a-swim with wild ideas. This will make the gauziest, prettiest gown for a very, very special schoolbook-fairy bride. I know you're out there…I just haven't met you yet.

New things.

The machines are humming, scissors are snipping and things are busy, busy here in the studio. Dress orders for summer weddings, and finishing up a really exciting custom gown. Also: designing my new collection! Can't wait to show you more...stay tuned.

Studio tour.

Kate Maxwell paid a visit to The English Dept. and my design studio, and took some very nice photos. Thanks, Kate! More here.

Elizabeth Dye is my real name.

And sometimes, I live up to it...like when the perfect shade of blush pink tulle just doesn't exist in the world.

vintage.

Bits of a vintage silk organza gown have a new life in store...

a new one.

...still kind of a secret.

Lovely trunk show May 15-16

We're in the studio working up lots of one-of-a-kind pieces for the upcoming Lovely trunk show. If you're in the NYC area and in need of a special little frock, I'll be bringing a sweet collection of short dresses, gowns made from limited edition materials, and a few surprises. Watch the Lovely web site for more details.

The lady of the hour...

is definitely Oysters & Pearls. Here are a couple in progress.

Waiting in the wings.

{Mostly} Giselles and Ghosts waiting to go out to their girls.

Postcard from the secret laboratory.

True, posting has been a bit sparse of late--my sewing machine is a jealous mistress. To each and every one of you lovely ladies who has chosen to wear one of my dresses for your wedding day, I am truly honored. So honored, that for now it's less typing, more sewing! Thank goodness the weather has been absolutely rotten. Nothing keeps a girl on task quite like a Portland spring.

Oysters & Pearls (full length) for Amy.

Adieu, Bella Flora

This little lady is about to leave the studio to meet her new destiny as Brooke's wedding dress, but I did want to give her a proper goodbye photo shoot. I wish I could say that the gauzy, vignette-y photo technique is intentional, but really I can only do so well with my point-and-shoot once the afternoon light has fled my windows. Hopefully Brooke will have some sunnier wedding photos to share--that's always best.

How I spent my Christmas vacation.

Tea-dyed and hand-applied antique guipure lace over silk organza. For Tasha.

"necklace..."

I'm playing with this neckline idea of gestural details creating "jewelry" on the dress. Hard to get a decent photo in this rainstorm!

Beginning

The 2010 bridal season has crept up on 2009, and I have started some new custom dresses. If they're all like Tasha's, it's going to be a smashing year. This very special dress is embroidered all over with 100-year-old guipure lace. This lace is all made from small pieces from my collection, cut apart and reassembled as a collage of blossoms. They've been hand-tinted and tea dyed to harmonize in color. The bodice will be fully covered in lace, tapering down the skirt in a scatter pattern to the hem. More pictures as it comes together.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Lisa Warninger, my favorite photographer. This is from a photo shoot we did back in February--two of my dresses, one modeled by the lovely Anna Adams. Lisa is shooting my 2010 bridal collection next week and I feel like the queen of the prom...

Storyville dress.

The first creation in my new studio! A bit racy, a bit demure. Black and gold stripes look very smart, don't you think? I named it Storyville because the fabric reminds me of this haunting Bellocq photo:

dot dot dot

Quick snaps of custom dress flowers, dotted tulle ruffle bolero, and dotted tulle dress flounce for Christine, a lovely Los Angeles bride who's been correspondence-collaborating with me on her dress...