K.I.S.S.

Hello there,

Have you ever been told to KISS?
Here's the nice translation: KISS = Keep It Simple Sweetheart.
It's something that has been passed down from one engineer to another at my 'other' job. The underlying advice is that while you can make things very complicated and fancy, you really should consider that keeping it simple may just be the way to go.

Why am I telling you this?
The feature piece in this week's blog post is about keeping it simple. I watch as many fashion design competition shows as I can and I often hear the judges criticize the designers for creating something that has already been done. That used to make me think that a fashion designer must always create something  new and different. There are many ideas that have I have tossed out because a Google search revealed that someone else had done it ... that was until my discussion with my aunt who owns her own design company: Osuare. She explained that sometimes, to make an impact, you just have to look for the simple things and do them your own way.

So here's my simple double peplum top; my way.
If you like it, you can place an order and I'll make one for you too. :)

Iro Wrap Skirt

Hello there,

Happy New Year!!!!

It's my 1st post of the year!!!

... and we're 3 weeks into 2016.
To be honest, I wanted my 1st post to be something grand and special like I've seen on other sewing and DIY blogs; some big revelation of an awesome resolution or a sneak peek at a new project I'm working on/just completed.
This isn't any of those and I'm just going to continue doing my thing ... there'll be time for grand posts later ... keep an eye out :).

I made this outfit on something like a whim.

I bought the red crepe fabric initially to make a dress to wear to the wedding that I made this gold lace dress for. I was going to put gold applique on the dress. Well, that didn't happen. I spent all my time on orders and ran out of time to make something for myself.
I did start another red dress with gold applique later - I'll let you know when it gets finished :). 

I've had the lace fabric for over a year: it was a gift from my mum and I was saving it for something special. I hadn't deemed anything special enough so in the stash it stayed. I saw an outfit by Deola Sagoe on Instagram and it looked like a wrapper but fit like a skirt; at least that's how it looked to me. I thought I'd try something similar but knee length and since the red crepe fabric was a perfect match, this outfit was born.

Enjoy the pictures :)

Front View

Side View 

(notice where it 'wraps'?)

Back View

(notice where it 'wraps'?)

'Twas a bit chilly out (not like the 'freezy' it is now *sigh*)

Stappy Cage Top

* Hi there.
I think I've mentioned that August was a very, very busy month. All in all, I think I made 11 pieces of clothing ... I don't know how I did that with everything else that was going on.
Thank God for grace!!!! and strength!!!!
Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll have all the pieces in one post as a reminder to me that "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

This week's post is about my first cage style top for a wedding on August 29th. The sister of the bride wanted this style which she had seen online and a pencil skirt. It took a bit of thinking before execution to figure out how to make the style but I think I did well.

** Enjoy the pictures below.

** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs and Facebook: Zichie Designs

Finished Look

Inside the pencil skirt (I cut the dart threads later).
It was to be very fitted so I added a slit for ease of walking.

Finished the main bodice (except for closure) with 3 straps on the front and 2 on the back as part of the bodice. I made them longer than needed with plans to trim them after the fitting.

Made the armhole and neckline straps and pinned everything in place; ready for the first fitting.

Adjusted the straps during the fitting then sewed them down. Also added the zipper to the top and took in the skirt a wee bit at the hips.

Voila!

Special Request: Crop Top and Maxi Skirt

    * Ms. Ju sent Zi a picture of her style inspiration: she wanted me to make an off-shoulder crop top and a puffy maxi skirt in African print fabric. This was for an African Tradition and Culture event at her school last month. To achieve the 'puffy' look, I made a petticoat to be worn under the skirt.
  ** Enjoy the pictures below :).
*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.

Custom Order - Sight Unseen

* Miss W placed her order with a phone call, 2 emails and a skirt (along with the outfit fabric) sent to me through a friend. This is the first time I ever made a custom order without actually seeing the client and it fit!!!
Normally, I ask my clients to come in for a fitting when I am about 80% done with their outfits so you can imagine my concern when Miss W called and said she won't be able to make it into town (Chester, PA from New York) as planned. I was a bit concerned but with one shot to get this right, I re-checked all her measurements, sent her pictures of the progress and made changes as she suggested over text messages.
** After she received the outfit, she sent me a message saying "Thank you. It fit perfectly and I got a lot of compliments'. Phew! Thank God :) and I mean that sincerely.
*** In retrospect, the lighting could have been better ...

1st Email: Picture of the Style of the Top (Minus the Peplum) She Wanted from Clairnadine

(2nd email had her measurements)

Shopping for Contrasting Fabric

(went with the 2nd one)

1st Picture of the New Skirt with the Sample Skirt

2nd Picture: She Said Make It Shorter

Final Looks: Long Skirt and Short(er) Skirt

Baby Blue Sunshine: Hi-Lo Lace Top and Skirt

* For this week, I want to showcase Zi's latest creation: this lace top and skirt set made for a special little lady. Zi has become the go-to gal for lace hi-low skirts; remember the white one in this post? She has also made one in pink and this one in blue. The blue set is a good-bye gift as the little princess and her queen were moving to Texas ... we'll miss them.
* Check us out on Instgram: @zichie_designs and @e_fazion

Enjoy the pictures below.

New Top Design - Not Sure What To Call It

* In November of 2014, I was Christmas gift shopping when I saw a picture of a doll in a dress that inspired this design. The dress was fit and flare and the bottom was 2-tiers: one floral and one solid pink. It got me thinking ... what if the bodice and first tier were a blouse that could be paired with any bottoms from skirts to shorts to pants to leggings? And while I'm thinking about it, how about a hi-low hemline?

** On Thanksgiving Day, I got Zi's measurements and brought my vision to life in kente print fabric. It worked!!! I was invited to a company's end-of-year dinner party and I made another version of the top in a lovely gold and black brocade that made me think of flames and paired it with the very first high-waist skirt I made. My version of a LBD dress :).
Enjoy the pictures below.

*** Check us out on Instagram: @zichie_designs

The Top in Black & Gold Flames paired with a Pencil Skirt

 +

 I like how the opening in the front resembles a flame too.

Added black tights, black sandals, gold hair flower and black & gold earrings to complete the night's look.

The Top in Kente Print Fabric