Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Runway to Bloggers’ Night Out

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I’ve always liked the “runway to red carpet/editorial/music video” posts — with side-by-side comparisons of a dress on the runway and real life — that beauteous blogger Fashion Critic does at Red Carpet Fashion Awards.

Last month’s “runway to red carpet” post on Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman jumped out at me.A  Fashion Critic wrote:

“Many of you have campaigned long and hard for this moment, and you finally have your wish.A  The gorgeous Georgina Chapman modifying her runway designs. Your complaints were that as a designer she should be setting herself apart from clients like Thandie Newton, Jennifer Morrison and Miley Cyrus…”

My second reaction to the people anxiously anticipating a customized moment with Georgina was, “Huh?” (My initial reaction was, “Who the hell would spend time thinking about that?”) As a jewelry designer, I’ve learned that clients are most interested in the pieces they see me wearing. If it’s a one-of-a-kind piece that I’m not selling, they’re disappointed. So, in my opinion, a designer is probably best off wearing exactly what’s available to the customer, rather than “setting herself apart.”

That said, I’m not a clothing designer and I do love to alter my clothes with the help of Jean at Ghost Tailor.A  Here I am, a little worse for wear, in my customized Francis dress after my bloggers’ night out in L.A. From one-sleeved to sleeveless!

zigzagrunwayrealway3

I had a great time with all the blogging wimmins over dinner at Palermo.A  I’d like to share a group photo now but I’m having technical difficulties. Come back tomorrow!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I completely agree with you. I saw Georgina’s Marchesa dress and after seeing her in it…I want it. Bad.

    AND..the Francis dress fits you perfectly! Gorg 😉

    XOXO

  3. WendyB, you could never, ever actually represent that phrase, “worse for wear,” unless you mean definition 2 in the following: worse for wear
    1. if something is the worse for wear, it is in bad condition or damaged because it has been used a lot “This sofa is rather the worse for wear, but it will have to do until we can afford a new one.”
    2. someone who is the worse for wear is very tired or feeling ill “I drank far too much and woke up the next morning feeling rather the worse for wear.” Is that it, honey? Still and all, you posed beautifully, smiled brightly, and showed off your altered outfit very well!

  4. Wow! My anti-spam word is MOVER and I bet you moved L.A. wearing this FAB dress because you solely could cause an earthquake! YOU ROCK!!!

  6. Oh gorgeous! So this was the alteration you mentioned when you told me you bought the zigzag dress. It looks fantastic on you. 🙂

  9. Wendy, I love your black and white dress! I think it looks better altered on you, actually.

    With jewelry, I’m not a designer myself by any means, but my aunt and several of her beading friends are, and most of their pieces are pretty much one of a kind. However, the neat thing is that you can spot which pieces are made by which artists based on their style, and even if I can’t buy a specific piece that I admire, I’m sometimes able to find something similar at a jewelry artist’s trunk show.

  12. Fabulous alteration and love that it is navy and white.
    Oh so can’t wait for the group photo!! How envious/sad/gutted am I not to be present at such a feast!

  15. Oh that is just so silly. You are so right, it IS so disappointing when designers wear something that isn’t available to everyone else. Especially if they did it all the time.

    You look lovely in your Francis dress!

  17. Dayum. That is a cute dress. I would look fantastic in that dress. You should send me that dress.

    (I’m trying to hypnotize you. Did it work?)

  24. I always love runway/realway photo pairups. In this case, I really like how the sleeve was removed from the dress for you. I like the sleeve on the runway version, too, though. I just love one-shoulder in any incarnation. You looked great in that dress the other night!

  25. Wendy,

    You look fabulous in the dress, as you do in just about everything. Loved the altered look.

  34. What a chic idea! And you get more mileage out of a dress by just changing it a little bit. It seems new all over again 🙂

  36. Lynette, I assure you, I meant in the “drank too much way”…definitely not in the “used too much way”!

    Lenya, did you see the one-sleeve dress in the holiday collection, which is in gray and black stripes? It would work with that too.

    Audi, I almost commented on her grumpy expression. On the other hand, Christian’s runway concept was naughty girl gangs, so a surly expression was appropriate in the context.

    Other peeps, thanks for commenting. I’m glad you like the dress and the alteration!

  38. I came across your website and blog and I have to say your designs are soooo beautiful! No one can rock the red lips the way you do. I like the dress better without the sleeves.

  45. Thanks for the mention.

    BTW that dress is gorg.

    I love it both ways. I wish I had the gusts – talent – to customise my clothes. Then I wouldn’t spend so much money buying new ones. 🙂