Huge vs Cute

Taking a break from portrait photography is truly refreshing!

Sewing Class

Been working on this simple skirt for 8 hours straight and more that I don't seem to finish.

I missed a requested photoshoot for OliveFotografix, my son's tap and swimming class coz I was stuck on that chair the whole day learning clean stitch, french seams, putting on the zipper etc. etc.

Taking a break... Asking for help from the Professor. (He's Italian so imagine how he wants our work to be.)

All day work.

"Where's my scissors? My chalk? My pins? My etc etc." That's what you hear from time to time in our sewing class apart from the occassional sigh and the humming of the machine.

Zi---she's very confident with her work and very helpful too.

Ahhh...one great relief after all the pressure from class---all the big shops outside our window.

There' s all that you can think of outside. I probably spent a hundred each of the past 5 weeks. Is that good or bad?

Flats Drawing Project

The work with the Light Box, pen, ruler and french curve.

The Suit

Turtle Neck Blouse/Shirt with Shorts
Nightgown

The Party Gown

Blouse and Skirt

These may look so simple, but this is the first daunting class project I have in Fashion School.

Well, equally daunting as sewing a skirt now for our Sewing Class!

For this project, I had to buy and artist's Light Box, so I could see through the paper and trace with a .5mm felt pen the figures that I made using the tracing paper. Without the light box, I had no idea how to start tracing my own drawing into the Bienfang paper from the tracing paper. Confused?

Here's my own version (written while I'm sleepy) of the How to do Fashion Flats:

Flats Drawing is a multi-step task.

First, one has to have the body figure format that will be used for the the flats drawing.

Second, one needs lots of tracing paper, a well sharpened pencil and dirt free eraser.

When all things are ready, the third thing to do is fold the tracing paper using only one side of the paper to do the piece of clothing on top of the half side of the body figure. Then draw one piece of clothing (eg. shorts, shirt) for 30-minutes or an hour.

When done doing the half, the paper is turned over to the blank half (the other half of the fold) and tracing of the finished half begins as part of the fifth step. Continue tracing for the next 15 minutes or so.

Last but not the least, the tracing paper is laid flat to show one whole piece of clothing with both sides identical. The artist then now adds details like blind stitch hems, buttons, appliques, prints, etc.

Want to try Flats Drawing?!? I hope my tips can help you. Goodluck!

{Springy Roxy}

I love to call difficult photo jobs as challenging.

Like this one. Roxan the subject is a long time friend of 12 years, but in those 12 years, she has not done a photoshoot for herself, well, except now of course. You can say I coax her into it coz I as much as I want her to really see a different side of herself, I also wanted to see how far I can push my fashion styling, make-up and photographic skills on my very self-conscious but not really camera-shy friend.

First, we rummaged through her huge closet of clothes and racks of shoes---I had to call My LAA to see her collection as he has been complaining with my number of clothes and shoes!

I was making the initial sets and pairs as Roxan was watching, amused, saying "I didn't know those can go together!" and "Hey...are you sure those colors can go together, they're soo bright."

I had to tell Roxy that when shooting, we need colors that stand out, unless she wanted to stay in black and white---which are my favorites by the way. The clothes you see she's wearing are all hers, but not the way she wears on the daily basis----why not?!?

Second, I did the make up. This time we agreed to have a fresh looking make-up---something that's ready for spring and that which goes along with the make-up.

Third, we did the shoot.

As like working with no professional models, there's always that awkward first 10 shots or first 10 poses, before the camera person or the model gets the hang of silly awkwardness and just get the job done.

It took sometime for Roxy to take things easy---but I am patient and experienced when it comes to that, this shoot being my --nth time where I really pushed myself hard behind the camera.

This time, I give myself a perfect for having done the styling, make-up, shoot and editing all by myself!

This is what OLIVEFOTOGRAFIX is all about.

Baltimore Punk Chic

For years Shirley have complained to me that she feels awful posing before a camera and she always end up dissatisfied with her photos. I have, for months tried to convince her to do her photoshoot. Six months ago, I put this shoot in my calendar. After I have styled her clothes, do her makeup and few awkward pose tutorial, Shirley was in her elements, breezing through the photoshoot flawlessly. She did the whole shoot like a pro!
This is what I love to do! This is what OLIVEFOTOGRAFIX is all about.

Oleg Cassini

Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis in Cassini's classic clothes.

I know that a number of you also love Jacqueline K-Onassis' clothes, just like me!

Oleg Cassini, the designer, courtesy of Emilio Grossi Design and Photography

One designer that has the biggest influence in my conscious and subconscious is Oleg Cassini. Clothes I admire while growing up were from him, since my Aunt who was a dressmaker was a big fan herself.

So, who is Oleg Cassini?

Here's a short info from Wikipedia:

Oleg Cassini (April 11, 1913 – March 17, 2006[1]) was a French-born American fashion designer noted for being chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy to design her state wardrobe in the 1960s. He became the exclusive costume designer for his then-wife, American film and stage actress Gene Tierney. His designs appeared in eleven of Tierney’s films in the 1940s and 50s.

{Winter Warmth}

Out on a below zero temperature for a shoot!

Wearing Century 21 gray beret, leather jacket with 4 seams and a side zipper, ladies cargo pants, and Merona brown boots.

Sunnies from XXI.

Lovin' this leg-o-mutton sleeves cardigan---goes very well with my gray beret.

Chic goes hip---faux pearl jewelry and casual shirt blouse under the gray leg-o-mutton sleeve cardigan goes very well with lady cargo pants. I sooo love this mix!