Pink Carpet Project

I'm still so behind on blogging. It's gotten the point where I hardly have time to even make it to events. All good busy, but sleep is really getting pesky.

I was proud to particpate in the Pink Carpet Project - Portland.

Earlier this year when Komen pulled funding to Planned Parenthood I kind of lost my shit on them via several nasty letters, and was an active particpant in coating their facebook page with comments.  I will never participate in Race for the Cure again, and had been doing it for over a decade. I'm really glad that I did this event and got to hear firsthand from one of the models who works at an imaging place that provides women with mamograms with funds from Planned Parenthood, and how much it hurt them to pull that  funding. Also talking with several of the Planned Parenthood people about how much the show helped raise funds. Though the decision was reversed by Komen and funds have been restored, I won't participate with an organization that will let politics get in the way of women's health. And particularly those women who need the help the most.

This hits home as my grandmother died of breast cancer, my aunt is a strong double mastectomy survivor, and my mother, sister and I have all had (thankfully) benign lumps removed from our breasts.

Also I'd like to give a big F-YOU to cancer in general.

The show was the brainchild of Cameron Levin, and she put the event on in Seattle and then brought it down to Portland. It raised over $9,000 for Planned Parenhood and I'm so happy I could be a part of that!

Here are some runway shots from the show. I showed 5 looks from Spring/Summer '13. They were accompanied by lovely hat looks by my new friend Elizabeth Rolhoff.

Of course I have to put in the fun photobooth photos. (I'm getting to be a pro at this since there is one at damn near every party I got to. LOVE IT!)

And on the hunt for more photos I found this cute one of Eden Dawn, Elizabeth Mollo and myself.(and no I don't have a chest tattoo, it's a stick on one)

Spring/Summer 2012

It's been much too long since I last posted on here. It's because I've been so busy with making Spring and Summer dresses, along with sampling out all my Fall and Winter dresses.  I have my very first trade show coming up, and I'm nervous. Fingers crossed some new stores like my dresses.
Anyway, here are the images from my last shoot. I wanted to pick a fun location, and also share a great community resource - The Community Warehouse. They are a non-profit in Portland that collects furniture and household items and distributes them to people in need. Those people include women escaping domestic violence, the elderly, people with mental and physical disabilities, refugee families, youth and adults recovering from substance abuse, and the working poor. They get their donations from people like you and me, and area businesses. I think what they do is pretty amazing. I first came into contact with The Community Warehouse when they were in their last location, a few blocks from my studio space. Along with being a wonderful resource to the community, they also raise funds from their Estate Store. Being an avid thrift store addict, the proximity to my studio was not always a good thing for my wallet. If you are in the Portland area, please consider donating to this organization or stopping by the Estate Store. It's one of my favorite places to shop, and I know it's helping out my community.

Clair Fall/Winter 2011 - model : Alaina Mickes

Paper, Flour, Water is the artwork of the lovely Alaina Mickes. She creates wearable art, piñatas, and fun interior décor. Her most used medium is papier mâché, and she is also a talented painter and mixed media artist. She also does custom work, some of my favorites are her animal piñatas. Seen here on display at For Paws PDX. (both of whom generously donated to the Newberg Animal Shelter Friends fundraiser thanks ladies!!) I had such a hard time picking a photo of Alaina because she's too adorable. Please make sure to check her out at Crafty Wonderland this holiday season.

Weekend of Trunk Shows!

I've got a busy weekend ahead of me! At the same time I'm super excited to have all my goodies from this season on display, and see people try them on.

So if you are in Portland please come see me Friday night (10/7) at Union Rose with Seaworthy.
And if you are in Seattle please come see me Saturday night (10/8) at Veloura with Nikki Jacoby.

Clair VIntage Inspired in the October issue of Portland Monthly Magazine

I'm still in a bit of disbelief that I made 2 print magazines in 1 month! Yay! Nerd Party!

The second one is the October edition of Portland Monthly Magazine.

 Page 96-97
 Photography by Brendan Coughlin (also my rad studio space neighbor)
www.brendan-coughlin.com



You can see the behind the scenes video here:
Fall Fashion Shoot Behind the Scenes from Portland Monthly on Vimeo.

Clair Fall/Winter 2011 - Model : Nancy Fedelem

I met Nancy I'm not sure exactly when, but it was during when my poor pup Rufus was having some rough food allergy times a few years back. Her shop is in the neighborhood I'm always in, so I started and completed my food quest there. Which, for the record is Salty's Dog & Cat Shop. We were able to find something that he could eat and not not make him itch like crazy. Plus they would special order me the largest size bag too. It's something I really value in local shops, they want to help you and care about you as a customer. I care about them too, which I why I go out of my way to shop local for everything as much as I possibly can. Also, Nancy is extra rad, she let me borrow her birdies for my Spring/Summer '10 shoot. As well as donating some loot to the Newberg Animal Shelter Friends fundraiser.

Clair Fall/Winter 2011 - Model : Kira Pinksi

I love Kira. I met her in 2007 doing my first Clair Vintage Inspired fashion show at the Oregon Live 10 year anniversary party. She mistook me for one of the models (imagine my shock) and wanted to make my hair pretty. So I let her. I've been seeing her for gettin' my hair did ever since. She did my wedding hair last fall, and shore my 10" of hair for Locks of Love this spring.

One of things I enjoy about her so much is her energy. She LOVES doing hair as much as I LOVE making dresses. So she's super fun to go see, and meticulous about making your hair pretty. (plus we giggle a lot so it's super fun.)

She's at Salon Capelli, and you can her work here.

First time in Print!!!

So I'm still having a mega nerd moment almost a week later after seeing my clothing for the first time in print.

 

Oooh ooh look! There I am. And Tif too! (thanks Sarah Giffrow for the headshot that does not make me look like Sharpe.)

  

And TA-DA!!!!! Pretty!!! I think the best part is this magazine is printed on 11x17 - That's W magazine sized.

You can see the entire magazine online here:


About Face Magazine

The above dress is available at Union Rose. 


Also, I'm going a dress giveaway contest with Honey Kennedy that is open for entry until Tuesday. So get your change to win a garment from the Fall/Winter line:

Get a pretty dress!!

1 down, 1 to go!

Last night was the fashion show for ExplodeLaMode. I had 6 models and I think they all did an awesome job. On the way to the show from hair/make up, there were 6 of us crammed in my car. With our big hair, we kind of looked like a scene from a John Waters movie. Too bad no one got a photo. Hopefully some photos will surface soon, I was backstage during the show. I also got pre-press for the show and didn't even know it. (that is how busy I have been!)
Portland Mercury - Sold out!

The Art Institute of Portland asked Sarah of Lucia and I do to the Rock the Runways show as alumni of the school. That show is next weekend. I'm pretty excited for that, and we will both be showing 10 looks.


Other then that I have just been sewing like mad crazy. I have 2 fall styles delivered Lucia, and soon to Pin Me and Moxie.

Hopefully I'll have some photos soon. Our studio space is almost 100% complete. I have been waiting to post before and after photos of that. We are 98% done.

Fall Production

Fall production has been going nicely. I have quite a bit of material cut out, and am finishing up my designs and will be cutting the remainder in the upcoming weeks. Here is a sneak peak of one of my sweaters being laid up and getting ready to cut out. (I LOVE the 7 yard long cutting table at my work).


I am very excited to announce that I am joining work spaces with 2 of my best friends Sarah Wallace of Lucia Apparel, and Carolyn Hart of Carolyn Hart Designs. We move into our space on July 1. VERY exciting. We all feel like real live professionals. It will be so nice to be able to ride my bike a short distance and be able to access a studio workspace 24/7. The only thing I am not looking forward to is moving my Juki serger down and then up stairs, it weighs a ton. Good thing I have some strong friends. We have jokingly named it the "S.A.C." studio, after a joke we had in school, and our initials, duh.

I am also going to be doing a photo shoot for a model with Pete Springer. Pretty exciting, the gal is super cute, and they are going to use my fall clothing for the shoot. I am really excited about that, since Pete is a great photographer, and I haven't done a "organized" fashion shoot with hair and make up in ages.

On a totally non-apparel related note, I got a word into Urban Dictionary It is "bodangle". Click the link, and give it a thumbs up if you like it. I didn't make the word up, but use it quite frequently.

Finally! Some photos....

Last week I did a shoot with my lovely friend Nina and photographer Tyson Robichard. I have a few items ready to go to shops, and that is what we shot. We used my apartment as the location, since it was easy, and when we shoot the rest of the stuff, the setting will be the same. So here is what I have been working on. I will be taking the first delivery to Pin Me Apparel Tuesday evening, so items will be for sale this week. Yeah!!

One of my cats, Muku, makes his modeling debut. He's available for booking. Ha ha.