We will be having a contest for a ticket give away – details to follow on our Facebook page. Like us! Please – please like us!!!

Introducing: borrowed from birdhouse productions. on Vimeo.

Of course, the long hours and calloused fingers are very un-fantastical, but when the work is complete, nothing compares to watching someone transform into a character that you have helped create. For the second year, we have been fortunate to build costumes for designer Jessica Ford and the Folger Shakespeare Theater. This year we got to go back to the early 1700s for “The Gaming Table” by Susanna Centlivre.

Set in 1705, the Restoration Comedy centers on Lady Reveler and the card game she runs for her friends. The ladies gamble with abandon while discussing their romances, their aspirations and opinions. For more on the story, read the Dramaturg’s notes here.

If you have been following along at home, you already know that the play has been very well received. The costumes have been garnering a fair amount of attention thanks to the thoughtful and well done design of Jessica Ford. From the Washington Post – “Ford’s gorgeous gowns, all beads and jewels and flounces and ruffles, imbue the physical production with a soignee irresistibility.” (read the whole review here) When we first saw the sketches, we were immediately interested in working together. The sketches were pretty, fun and full of personality – the best kind to build!  “So, what would a woman wear in 1705?” you might ask. Well, a lot..

A lady of that day could be expected to wear a chemise, stays (corset), petticoat, bum roll, skirt, stomacher and a mantua topped off with a high reaching fontage on her head. The mantua first made an appearance in the late 1600s as a robe-like garment lacking stays. While their predecessors were made in two parts with a fully boned bodice, the mantua was cut in one continuous piece.  Check out this beautiful example from the Met. Fortunately, we were tasked only with mantuas, petticoats and stomachers. (For more historical information, start here and here).

Everything turned out wonderful! Of course, with Jill at the helm, our ship always makes it to safe harbor! We had a great team – Jessica and Jill, myself, Bailey, Jennifer and our guest helpers – Staycie and Mike! And, many thanks to our generous and very talented friend, Mike of Pararas Creative Group for photographing the completed costumes. The photos are amazing! Next on the agenda – GROUP TRIP to go see those babies on stage! The Folger Shakespeare Theater will be running The Gaming Table until March 4^th.

Without further ado – pictures!!!

Thank you, once again, for supporting us through our second year of business. And, if frogs do start falling from the sky, rest assured, we can make a phenomenal dress for the occasion!

Productions such as these are impressive. Have you ever really watched the credits at the end of a show? They are long. There are people to help the people who help people help people. Sets function as monuments to the principle of “divide and conquer” and they do it well! It’s like a little village popped up in Harbor East including portable buildings (ok – they are trailers) for the cast and crew. Check out the wardrobe trailer. It’s nicer than a lot of apartments I’ve lived in.

Working with costumer designer Ernesto Martinez and his team, we were tasked with assisting the fitting of about six suits in 20 minutes. Luckily Ernesto had already done an amazing job of finding gorgeous garments in appropriate sizes, so our work ended up being very manageable. Whirlwind fittings – done! In the gorgeous Marriott Residence while the sun sets over the harbor?  Yes, please!

In addition to the impressive team and the beautiful surroundings, another exciting part about this job was the clothes- beautiful, well-made clothes. So, what makes one garment worth $400 and one worth $4000? It starts with the design, of course, but beyond that there is the craftsmanship required to execute the vision. The first and most immediately noticeable feature is the fabric. But, looking closer, you will find some surprises. Most of these garments are simply constructed. Some lack any seam finish other than pinking the edges to prevent raveling. However, do not confuse “simple” with easy. There is nothing more difficult than creating something “simple”. Case in point, these clothes rely on precision patternmaking, cutting and stitching. All of these things are time consuming and require fine attention to detail as well as skill. And there are the hand-stitching details that you never see, but that make a difference in the fit and finish of the garment. Things like interior tacking, whipping down seam allowances and chains to weight a hem. These are touches that can’t be effectively mass-produced. They can, however, be learned. It is comforting to know that we make our garments with these same techniques. It is also comforting to know that the skilled trade is still alive and will continue to be passed down to generations to come.

1. Color
We’ve seen color popping into wedding gowns for a while now. This year, designers like Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang have incorporated a lot of color into their lines, fueling the age-old debate – does fashion come up from the street or does it trickle down? We tend to think the former since Jill has been adding color to our bride’s gowns for years. And our brides have been accessorizing with colorful shoes and headpieces, too. This is an easy and pretty trend to incorporate and one that we love! We think you will, too!

2. Texture
Lace, lace, lace! It’s quintessentially feminine and a perfect fit for bridal. But, texture isn’t always just about lace. There are amazing ways to add dimension and richness to your gown with feathers, appliqués, layering fabrics, manipulating drape and by using cool sewing techniques.

3. Straps & Sleeves
It may be the Royal Wedding, it may be the desire for a fresh, new look – but something inspired designers to deviate away from strapless overload. Strapless will never go away- it is feminine, pretty and easier to mass-produce, but we sure do love the endless possibilities of straps and sleeves. We especially love the sheers and the lace over skin look. C’est si bon!

Of course, the one trend that seems to reign supreme is personalization. These days, fashion is much more dynamic than it has ever been. Almost anything can be “in-style” as long as it fits, it’s what you want and you wear it proud. And, with so much information and access available today, it is possible to personalize whatever you want however you want. From our couture hand-made gowns to modifying a dress from David’s Bridal – all you need is a little imagination!

Studio Line is designed to be an accessible approach to having a custom made gown. Jill has designed a collection of pieces that can be mixed and matched and customized to your liking. This sneak peek is a great introduction and we have much more to come! If you’d like more information on the launch of Studio Line, please email us at info@jillandrewsgowns.com or you can sign up to be on our e-mail list
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Thanks so much to all of our supporters and customers! YOU are Baltimore’s best!! After almost two years in business, we are so flattered to be among a great group of local businesses honored in Baltimore Magazine’s 2011 Bests. No man is an island and we are thankful for the many people who have helped us through our first two years. The August issue is on newsstands now – grab your copy and refer to it all year!

We teamed up with Lindsay Hite and Shane Carpenter, two of the photographers at the collective ReadyLuck. They spearheaded this assignment with intoxicating enthusiasm! Ellen Frost (Local Color Flowers) provided the ingenious and gorgeous flower arrangements. Julia McCabe (Kiss N Make Up) was on make-up and Wil Crowther was helping Jill with piles of hair extensions and headpieces. Then, of course, we had Susan and Joan of “The Big Teas” to provide champagne punch and cucumber sandwiches to our giant team of volunteers and hecklers.

The shoot was incredibly fun! Everything went off without a hitch! Jill and I are so grateful to everyone who volunteered their time and talent. It was hot and it was a lot of work. The models, Shannon, Lane and Christain, were total troopers! The pictures are still being edited, but I thought I’d offer our blog readers a sneak peek of the behind the scenes action! You can expect curious cows and skeet shooting, spooky mirrors and tire swings, stepping in cow pies and thornbushes, lemonade and beer!

Stay tuned…

Shakespeare

It used to be that the mention of the name only brought to mind my Grandpop saying “Shakespeare, Kick in the Rear, Happy New Year!”. But now I will always think of the time Jill and I spent working on The Public Theater’s production of “All’s Well that Ends Well” for Shakespeare in the Park.

It’s not everyday that we are asked to participate in creating gowns for a New York City institution! Shakespeare in the Park has been offering top-notch free summer performances since 1957. Last year’s production of  “The Merchant of Venice” starred Al Pacino and was so successful it moved to Broadway where it promptly garnered a Tony nomination. The Public Theater itself has over 42 Tonys, 151 Obies, 41 Drama Desk Awards and 4 Pulitzer Prizes. Not bad, eh? And this year, they have chosen “All’s Well that Ends Well” and “Measure for Measure” to present in repertory for the 2011 season.

Jill and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with legendary costume designer Jane Greenwood – as delightful as she is accomplished. Working together with Ms. Greenwood and her assistants, Jess Ford and Moria Clinton, we were tasked with creating seven evening gowns within about 3 weeks. Seven? Yes, seven!

The gowns were inspired by the 1910s and united with layers and layers of gorgeous green fabrics. Jill draped each one the way it would have been done at the time – using the fabric with as little waste as possible. There were several pieces that were cleverly draped and stitched rectangles. I loved the interesting trains that were trailing from several of the gowns – also rectangles and a few tapering down to skinny points. As we worked we constantly found new and exciting details that could be incorporated into future wedding gowns!

Kristin

Caitlin

Aleque

Katie

Jess with all of the near completed gowns

Jane working on the applique detail for Katie

There were a few gowns that did get away before we could snap their pictures. But, hey, we were working A LOT- some things get past you when you’re incredibly focused on one goal. But, while the work was demanding, doing this job was very fun! Jill and I were lucky enough to get two trips to NYC for fittings, one time we even had to stay the night for a little forced mini-vacation! We had a great time!

All’s Well that Ends Well is on stage now at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and will run through July 31. Among the cast members are Tony award winning actors John Cullum and Tonya Pinkins. It is sure to be a treat! For ticketing information, visit the Public Theater’s website here.

And…on stage…

C'est fini! photo by Joan Marcus

Jill and I are excited to be included in the two upcoming local bridal events! Both are amazing venues for your event, be it a wedding reception or a party.

The first is AVAM’s Bridal Happy Hour to be held April 7, 2011 from 5:30-7:30. Head over after work and enjoy a happy hour with a purpose- to learn about Baltimore’s best vendors for your upcoming event. We love AVAM! It’s a great place for your event and they offer several options for facility rentals – all of which are unique and inspiring. Come check us out, say Hi and learn about how to throw an amazing party right here in Charm City!

Up next is another Baltimore institution – Truffles Catering at The Belvedere. We love them, too! They’ve been working hard on remodeling and upgrading their diggs for all of us to enjoy. Between the ballroom, the Owl Bar and Truffles Catering they definitely offer a more great options for any event. Their Open House is Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 2pm-6pm. We will have more information to follow, or head over to their facebook page for the low-down.