In fact Betty will wear both pieces again, which is a testmament to the timeliness of my pieces.

Betty is a bad ass and we had a great time collaborating.

Timeless jacket style will be worn again and again with wardrobe choices already in her closet.

Working with Betty to create this look gave me so much joy.

Meet Betty

Betty is an avid traveler, very athletic, likes to swim with the dolphins, follow Bruce Springsteen wherever he may land and is curious about many things.  She has many hobbies and is an artist in her own right.  When her son announced his engagement, she was thrilled.   Since she is athletic, she wanted to emphasize her good form, posture and cover her arms as she gets cold.   One of the requirements was a certain color of blue.  Moreover, when you are restricted, it becomes a daunting task not to mention dresses are hard to fit and a bit confining for those who like to move with grace and ease.

After much research Betty reached out to me, came to the atelier and tried on several prototypes.   She asked if a full tulle skirt would be appropriate for a Mother of the Groom for a luxurious Chicago wedding venue.    Of course, I said yes and we were off and running.  She chose a short, cropped jacket(part of my prototypes) with a back flared detail in a specific color of blue silk shantung.  For the skirt (another prototype) we worked together to determine the layers of colors of tulle to create depth and interest when she walked down the aisle.  It was like layering paints on a canvas to come up with just the right mixture.

New Look, custom artful wearable

I like to think of this ensemble as a spin-off of Dior’s 1950’s design called the New Look 

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My design is different as I am a firm believer in comfort first.  Betty’s jacket was tailored to her figure, and skimmed her body in just the right places so when she moved the jacket moved with her.  If she lifted her arms to hug her friends, the jacket moved with her.  When she danced the skirt was a delight to maneuver in.  It was playful and whimsical.

Problem Solving

I am in the business of helping humans with solving problems in how they want to dress.  Betty had some ideas, I listened and with that we came up with the most comfortable appropriate ensemble where Betty got compliments all evening from both peers and her son’s friends.

At her son’s wedding reception, Betty was touched by an unexpected compliment in the ladies’ room. A friend of her son’s stopped her, and commented:  “Betty, your outfit is stunning,” the young woman gushed. “When I get married, I want my mother to look as cool and comfortable as you.” Betty felt a warm glow of pride by this kind gesture.

It’s always nice to feel that age is not a factor when dressing for important events and still achieve comfort and style along with elegance wearing classic designs.

Reuse

I trust Betty will separate the pieces as an additional way to include them in her wardrobe.  Her exuberant display when we had our fittings is apparent in the photograph below.

We believe that to reuse is an important feature to cherish pieces while keeping them out of the landfill.  Its a win win situtation.

Working with Betty and others who appreciate attention to details with an artistic flaire where collaborating and having a creative experience is what we have become known for.

Reach out here if you are interested in working with us.  

The post Custom Wearable Art Fashion appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

Photo: Hardy Klahold

Custom Jean Jacket

When Ball Arena approached me to design a super custom piece for a super-secret client, I could hardly believe it. After all, the custom piece was for THE Shania Twain. As in, the country crossover star who transcended genres to dominate the pop music charts, too. As in, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose tunes were the soundtrack of the 90s and early 2000s. THAT Shania Twain.

Needless to say, I wanted to impress her much.

Creating a custom jean jacket especially for Shania Twain meant designing a personalized piece both inspired by her and featuring my signature Brooks LTD elements. I watched her interviews and pulled out specific words and phrases Shania used. It is my sincere hope these words resonate with her and that she enjoys the personalization as much as the jacket itself.

Design Details Matter

Using a Japanese technique called Sashiko stitching, I created hand-stitched details. Sashiko, a traditional way of mending and decorating textiles to further their life span to prevent them from going into the landfill, has captivated my spirit as it is relaxing and therapeutic to slow down and stitch where the thread takes me. Sashiko is also in my current collection, with rivers of thread stitched on easy to wear garments.

Shania’s custom jean jacket is made from recycled denim, including functional pockets on the frayed-edge stylized sleeves. Even the former belt loops were upcycled to hold sunglasses! The jacket includes a custom printed silk charmeuse lining and backside fringe created from tasteful sequins on cotton chainette thread for some Western flair. I wanted the front to be classic, chic and tailored, so that Shania could accessorize as needed. As you turn, she shows off a playful vibe from the color changing sequins.

Jacket Spotted on Instagram

I noticed she recently wore the jean jacket on an Instagram video with Billy Ray Cyrus announcing a reissue of one of her iconic albums. It’s thrilling to see Shania Twain as a walking piece of art in a Brooks LTD custom made jean jacket!

Proud of Pieces: Custom or Not

As a Colorado-based clothing designer, I love getting to design and create custom pieces for women across the globe. After 45+ years of making unique fashions, my designs are typically worn by women right here in the West. It is a joy whenever women happily wear Brooks LTD fashions — both custom pieces and from my ready-to-wear collections!

Brooks Luby wearing her own upcycled jacket showing off Shania Twain’s custom denim jacket

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Upcycling with style is creating beautiful garments out of textiles that are used for something besides clothing. Reusing has long been a practice of inventive and curious designers. The first pair of jeans was created in the 1870’s out of a sturdy, cotton fabric originally used in tent-making. Flour  sack dresses(see below) popularized in the 1930’s made adorable day dresses from the bags that contained feed and seed used by farmers. This practice of repurposing materials not only served a smart economic goal, it also opened the door to new designs and eventually changed common styles forever.

Photo from National Museum of American History/Smithsonsian Institution

We embrace this technique at Brooks, LTD. We value reducing waste and reusing things to create beautiful and unique pieces to wear. Take for instance a special coat we designed. Our client had a quilt top(see below) that had been sewn by a dear friend who was never able to complete a project using it. The piece held deep meaning for our client and leaving it in a drawer for safekeeping didn’t feel right. The client came to us and gave us free reign (yahoo!) to create something special and wearable using the quilt piece.  This is upcycling with style!

Bias Cut

At first, you don’t notice the grainlines of the quilt pieces that are cut including the bias. This gave us quite a challenge. A bias cut is a technique used by clothing and quilt makers to cut fabric at a diagonal angle across the weave (called the grain) to give the material more softness and elasticity. We let the fabric hang on our dress form for awhile. As a result, we decided to stitch down the drape so it would take on the shape we were trying to execute. Challenge accepted and completed.

The Final Artful Wearable

The client was thrilled with the result. She ended up with a wearable piece of art that is imbued with meaning. Moreover, she can celebrate and honor her friend by wearing their work as a unique and beautiful piece of clothing.  This is such a fun and special way to utilize meaningful textiles. Do you have something hiding in a drawer for ‘safekeeping’ that could be better enjoyed? Consider bringing or sending the  piece to Brooks, LTD. and enjoy the experience of repurposing and transforming your keepsake into something functional and truly special.

Reach out HERE to learn about all of the possibilities.

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As I reflect I see how Covid changed my direction. My designs are reflective of the times. To slow down and enjoy the process has been  memorizing.  From those of you who have visited the online shop or in person you have responded positively to the final pieces.  Thank you for the encouragement.

I am honored to have been interviewed by Voyager Magazine about my current design career. The article explains more of this new direction.

Read the full article here

Collection of cherished textiles

Moreover, many of us we have collected textiles from our travels or from past generations and do not have a clue what to do with those pieces.  It is our intention to help so as to avoid having special textiles end up in the land fill. Much of the trash that ends up in landfills can also be recycled or reused in other ways, I choose textiles to help improve our planet.

Rules that no longer serve

Rules no longer serve me.   I execute designs with fresh eyes and new techniques. The results are something I never thought I could create.   It has me engaged in an entirely different way.  I have since created a collection based upon these beliefs.  It is called The Attic Gem Collection.   Vintage textiles that have been gifted to me as I turn them into wearables by mixing them with modern fabrics.  If needed I will stitch together these pieces to create another unique cloth to then create with.

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The DAM(Denver Art Museum)  just received a $25 Million Dollar annomyous donation for the textile and design department.   As The Denver Post headline says, “This gift could turn the Denver Art Museum into a fashion powerhouse.”  Read the article in The Denver Post  about the annomyous donation here.

  As a longtime member of the Denver Art Museum, and a respected fashion designer for over 45 years here in Denver I couldn’t be more excited.

Fashion in Denver Colorado

The curator Florence Müller has accomplished so much for our city and I trust with this large donation The Denver Art Museum will have an effect on the global fashion community.

Florence Müller’s first large exhibit at the DAM in 2012 of Yves Saint Laurent  was one of many more exhibits to follow.  She fell in love with our city and accepted a job to forge ahead as DAM’s in-house fashion expert.  Not only a fashion expert, but an avid lover of the out doors and a hiker, she has embraced Colorado lifestyle, as well as fashion and art.  Consequently I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the fashion and textile department of The DAM.

I think this article from March 2020 (just as the pandemic had started) in Cherry Creek Fashion Magazine sums up her story, read it here.

Photo:  EstherLeeLeach for Cherry Creek Fashion Magazine.  Florence Mueller interview March 2020

Our city is lucky to have her part of the whole of the community.

 I was honored to also have an interview in that same magazine edition in March 2020.  Read it here.

Photo: EstherLeeLeach Cherry Creek Fashion Magazine

Shop this Dress

See this dress and more on my online shopping site here.

Moreover, if touring in our city, be sure to make The Denver Art Museum one of your stops.

In conclusion, a must see will be the newest addition to the DAM  which opens in October 2021.

The post Fashion News in Denver Colorado appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

I hope this finds you healthy and dealing with this pandemic as best as can be expected.

Yes, fall is upon us. I feel like the change of seasons is a good start to elevate an otherwise confused mood.  I’d like to share a beautiful virtual fall presentation of a new collection from Valentino.  It’s in compliance with social distancing and has a beautiful message.  See it here.

All summer long I’ve been quiet, isolated and wondering if I should and when I should reach out to you, my clients to come visit my atelier, as most of you are nearby. I respect your privacy and know that when you are ready you will venture out.  Until then, I’ve added a shop page to my site to help you see what I’m up to.  See it here.

The industry is reporting that retail and clothing have taken a big hit.  My atelier is somewhat different, as it always has been.  I see people by appointment only, control the environment and help women express themselves in their own magical style.

This is an overview of the current layout inside the atelier!

I keep changing it up.

To help spread my message.I am begining to reach out to the local fashion community.    I will be working with a stylist in Denver showcasing my current collection which also includes sale merchandise.  Photoshoots are always in my bag of tricks, as I love the end result and it challenges me to create new products.  The latest shoot was called Mask Up and VOTE, see it here.  I am currently working on putting together an interesting location outside of Denver with my newest ideas.  Stay tuned, all of these shoots are social distanced and with PPI.  It’s been challenging to work like this.  Everyone is wanting to create and get back to the new normal, whatever that may be.

I am grateful that you continue to show interest in my brand.  Thank you for following me. I have some interesting designs that will be featured soon.   If you have any requests please leave them in the comment section below.

Here’s to a hopeful future.

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What are you learning during this pandemic? From my business perspective and as a fashion designer I always thought I wanted to learn and be part that larger industry when I was just starting out.  That was over 45 years ago.  Now I am learning more than ever.

Do you want to learn to be in the fashion world as a professional?

This is the time for learning from the best during the pandemic.  Those of you interested in the industry should listen and learn from all the information floating around the internet  during this time.  Check out both my instagram and instagram stories (which change every 24 hours).  Below is some of my current work, one of a kind mask included:

Learn in the virtual world

In our virtual world we have the opportunity to visit and interact with the best of the best in the fashion industry. Actually in any industry right now, everyone is willing to open up with honesty and authenticity.  This is what is bringing me joy during isolation.  I am learning so much.  Those of you who are interested in any industry should be listening and learning from all the information out there while you are staying home and staying safe.  I feel like I am part of the whole without the stress and management that it takes to sustain a large scale operation.

I’ve been in the audience while Rebecca Moses (illustrator extraordinarie) interviews her stayhomegirls(I am one of 310). Interviewees include Amy Fine Collins, art historian, award winning journalist, muse of the late Geoffrey Beene, Nicolefischelis, design & art creative advocate and many more. Today while going through the drive through at the bank I had the pleasure of being in the company of Monique Lhuillier, fashion designer extraordinarie chatting with Kendra Scott.  They were discussing dressing up wearing Kendra’s jewels and Monique’s beautifully executed gowns.  Yes, these people are real and have emotions and concerns that we all have.  It’s so enlightening to listen to them.  It’s like a free class.  Do it!

Where will fashion go from here?

Small, slow fashion is going to overtake the industry and I’ve been doing that the entire time.  Not large scale, but baby steps and that has given me joy.  If you are in need of a joyful ensemble, reach out here and let me help you be your best self in how you communicate through how you dress.  Your closet with thank you for adding some timeless designs that will last your lifetime.

The post What are you learning during this pandemic? appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

An Indian sari fabric brought in by Brooks LTD customer Lauren, to be made into a one-of-a-kind, custom dress

The muslin fitting at the Brooks LTD atelier

Inspecting your entire roll of fabric is extremely important when creating a custom garment.

Look over the entire length of fabric you choose… sometimes fabric can have flaws down the roll. Lauren’s fabric had some circular marks down the center of the garment, likely from a changing of the thread. However, we were able to work around them based on the design we chose.

Finding the “right” side of the fabric for a custom ensemble is a critical step in the process.

A happy client in her custom Brooks LTD dress, made using her own Indian sari fabric

Back details of the custom Brooks LTD sari fabric dress

One-of-a-Kind Designs by Brooks LTD

As a formally-trained fashion designer with expertise in couture, I design one-of-a-kind, custom garments, as well as limited edition ready-to-wear.  Every piece is made to last the wearer a lifetime, balancing a sense of timelessness with current trends.  A thoughtful, well-crafted piece of clothing can be a great investment for your wardrobe, offering tons of “mileage” for years to come.  Let’s chat about how we can transform your wardrobe in simple, easy ways with just a few custom designs – visit the Contact page of my website to get started.

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Image via Style Me Pretty

Engagement season is upon us (hello, holiday proposal!), and that means brides are beginning to think about the wedding dress and bridal accessories.  Custom, alternative wedding dresses – i.e. styles that are not your run-of-the-mill, off-the-rack look that reflect more of your individual personality – have been a mainstay of my atelier for longer than I can count.  (Check out the Brides page of my website to read more about my Brooks LTD custom gowns and see examples from some real brides.)  Some say ‘the beauty is in the details,’ and I’d have to agree – especially when it comes to a bride’s big day.  Adding personal touches to your wedding look can make you feel even more connected to the garments you’re wearing, making them exponentially more meaningful for such an important rite of passage.  One way to add a personal touch (and be sustainable while you’re at it!) is to repurpose a family heirloom, such as a part of a family member’s wedding dress, either by incorporating it into your dress, or even reimagining it as an accessory.  One of my favorite recent examples of this has to be the time I worked with bride Megan and her family to create dresses for both her rehearsal dinner and wedding day.

Consultation with mom and daughters for their custom designs, including a mother of the bride dress, maid of honor dress, and dresses for the rehearsal dinner.  Mom Jina and bride Megan deliberate on fabrics at the Brooks LTD atelier.

Reimagining twin sister Erin’s wedding dress strap for Megan’s bridal headpiece. Sustainable and meaningful!

Megan and her twin sister Erin are, needless to say, very close.  Megan wanted a way to incorporate something of Erin’s into her bridal look, as her “something borrowed.”  So we took the strap from Erin’s own wedding dress, and I transformed it into Megan’s headpiece for her special day.  Their mother Jina was thrilled, as well as the twins.  It was clear to me how proud (and tearful!) this added detail made them feel, after looking at their wedding photos.  What a fun project to be a part of!

Megan and her mother Jina on her wedding day.  Jina wears a custom Brooks LTD dress. Note Megan’s headpiece, which I created using the strap from her twin sister’s wedding gown.

Tears of joy: Twin sister and Maid of Honor Erin gets emotional looking at bride Megan during the wedding. Erin wears custom Brooks LTD.

Megan shows off her special, repurposed headpiece by Brooks LTD.

Custom Wedding Dresses by Brooks LTD

Not all brides are created the same!  I specialize in unique, one-of-a-kind wedding gowns that are tailor made to fit you and your personality.  If you’re getting married and are looking for something bespoke, please visit the Contact page of my website to schedule a consultation.

The post Turning an Heirloom Into a Creative Accessory for Your Wedding Look appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

Advanced Style’s Ari Seth Cohen outside of his book signing, flanked by myself and Judith from Style Crone, wearing her custom Brooks LTD headpiece

Ari’s blog showcases some incredibly fabulous New York City women, as well as some closer to (our) home – including my dear friend (and Brooks LTD model) Judith Boyd of blog Style Crone.  In addition to his blog, Ari also has written several books.  His latest, “Advanced Love,” is a collection of couples’ portraits “who prove that love is bound by neither the constraints of age or time.”  Judith had the honor of co-hosting Ari for his Denver book signing at local boutique Wild Flowers, along with shop proprietor Jonah Bradley.  Of course the occasion called for pulling out all the stops in creative dressing.  I was thrilled to find that Judith chose to wear her Brooks LTD oversized bow headpiece as a topper to her vintage purple dress.  This was a style that I custom designed with her in mind as my muse – hence it’s official name, “The Judith.”  I find that the more Judith and I work together, and the more our friendship evolves, her unique style consistently inspires me to discover new ways of expressing my craft.

Myself and two friends (both in Brooks LTD!) enjoying ourselves at Ari Seth Cohen’s book signing

Ari and Judith’s discussion that night left me with a newfound appreciation for the art of dressing.  It was a joyful reminder that fashion can have deeper meaning than just being the clothes on your back.  And oh how radiant Judith looked next to Ari in her vintage taffeta dress and Brooks LTD headpiece!  It’s opportunities like these that bring an extra dose of excitement to what I do.

Advanced Style’s Ari Seth Cohen signing his latest book, Advanced Love

Latin Fashion WeekStyle Crone’s Judith Boyd backstage at Latin Fashion Week Colorado modeling her custom Brooks LTD headpiece, The Judith, along with a Brooks LTD artfully decorated jacket and sweater knit dress.

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