In the fashion industry, we thrive off of working one-on-one with women who let us go all out with our imagination to design dresses, tops and other outfits that are like nothing else out there. Give us creative freedom and we can make your dream day come true. They aren’t bought off the rack or made for just anyone; they’re created purely to give you joy and suit your lifestyle.

Today I wanted to highlight a recent styled shoot we participated in at The Dove Inn, a cute boutique bed and breakfast in Golden, Colorado. To create this piece, I’ve incorporated silk charmeuse, beaded lace and a casual shape to create this haltered gown. You can be the belle of the ball with this short and sassy look. 

Lounging on this lovely couch at the Inn, Dorotka looks chic in this ensemble. Add some fun socks and pearls and this handcrafted piece will scream “artful living.”

We designed this three-piece ensemble to go with a French alencon lace pant. Our model showed it as a separate piece worn with a bustier.  The choices can be endless!

I can even see the lace pant with an oversized cotton shirt for evening wear as another ensemble option. I constantly encourage women to wear their pieces creatively after the event: it’s a lifestyle statement and sustainable fashion.  

We couldn’t have done it without the magical team that made this happen! Thank you to all these great vendors! It takes a village and I am appreciative of everyone.

Model: Dorotka T.

Photoshoot team:

John Oh Photography

Kai Davis Visuals

Joel Serrano Photo

Concept, styling and MUAH: Dorotka T.

Love this look? Check out other fashion designs by Brooks LTD!

View some of our other favorite styles for special occasions and lifestyle wear online! Reach out to Brooks today to create a custom ensemble with your lifestyle and personality in mind.

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This collection was black and red, with pops of pink to go with the theme, “Cityscape to Countryside.” Brooks LTD clothing is all about your attitude and style, no matter the shape of your body or your age. My design aesthetic is diverse and multigenerational, not just for one group of women. And this collection was made to bring this idea to life.

The art of custom making clothes takes patience, perseverance, dedication and skill. The original consultation is where ideas are discussed to determine the silhouette and the fit. A muslin is made based on these discussions.

Meet Keri, a beautiful woman who loves fashion as much as I do. I had a vision of creating the perfect sassy version of a stretch ensemble that was somewhat revealing, but tasteful at the same time. To carry out the theme of the entire collection I added a beautiful lace skirt that made the otherwise casual garment appropriate for the runway, or even a special event in your future.

My vision began with a muslin, a dress form and an idea.

After those adjustments I was ready to perfect the garment with the right zipper, elastic trimming and the adjustable neckline finish. This design has so many possibilities, as the lace skirt is removable and can be worn different seasons with the right leggings and sweater for winter or camisole for summer. The one piece romper would be a great summer party ensemble with or without the skirt.

Once the adjustments were done, we met at a coffee shop to evaluate the design. Of course I couldn’t help myself and asked her to take a fun practice walk in the hallway. We love bathroom meetings!

This is just one piece of the collection I made for all of the models to wear for the fashion show. Each design was made to fit these women according to their body type and style, and I loved seeing the whole collection come together for the big event! Here’s one of my favorite pictures of all of us:

All Runway Photos:  Hardy Klahold Photography

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I recently attended the show alone, since a friend was not able to attend the preview that day. It was cold and rainy outside, which made it the perfect time to see such an exciting event indoors. I thought it was very interesting for me to see the show by myself, and I think I retained more of the details since I could really concentrate on the entire show.

I saw over 200 couture designs, as well as videos, sketches and dozens of great photographs. The curator, Florence Müller, did a beautiful job articulating many designs in her audio review.

The fashion house of Dior was first founded in 1947, after World War II, and the exhibit’s first display showed the “New Look” of their initial couture garment from this time period. The piece is very tailored, but with a softness and a feeling of femininity — hopeful that women were longing for that femininity after the war.

Although the design looks simple, the intricate shaping and details make it iconic and revolutionary for its time. Not everyone was happy about the turn of this kind of fashion after the devastating war, especially since it was a luxury collection available only to the wealthy during a time of rebuilding for the world.

Fast forward to today, and this look has been the inspiration for the future designers of the house. The exhibit featured an updated dress modeled after the original New Look from 1947, with new details adding a soft, yet strong sense of tailoring to create a feminine look. The pleated sleeves are creatively attached at the shoulder, the waist is softly defined and the contrasting pleated skirt is alluring and feminine. As you can see in the image below, there’s even a beautiful headpiece to go with the look, created by Stephen Jones of Dior — who I was fortunate enough to hear speak at this event before the show opened!

Yves St Laurent was Dior’s protege at the time of his death and became the head designer, and each time I walk through the exhibit (to date I have attended four times), a quote from him resonates with how I interpret what I design:

“Being a fashion designer is to make women attractive by taking into account their body, their gestures and their attitudes.”

Having this exhibit at my fingertips has enabled me to understand what I set out to do in my own small way over 40 years ago. I love to help women feel beautiful by expressing how they feel when they wear a beautiful design — made especially for them.

Below are a few photos from the exhibit (on the left) alongside of some of my own designs (on the right). We are all heavily influenced by our surroundings and other people. Seeing this exhibit helps me feel that I am on the right track. My blue gown has hand made 3D embellishments. My stylized bow (bottom right photo) is placed stragetically at the center back neck.   There are many details in the garments displayed that I have learned from and I trust my memory will somehow incorporate something from this exhibit in my future collections. I appreciate always learning something new. You can even check out some of my latest lifestyle fashion designs here! 

My favorite room from the exhibit was the flower garden. Dior and his predecessors loved flowers and gardening and it’s apparent in the clothing designs. Not only was I overwhelmed  with the elegant garments, but the mannequins even looked like they were floating on an invisible display. I can’t imagine the work it took to get each detail perfect when setting up this show. Needless to say I floated out of this room with a huge smile on my face.

Take a look at this video which features how the dresses were transported and set up for these magical displays:

The Dior exhibit is a learning experience that all ages and genders can relate to. After all, as the curator Florence Müller explains in the audio:

“Fashion is a form of art that deals with human beings. This is what makes it unique among the arts and makes it so challenging. The body is a shape that is restless, always moving, always changing, just like the imagination of the couturier.”

There have been moments in my 40+ year career when I’ve been told that my clothes are, “too much fashion and not enough fantasy.” I found that to be quite a challenge as I believe that art and fashion go hand in hand no matter if it’s fantasy, reality or a little of both. This exhibit confirms my belief.

I can’t wait to go back, time and time again, until the show ends after March 3rd. If you’re hoping to visit the exhibit, head on over to the Denver Art Museum’s website for more information.

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