custom mother of the bride dresses denver Archives - Brooks Ltd

Using Fabric as an Inspiration for a One-of-a-Kind Garment

Brooks — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 19:03:54 +0000

Oftentimes clients will bring me their own fabric to use, which can be the inspiration point for creating a unique, custom design. This process has several different ways of being approached. The simpler way is to show the client what my current collection of design prototypes consist of. With my expertise, I can distinguish between what would work with the given fabric and my client’s body type to help narrow down the choices. From there we try on the prototypes and discuss options, of which there are many.

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

The custom design process essentially works something like this:

1. Choose your fabric, or bring your own

2. Select your garment shape

3. I take into account the lifestyle and needs of the client to come up with a final design idea

4. Create prototype in muslin

5. First fitting with prototype

6. Cut the prototype pattern in the chosen fabric

7. Second fitting with the actual garment

7. Finishing of garment

The muslin fitting at the Brooks LTD atelier

Meet Lauren, whose husband’s job took him to many international destinations where he purchased fabric with Lauren in mind. Lauren wanted to do something special with this fabric, which brought her to my atelier seeking a one-of-a-kind piece. Working together, we created something specific for her lifestyle, which also suited the Indian fabric she had brought. We photographed the process, which I think nicely illustrates what I can create with a client’s own special fabric. Here are some tips when picking out fabric:

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.

Determine what is the “right side” and the “wrong side” of the fabric, and plan its use in your garment accordingly. When choosing the fabric, note the thread count, as well as whether there is a nap to the fabric (the nap is the texture of the fabric, which shows which way the fibers align), and the width. The width of the fabric can come in anywhere between 36” wide to 54” wide. The wider the fabric, the less you need. I always suggest 5 yards of 36” wide fabric for a jacket or a top, or more if you want to have an entire ensemble created. I find it’s better to have too much fabric than too little, especially if your purchase was made far from home and would be hard to replace.

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

For those discerning clients who desire a completely custom, couture garment, a few extra steps are required. This process starts with sketches that will eventually translate into a complete couture experience. Stay tuned for more on this in future blogs.

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.

The post Using Fabric as an Inspiration for a One-of-a-Kind Garment appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

Brooks LTD x Andrea Li Spring Lookbook Shoot

Brooks — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:29:37 +0000

As my Brooks LTD label has evolved over the years, I’ve found that collaborating with other artists and designers in the Denver community has been a great way to stretch myself creatively. It helps to have a fresh perspective on something you’ve been doing a long time, and new ideas are bound to bubble up when great minds are brought together. With my latest Spring/Summer 2020 designs taking me in a more easygoing, everyday direction (a bit of a departure from the dressier gowns I made for Fall), I knew it was an ideal time to reach out and try something new with my imagery.

Putting final touches on my Brooks LTD Spring 2020 jumpsuit look

That’s why when the opportunity arose to collaborate with another noteworthy Denver designer – jeweler Andrea Li – on an editorial shoot with uber-talented photographer Nicole Marcelli, I jumped on it. Both Andrea and I had the intention to “try on” a new look with our content this season, and so we brought stylist and creative director Vanessa Barcus on board to help come up with a shoot concept and aesthetic that would push both of our typical boundaries just a bit. We also roped in one of my favorite bag designers, Mel Barcelona, to give some extra flair to the accessories. Coupled with makeup artist Lillian Marsh and model DanShay Martinez, it worked out to be quite the dream team. And in case you can’t tell from these behind-the-scenes shots, what fun we had!

Behind the scenes with photographer Nicole Marcelli and model DanShay Martinez, with K Contemporary gallery as the backdrop

Model DanShay strikes a pose in a Brooks LTD jumpsuit at K Contemporary

Though not always visible from the public’s perspective, editorial shoots oftentimes have a storyline running behind them. This helps to create a cohesive look for the shoot. For this particular photoshoot, we crafted a backstory about a young heiress who was in love with an artist. This called for quirky, avant-garde (yet luxe) looks – the types of things a patroness of the arts might wear. We reached out to K Contemporary gallery for the location, and luckily proprietor Doug Kacena was happy to oblige, letting us shoot with his incredible art as the backdrop. Andrea’s sculptural jewelry made with tourmaline gemstones played an artful counterpoint to my bold SS20 designs. Favorites from this Brooks LTD collection included oversized jackets paired with tapered pants for a bit of 80s/90s flair, draped jersey dresses, a wildly layered tulle skirt contrasted with a cashmere sweatshirt, and a cozy jumper.

DanShay wears a layered tulle skirt, contrasted with a casual, slouchy cashmere sweater, as seen through the lens of Nicole. Artwork by Ken Gunn Minn, represented by K Contemporary

DanShay in a structured neoprene vest and slouchy silk pants, poses in front of art by Melissa Furness, represented by K Contemporary

Scroll through to see the end results of this special collaboration!

Clothing by Brooks LTD with jewelry by Andrea Li. Photos by Nicole Marcelli

DanShay stands in front of art by Jonathan Saiz

DanShay wears OOAK Brooks LTD and Andrea Li, with handbag by Mel Barcelona

DanShay in a draped jersey dress in front of art by Nina Tichava.

DanShay huddles in front of art by Mario Zoots.

Custom Designs by Brooks LTD

Truly unique clothing and custom ensembles don’t need to be limited to special occasions. I love designing one-of-a-kind jackets, jumpers, separates and more that can be worn and enjoyed on a regular basis. With each piece made to order, every garment fits like a glove and suits your individual needs and taste. A timeless, 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.

The post Brooks LTD x Andrea Li Spring Lookbook Shoot appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

Unique Wedding Ensembles For Creative Women

Brooks — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:24:33 +0000

A one-of-a-kind bride along with her mother and twin sister in custom ensembles by Brooks LTD. Photo by Erin Lassahn. Flower arrangement by Bouquets.

A couple weeks ago I blogged about a special bride and her family whom I had the pleasure of working with last year. Specifically, I wrote about the family heirloom that I transformed into a headpiece for the bride. These ladies were such fun! Not only did I get to create the bride’s unique headpiece for her wedding day, but I also custom designed her rehearsal dinner dress, along with her mother and sister’s wedding day ensembles. Now, these were not your average rehearsal dinner, mother of the bride, or maid of honor dresses. This crew was far too creative for that. And, after all, every custom design I make is a reflection of the wearer and their personality. What we ended up creating together were three bold outfits that paid homage to the colorful personalities of the women, along with the location they were being worn in. Plus, as an additional challenge, each look was intentionally created using multiple layers that could be worn all together, or mixed and matched for a whole new look at future occasions. What appeared to be a gown was actually separates, including pants! How’s that for long term, sustainable use?

The bride wore purple. Custom rehearsal dinner look by Brooks LTD. Photo by Erin Lassahn.

A multi-layered, convertible look is a great option for a non-traditional bride seeking versatility and mileage. Photo by Erin Lassahn. Flowers by Bouquets.

With her rehearsal dinner taking place at a Colorado Rockies baseball game, the bride and I knew that purple (the team’s color, for those unfamiliar) was the obvious color choice. As an avid Rockies fan, the bride wanted to make sure that her outfit showcased her team pride. We chose a sheer purple fabric with tonal purple embroidered accents to use for a jacket and pants, and a purple silk charmeuse cami and shorts as the under layers. Sheer pants layered over shorts is a trend that has been making waves lately, and I thought this was a fun occasion for just such a look. Particularly for a nontraditional bride with a sporty vibe. It was quite the showstopper, and the bride’s radiant smile in her custom ensemble made me a happy designer.

A happy mother of the bride in her ruby lace ensemble. Photo by Erin Lassahn.

Mother of the bride posing in custom Brooks LTD. Photo by Erin Lassahn.

For the wedding day, the bride’s mother and sister chose bold jewel tones – one ruby, the other turquoise, respectively. The mother of the bride’s dress featured a full length lace layer, again over a satiny silk charmeuse slip. A wide silk belt inspired by a Japanese obi belt accented her waist and broke up the length of the ruby lace overlay.

The bride’s twin sister wears a convertible turquoise lace look. Photo by Erin Lassahn.

Two happy twins wearing their unique, custom designed outfits. Photo by Erin Lassahn.

The bride’s twin sister sported a bright turquoise ensemble, which included lace pants underneath a smooth silk charmeuse skirt. The lace pants peeked out from a split in the skirt, subtly showing off this unique detail when she moved. We paired these with a lined lace cap sleeve top. The beauty of this ensemble was that the bride’s sister could wear her matching lace-pant-and-top look without the skirt at a later date, making the outfit multifunctional. I do love a good convertible style!

One fabulous looking wedding party, all wearing custom Brooks LTD. Photo by Erin Lassahn. Flowers by Bouquets.

As evidenced from the photos, everyone loved their custom designs, which helped make the happy occasion even more special. They fit each woman like a glove – both literally, and figuratively. The looks were playful, colorful and unique, just like the wearers themselves. And in the end that’s what couture design is all about.

Custom Occasion Dresses by Brooks LTD

Wedding season is coming up, which means that it’s time to start thinking about bridal, mother of the bride, and bridesmaids’ gowns! I specialize in custom designing unique, one-of-a-kind ensembles 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 Unique Wedding Ensembles For Creative Women appeared first on Brooks Ltd.

Turning an Heirloom Into a Creative Accessory for Your Wedding Look

Brooks — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:02:34 +0000

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.