PPR Challenge #5 – Kat’s Design

This week was the dreaded design something for Heidi challenge. We had to design a look for Heidi to wear to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards (at least it wasn’t workout wear). We were told the event was elegant and sophisticated. So that meant the trick was to create something the appealed to Heidi’s somewhat trashier tastes (short, tight and shiny), but was also classy enough for the event and to appeal to the other judges. Yikes.

Oh, I struggled this week. Just like the designers on the show I had issues with fabric. I had a design in my head, a sleek white dress given and edge with a strip of black leather or suede running though it. I wanted it to show a lot of cleavage to appeal to Heidi. Here is what I ended up with.

I love the way the creamy silk fabric draped and fit (though it was a pain to sew at this scale), but the embossed suede was a problem. When I draped the dress, it looked really good as a single layer and hugged the body nicely. But I wanted finished edges so I doubled it which just gave a lot of bulk. Perhaps if I had topstitched the edges it would have looked better, but the fabric does not play nicely with the sewing machine.

I still like my idea for Heidi. I think the black and white would look good on her and I think she would appreciate that little bit of edge. It shows a lot of skin on top, front, side and back, but it isn’t vulgar. I kept the accessories simple.

I think the judges might be hard on me this week. The finished dress looks a bit like she is wearing a beauty queen sash. The problem is in my finishes. I think I’d be sweating it out in the bottom three. Oh, if I promise to step it up next week can I stay in?!