#SPRING & SCREENSHOTS
From screenshots to the perfect wardrobe addition and all things SPRING! See how the latest trends can transpire into the perfect custom piece!
Where has this year gone? Truly though it's pretty amazing that we are sitting at the last day of winter and spring is just a mere few hours away! This time of year is simple the perfect blossoming for weddings, celebrations, spring babies, not to mention some of Far North Queensland biggest race events of the year and of course the pinnacle of Spring Racing Carnival season that commences all over the country!
So with the change of seasons and the social media feeds fastly streaming with the latest trends, we look to what is bringing creative flow to Milva Carucci Design pieces though also what trends client's are bringing as their collective of ideas and inspiration!
One of the biggest take aways from European Spring/Summer runways and also what has inspired Australian designer's spring collections are a few key components
PASTELS
OFF THE SHOULDER
CUT AWAY SHOULDER
SLEEVE FEATURES
LACE
WHITE ON WHITE
DETAILS
So with oh so many gorgeous pieces, silhouettes and fabric combinations it is no wonder that the creative minded simple are buzzing in a sea of ideas! inspiration strikes from so many different sources, a flower, the colour combination of the sky, a sunset, a particular theme, these all add value and essence to an idea.
This inspiration is what brings idea's to life!
With technology being literally at our fingertips on the constant, we can now live-stream fashion shows from attendees of runways, 'to-the-minute' uploads of a new collection or even be exposed to pre-season behind the scenes footage!
It is simple no surprise that we have all ended up in a Instagram scrolling, Pinterest screen shooting society! Having so much inspiration around it is hard not to want the latest designer's outfit or runway trends, though you have no idea how you could ever realistically afford it? Well unless you won the lotto?
Never fear!
If you have a special event that you have in mind, by consulting with a knowledgeable and experienced dressmaker they will be able to take your idea's and discuss options in a feasible way to bring these designs into a similar, perfectly fitted latest wardrobe addition.
As a client, collecting fashion inspiration images, patterns, fabrics, colour palettes and themes can assist greatly in achieving the perfect look that you are wanting to achieve. By 'painting' this overall image it allows cohesiveness for the finished outfit. Through this collection a talented dressmaker can get a good understanding about certain silhouettes that you like or fabric combinations that you're leaning towards. Adding their industry experience and expertise, fabrics can be adjusted, silhouettes can be incorporated and simple tailored or adjusted to accentuate your body shape.
Below is a fantastic winning example of a gorgeous Milva Carucci Design's client! Lucy had a few inspiration images and an overall theme that she wanted to achieve for her fashions on the field entry. Taking inspiration from those images though also using the right fabrics allowed the execution of this design to be sash worthy!
Gorgeous client Lucy wearing her custom Milva Carucci Designs dress
Winner of Contemporary Under 30 and best Millinery at Innisfail Banana Races
With HQ simply buzzing with an array of custom orders and Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival preparation is in full swing, stay tuned for the latest sneak peaks off the cutting table!
Yours in fashion
Kerrie xx
All images via Pinterest
76 WHITE BOOTS ALL IN A ROW
Dust, livestock, denim jeans, Akubra's, cowboy boots, the smell of dagwood dogs cooking and the sound of the showman's banter.......
These are the familiar sights, smells and sounds of the annually held Mareeba Rodeo that encompasses the township of Mareeba for 3 weeks of festivities and events. With the Mareeba & District Rodeo Association founded in 1949, this is an important event for the community to not only allow local's an occasion to look forward to yearly though also allowing travelers to experience the highlights that the Mareeba Rodeo provides!
With rodeo's being prominently a male dominated sport in the early years, in 1959 the Mareeba Rodeo Queen Competition started to allow the ladies to have their involvement also. The Rodeo Queen competition is open to residents of the Mareeba region with entrants between the age 16 to 25 years. Entrants are judged on personality, general knowledge, appearance, general conversation skills, deportment, speech and manners and given 5 questions relating to the Mareeba Rodeo. The community involvement continues within the region as local business and clubs are invited to sponsor or put an entrant forward. Each year a Rodeo Queen, Rodeo Princess and Miss Popularity are crowned at the Friday night downtown parade where local business can also showcase their craft, services with an array of floats, machinery and local clubs! As part of entering the competition, it is compulsory for all entrants to wear a 'Western Style' outfit comprising of a skirt and is worn to the variety of festival events.
2016 Rodeo Queen competition winner's
(c) Queen Sarah Bensted in custom Milva Carucci Designs
(r) Miss Personality Angel Pulverenti also in custom Milva Carucci Designs
Source: Peter Roy Photography
In 2010, I embarked on the journey to be involved in making the rodeo entrant's custom outfits. At the time, I was working part time as a postal officer and operating my part time alterations/dressmaking business. Being my first year to do anything like this, I was apprehensive and not sure how to undertake the challenge of ensuring 13 girls looked individual, bringing out their true personality, all whilst working to style a look that would compliment white western boots and hat. For most of the entrants, the go to option of a basic vest, white shirt and straight skirt combination was decided upon, customising each with a different fabric combinations. One or two, took the plunge to change from the previously dominated white under shirt to a contrasting colour with one entrant even opting for a check dress!
From this experience my ideas started to roll in for the following year and my confidence grew with operating my business and juggling a part time job too! Over the past 7 years I have had the pleasure to work with 76 entrants in addition to a handful of Cowpoke entrants and junior cowgirls and cowboys. Working with each entrant, my creativity has really shone through to highlight the confidence of each entrant when they wore their design, allowing their personality to be truly expressed! Each and every girl has made the experience so far very memorable and as each year progresses their confidence to step outside the 'traditional box' has been ever growing!
This year by far has been the most adventurous for entrants! Conscious of what changes previous years girl's have made in addition to really creating a different overall look, they were more than happy to take any advice or ideas!
This opportunity has allowed Milva Carucci Designs to further it's community involvement in addition to integrating creativity and latest trends for new and exciting pieces! Having such a fantastic, ever growing relationship and community involvement is value I hold quite highly! I look forward to working with next year's entrant's in creating the perfect personality shining piece!
Milva
2010 entrants
2011 entrants
2011 winners - trio in Milva Carucci Designs
Queen - Eliza Michael
Princess - Keir Tilse
Miss Personality - Rachel Arancio
2012 entrants
2013 entrants
2013 winners - both in Milva Carucci Designs
Queen - Alessia Aloia
Princess - Lisa Nastasi
2014 entrants
2015 entrants
2016 entrants
2016 Rodeo Queen winner
Sarah Bensted
Source: Peter Roy Photography
Girl's Day Out - Fashions on the Field Winning Style
First off I would just like to welcome you to the first blog post of 'On the Cutting Table'!
Along with Milva, I am excited to keep all Milva Carucci Designs customers up to date with the latest fashion trends, winning styles and upcoming fashion inspo for the future collections!!
Just over a fortnight ago I attended a fantastic and worthy day held by the Brisbane Racing Club - 'Girls' Day Out Raceday supporting the Women's Cancer Foundation'. Not only was this race day for an extremely important cause though it was the perfect excuse for women all around Brisbane to put on a gorgeous frocks and heels, grab their girlfriend's, leave the kid's at home with the husbands and enjoy what Brisbane has to offer at the track!
Being a typical 'girl's day out; with champagne flowing, the theme at the track was pink, white, lace and feminine tones, in amongst the yellow, red and did I mention SHIRTLESS fireman!
It was a typical summer's Brisbane day with an average of around 35 degrees and with over 70 entrants in the fashions on the field competition! I was lucky enough to be picked as 2nd Runner Up in the Style Palace sponsored event!!
Pictured here with judges and winners!
L- R
Laura Moss, one of the esteemed judges and owner of Racing Style Nation
Myself
Lindsay Ridings - Winner
Milano Imai - 1st Runner up
Emily Plummer, another of the esteemed judges and fashion blogger @corporatecatwalker
The OUTFIT
Planning of this particular outfit started about a month before the event. We had a few summer race day sketches that we were considering and was trying to find the perfect combination of textures and colours to highlight the race day theme.
Deciding to utilise a gorgeous European Cherry Blossom print cotton that I picked up last year on my trip to Italy as the focal point of the outfit, there was a bit of a search for the perfect complimentary piece.
The search didn't last very long after a gorgeous cotton embossed cream lace was found in the substantial fabric collection at HQ. As the colour wasn't quite right, Milva thought it dying it a soft pastel pink would lift the dress. And well didn't it turn out perfectly!
It always starts with an idea!
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
For regular fashions on the field enthusiasts this is the fun yet usually stressful part! My advice to anyone who is wanting to try their hand at the fun filled competition stage, you don't need to spend a fortune on your entire outfit!!
Sitting down and planning what works for you, your budget, your body type and also encapsulating components of what is on trend will really do wonder's for the end result.
I always find investing in my outfit is probably the most important component. Having a tailored, custom, one-off outfit in a design that suits your body type, personal flare and that you are comfortable in all day/all weather will not only have you looking amazing but more importantly FEELING amazing! There is nothing worse then not being able to breathe all day or even worse, turning up to an event to find someone else has the exact same dress on!
Once this basis is built I look to the millinery. Honestly ladies there is some seriously talented people out there! Finding something that ties in your outfit in addition to suiting your face/hair and more importantly the time of year of the race meet.
My piece was by Sophie at Allport Millinery. It was a ready to wear piece that thanks to instagram caught my eye and I immediately new it was the perfect piece for the outfit though also a good investment basis for the on trend rose gold ascents for later in the year (watch this space).
Finishing touches were a pair of gorgeous rose gold Target heels, Colette necklace, bracelet, earrings and clutch and The Fifth The Label watch.
Winning style!
So if you are looking at entering a fashions on the field event and would like a gorgeous custom dress that is just right for you and your body shape, have a chat to Milva for an obligation free consultation!