Metamorphose, and why I'm not entirely proud of it.

Over the last several months, I was working on a Project Runway-style challenge with nine other local designers that was organized by St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County and Eugene Fashion Week. It started with a shopping day at the Division Avenue store, and ended with a runway show this past Sunday at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. There were three categories--ready to wear, evening wear, and designer's choice. Eighty percent of each of our designs had to be with materials we purchased with our $40 budget. One winner would be chosen in each category.

I was already at a disadvantage, being one of the more inexperienced designers. Then I lost three weeks recovering from surgery.Then I kept hitting snags. I got to a point where I just wanted to get things finished. So, I put out mediocre work. And I'm not proud of it. So much so that I've already dismantled two of the looks to be integrated elsewhere, and will be re-working the third.

Obviously, I didn't win. I didn't expect to. And I am super happy for the ladies who did win. What's bothering me is that, while of course the winners deserve every bit of attention they're getting, very little has been mentioned of the rest of us. I don't know how the others feel about this. Maybe I'm just annoyed because I'm failing one of my classes as a direct result of this challenge, and have pretty much taken a major hit to my confidence. But what little coverage I've seen of the show itself has been disappointing. Perhaps because this is the only picture I've seen of me (other than Eugene Weekly's Instagram):

That thick mane of brown hair in the blue dress is me.

I thought I was relatively pleased with Metamorphose, but subconsciously, my brain hates me. I ate half a cherry pie for lunch on Thursday. I'm going to go ahead and assume that the depression that I've made good strides with is worming its way out of hiding.

Stallings, pity party of one.

My disappointment in myself was enough to make me seriously consider not participating in this year's Summer in the City show. Maybe even Eugene Fashion Week in the fall. Don't worry, that was short-lived. I'm already in the planning stages for SITC. 

Actually, you know, typing this out has made me feel slightly better. Thank you, Blogger, for being a virtual ear to annoy. But I'm still not proud of the work I put out last weekend. I promise to do better next time.

How about a styling tip?

As part of my styling class, I had to style an editorial shoot to be done in San Francisco. Sadly, for many reasons, I didn't go to California, but I did ship my look there.

In order to prevent scuffing shoes and sets, stylists will often put tape on the bottoms of the shoes, especially if they're meant to be returned. Like the ones I sent in. I got them back today, peeled off the tape, and had a mild stroke at all of the tape residue left behind. I was worried that I couldn't return them, so I scoured the interwebs for tips. Nail polish remover didn't work, unless they meant the stuff with acetone in it, which usually doesn't play nice with porous materials. A cleaning wipe didn't work. I wasn't about to pour olive oil on them, but that did give me an idea: coconut oil!

Coconut oil exists as a solid until warmed up. Since I was concerned about the mess that olive oil would make, coconut oil seemed like the right solution. So I grabbed my jar of coconut oil, a butter knife, and a rag. I spread the oil onto the soles of the shoes, left it set for a few minutes, then worked it off with the rag. I then wiped off the excess oil residue with a cleaning wipe, and presto! No more tape residue. And I was able to return the shoes no problem.

One shoe with coconut oil, the other without.

Both shoes residue-free!

Now, ordinarily, the shoes won't be taped for two weeks in boxes, trucks, and two different states like they were for this project. But this is still a useful tip nonetheless, because several factors may require it. Coconut oil will now be a staple in my styling kit. It was worth it, though. I'd better get a good grade on this!

The shoes are the only part of the look that wasn't made by me or my husband.

So I never got around to doing Plus Styling, Pt. 2...

...mostly because the assignment took a bit of an unexpected turn. Plus I don't have a lot of "plus" clothing.

But here's the final outcome of that project.

Plus Styling, Pt. 1

Over the last several years, I've had a serious issue with weight gain, and putting it off. I've recently come to terms with the fact that, until I can get back to a healthier weight, I can't dress the way I used to when I was around 150. Plus sized clothing has always been quite possibly the most unflattering clothing I have ever seen. So I've started poking around in maternity. Now, Maurices has some cute clothing for plus women, and I've seen a thing or two in the windows at Lane Bryant that I would probably wear, but let's face it: bigger women are often stuck wearing clothing that makes them look old and/or dumpy. In order to find clothes that look good on our figures, we have to be willing to drop down a considerable amount of money on bespoke clothing. Then you get the plus women who dress like skinny teens. Hey, if you're that comfortable with yourself, all the more power to you, but you still look like doughy shit.

I've always been a bit on the thicker side. I was a 32C by the time I turned 13. I've always had wide hips and a big ass. A black girl in boot camp with me told me I had an ass that would make most of her friends jealous. Seriously. Black girls are jealous of my rear end. Okay. So buying clothes that fit me and didn't look like crap has always been a challenge. Being a whole lot bigger has increased that challenge.

Well, I like a challenge. So, as part of my degree (oh, yeah, I'm working towards a degree in fashion design), I'm doing a styling class this semester. Not only will it help me as a designer when it comes to dressing models, but it will help me pretty much dress myself, too. As I complete each stage of my first project for the class, I will post the photos here, as well.

The first part of the project was to take one garment and style it on its own. I took a peasant-style knit maxi skirt I bought at Maurices in Spring 2012, and created twelve looks using only this skirt and some safety pins. Some were not entirely flattering on my figure, but would probably work well on women with smaller frames.

Look 1 was simply the skirt in its natural position.

Look 2 was made by rolling the hemline up and securing it with a safety pin.

Look 3 is the same as 2, except both sides.

Looks 4 and 8 (I failed somewhere) are much like 2 and 3.

Wow, I really did number these out of order, didn't I?

Look 5 was done by wearing the skirt like a strapless dress, and using a safety pin to create a sweetheart top.

Look 6 is taking the rather useless ties on the waistband, and turning them into halter straps.

Look 7 is seriously just wearing the skirt around the bust instead of the hips.

Look 9 was actually the last one I did. The waistband became the hem, and using safety pins, I half-assed draped the body of the skirt.

For Look 10, I created an open and drapey single sleeve.

Look 11 is a baggy strapless sweetheart.

And Look 12.

I think that given more to work with, some of these could look pretty killer, even on my frame. Some of these will be revisited in the later phases of the project that allow for additional garments and accessories. 

So, what do you think? If better planned out, are these styles that could work well for fuller figured women? I would definitely love to hear your input!

Till next time.

Veterans Network Northwest Fundraiser

Several years ago, my friend Matheau started up a page on Facebook to serve as a networking tool for military veterans, families, and supporters in general. Last year, he set me up as co-conspirat--excuse me, admin. A little backstory: Matheau is an Army veteran with combat-related disabilities thanks to an IED in Iraq in 2008. Ironically while I was twiddling my thumbs in Navy boot camp waiting on them to officially say I was too nuts to serve. My husband is a Navy veteran with service-connected disabilities. So we know firsthand the challenges military veterans face. We've fought with the VA, the Army, the Navy, and even organizations that claim to help vets, but ultimately only serve a select few. Here in Oregon, reliable resources for veterans are hard to find. There is a meager VA presence in the Eugene/Springfield area, with major facilities in Roseburg (Southern Oregon) and Portland (Northern Oregon). The charities and groups that the VA works with in Oregon are usually underfunded, and have to pick and choose who they help. If you don't meet very specific guidelines to benefit from their limited funding, you are essentially SOL. And sadly, the VA is frequently incapable of properly doing their jobs--claims backlog, anyone? Matheau is fighting with the VA over, well, everything. The VA told me and my husband that our records were lost. When I brought the Navy in, our records miraculously reappeared, with my husband on the fast-track to getting his disability claim processed. And don't get me started on the politicians in DC using veterans as pawns in budgetary and legislative battles.

Only a small percentage of Americans ever get to wear a military uniform. Legitimately, not one purchased in a thrift or surplus store. You know the saying about the blank check? Yeah, it's pretty much true. When we take our oath of service, we are basically saying that we are willing to die for the United States. We pray to whatever (if any) deity we believe in that we never have to make the ultimate sacrifice. In the end, most of us sacrifice parts of our physical and mental well-being. With the war in Iraq over, and Afghanistan winding down, we now have thousands of combat veterans who will be leaving the military. Troop support does not end when our enlistment/commission is over. There are approximately 400,000 veterans who are waiting for their claims to be processed. That is approximately 400,000 households who face homelessness, hunger, debt, uncertainty. The shutdown in the fall, and the threat of making cuts to retirement benefits only add to the stress that veterans endure. A number of those waiting in the backlog queue will end up being denied. Still others won't be able to get their education benefits for one reason or another. The fact of the matter is this: Congress is perfectly happy to spend money on the military, but only care about veterans when we can help their political agenda.

Are we just another group that wants to help? Yeah, probably. I won't deny that. All we really want to do is help veterans where the government has failed them. We want to help veterans with application fees, transportation, medical costs, food, clothing, shelter...you name it, we will more than likely want to help in that arena. To that end, Matheau and I have decided to take Veterans Network Northwest a step further. We are aiming to turn it into a nonprofit charity that aims to help veterans. I've set up a GoFundMe page, but nothing's really happened. So, with the help of a couple of friends, I'm attempting to organize a benefit. This will likely happen in early May/late June in Springfield. I am looking for bands who are willing to play, as well as vendors who would be willing to sell and contribute a negotiable percentage of their sales, and sponsors. I don't have too many specifics at this point, as we're still trying to pull enough of it together before we pitch it to the potential venue. If this is something you would be interested in participating in, you can contact me via email at stallingsja@gmail.com, or you can reach me and Matheau through the VNNW Facebook page.