The Fashion Unbound call for designers asked for uncanny silhouettes and unexpected materials. To make it Sweet Revenge, I’m taking inspiration from structural historic underpinnings and modernizing the look for a tongue-in-cheeky look at lingerie. Corsets and petticoats mix with funky accessories to create looks that are technically undergarments, but the beautiful fabrics and startling silhouettes make them oh-so-much more.

The shows are October 22nd, 7pm and 8pm, at the Toby Theatre in the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The last fashion shows the IMA held were packed to capacity, so you may want to purchase tickets in advance. The price of admission is $12 for public, $7 for IMA members. See the IMA website for more information.

Printed velvet corset with vintage chemise.

Sweet Revenge is up with the times. Looking ahead to Spring 2011, we’ve come up with some basic pieces in more luxurious fabrics, which can mix and match with corsets and waist cinchers. Wear them at home, or layer them for a “going out” look, I won’t tell! The basic nightgowns/negligees are made of cottons and silks, while the corsets are made of damasks and printed velvets, all in a palette of cream, lilac, gold and white. Fresh, playful and just right for spring.

Golds, creams, lilac and white make the palette fresh for spring.

The youthfulness of ruffles (left) and elegance of silk shantung (right). Sweet Revenge Spring 2011.

Sweet Revenge's white embroidered nightie with gold cincher, jewelry by Cheeky Couture. Photo by TV Ryan

Let’s start with this: it is unbearably hot and humid in Indianapolis right now. I believe we have some rain forest birds and frogs currently living in our yard. So when you put several hundred people in two (albeit very large) rooms, the air handlers couldn’t quite keep up. But apparently we are dedicated to our craft, because we stuck it out for a very long day. A cooler full of wine, water and Diet Coke (in that order) keep me in good spirits, as did meeting a lot of interesting and creative people.

I’m including a very short video clip–which I didn’t intentionally take, because it sums up the craziness back stage. I had tucked my camera into my bra strap (stupid pocketless dress), and of course dropped it twice in the course of the night. Therefore, when I attempted to take a quick snapshot backstage I ended up with this video instead…

I’d asked Amanda to model for me at the last minute–literally about 15 minutes before we were to be backstage–because another model had a conflict (the hair and makeup used for another designer was too extreme for my items). Amanda was gracious enough to agree and we did her hair and makeup VERY quickly. Luckily, she looks great to begin with.

She’s wearing an ivory corset by Sweet Revenge made of satin taffeta, embellished with machine embroidered pink flowers. We’ve laced the corset up the back with ivory satin ribbon, which is surprisingly sturdy but also looks pretty cute. The corset is an overbust style, made to be worn by itself or with something under it, as seen here.

The slip or nightgown underneath, also by Sweet Revenge, is a sheer cotton gauze cut on the bias, with crisscrossed spaghetti straps. It has a gentle elastic across the back to hug it to your body. The cups (which you can’t see because of the corset) are ruched. The hem, which hits at mid-to high thigh, is a circular ruffle finished by a serger rolled edge. Very delicate.

Amanda’s jewelry is by a local company called Cheeky Couture. She’s wearing a multi strand faux pearl bracelet and a choker with a pearl and rhinestone medallion. Visit Cheeky Couture at http://cheekycoutureonline.com.

Four locals model for one of the vendors at Fashion Expo

Beth Bennett's display of her cotton and linen line entitled "Picnic" at the vendor area of Fashion Expo

Elissa wearing B Trousseau top, Cheeky Couture jewels and Emilliner hat

Whew! Midwest Fashion Week just ended and not a moment too soon! Running out of steam and feeling the need to get back into the real world of work. Meanwhile I just wanted to say a little about the experience of creating the Cabaret Lingerie show, which I feel did exactly what I had hoped it to do: make people sit up and take notice, and question what makes fashion.

Integral to the show was Nikki Sutton, a stylist and interior designer (and often a model herself). She came to the project in midstream, and took the torch and ran, ran, ran with it. (Totally mixed metaphors, there.)

Our concept: take a number of local resources (including Sweet Revenge Lingerie one-offs) and combine them to create a fantasy look, lingerie but much more: Cabaret Lingerie. Showy, over the top, high fashion. The result was beyond my expectations! Sutton came up with a story by which to arrange the show, the progression of love. First we saw the angelic looks (though they were far from tame), in whites, cream, pink touches. Then as love blossoms, so does the color…in spring greens, corals, pinks, aqua. And finally, as love turns, the colors darken into browns, blacks and the accessories become more aggressive. Almost every look was accompanied by a sculptural hat by Emilliner (a local hat designer), and Cheeky Couture jewelry.

Michelle wearing SR bustier, Nikki Blaine shorts, Emilliner hat

To balance the stylized look of the show, we staged the fashion show a little differently as well. The models were paced much more slowly, and encouraged to engage the audience as well as the male model who spent much of the time onstage as a foil to the ladies. Actor Rob Johansen worked with the models to create an improvised scene at the end of the show, in place of a Designer Walk.  The models fought for the male model’s attention, and then descended on him like a flock of ravens (in their blacks, complete with a few feathers) for a dramatic end to the show.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make the show a success–all told I believe there were as many as thirty people involved just on the day of the show, for a twenty minute show. Pictures shown courtesy of Mariah at Nuvo.

Credits:

• Nikki Sutton- stylist
• Beth Bennett of B Trousseau Couture-corsets, lingerie
• Nikki Blaine Couture-corset, lingerie
• IndySwank boutique-vintage
• Cheeky Couture-jewelry
• Sweet Revenge Lingerie-corsets, lingerie
• Emily Clark for Emilliner-hats
• Kelly Oswalt of Red Carpet Reflection-makeup
• Julia Rutland of Aesthetic Design Style-makeup
• Roy Jones of Mary & Friends-hair styling
• LModelz- casting
• Rob Johansen-choreography
  

  Finale shot by Ramon Guajardo

Candace wearing Cheeky Couture jewels

Mollie wearing B Trousseau corset, Emilliner hat, Japanese kimono

Printed velvet corset with vintage chemise.

As part of Midwest Fashion Week’s March events, Sweet Revenge will contribute to a short fashion show preceding a showing of the one woman play, Jamaica, Farewell. We’ve decided to do an unpredictable melding of lingerie, vintage and costume pieces in an effort to kick up our heels for spring. Corsets? Check. Dressing gowns? Check. Feathers? Naturally. Silks, lace, tiaras…this isn’t about reality, it’s about fantasy. Come indulge!

Watch a preview of the show aired on Indy Style (March 15th): three models show off some pieces for the fashion show. Sweet Revenge Lingerie designer, Catherine Fritsch, talks to the hosts about her line.

Cabaret Lingerie will be at the IndyFringe Theatre, $30 admission for the fashion show and play. See Events page for more information.

Printed velvet corset

We had a great open house on February 4th, so I thought I would share some images! I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a few corset looks. Pictured at left is a gorgeous corset made of deep purple velvet printed with gold, mixed with a purple and black ottoman fabric. It is fully boned and laces up the back; great with or without the vintage corset cover and petticoat (pictured).

Below is a bustier look in black and white print cotton. The bustier laces up the back for an adjustable fit, and has a zipper front closure. Fur pompoms on the zipper pull add a touch of whimsy. I’m mixing and matching polka dots and stripes for dizzy textural effect! The skirt is a lawn circle skirt with a double row of ruffles, caught up at the side a la burlesque dancers…the mini petticoat adds the final touch.

Corsets are a great way to enhance your figure–they can be worn as lingerie or as a fun touch to evening wear.

Printed cotton bustier