Fargo-Moorhead Fashion Collective

Let’s Talk About Bras

Who hates bras?

Well I can probably say this for the majority of women out there, that we HATE bras, and the happiest moment of the day is to go home and take off our bras. BUT! Do you know what actually causes the discomfort and even pain? An ill fitted bra. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that most women have never had a properly fitting bra, or even know their accurate measurements. I know, the latter is kind of hard to believe but it is true, and that is the very reason I, like many of you, hate bras with a burning passion.

That changed when I visited Curvy Divas. I will be lying if I said I didn’t go in with doubts, I had given up on bras for about 2 years now and would only wear bralettes or nipple covers. And yes I have gotten so used to the comfort, the thought of wearing a bra again did not seem to entice me to say the least.

After being measured very thoroughly and given a number that is so different than what I had been told in the past I simply couldn’t believe it. But when I put the bra on, it was a magical moment I will never forget. My entire posture has changed, I was standing straighter, my body looked great, and I looked like I’d lost 20 pounds! Not to mention how comfortable I actually feel in it. Wow, just wow!
An ill fitting bra can cause a lot of problems, back pain, neck pain, poor posture, and even breast cancer, and so many women out there and suffering from it.

Curvy Divas changed my mind about bras, it is not the bra that’s the problem, it is the fitting.
So stop blaming your bras for the pain, make an appointment with Curvy Divas, and be ready to get your mind blown!

Follow Chen on all of her socials!

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My Love Affair with Vintage Shape-Wear

I’ve had a lot of people ask me over the years why I have such a love/ fascination with vintage shape-wear.

The truth is it’s more of a love affair.

Check out some of my collection below!

I love how they make my body look. I love how they fit my body. I love how they give me better posture!

I love how my garments look so much more refined.

Let’s break down what I’m talking about!

Vintage shape-wear i.e. corsets, girdles, bullet bras, bustiers, etc. were called “Foundation Garments” for a reason. I see these garments much like I do make-up primer. They provide a base for the art of the clothing. Everything was more intricate and intentional than most of today’s lingerie pieces.

In my vintage shop, many women have said that certain vintage dresses or blouses don’t fit or don’t look right on their bodies. The reason? Almost all vintage garments pre-1970 were designed or tailored with shape-wear in mind. Not necessarily to “smooth out” our bodies, but showcase the intricate darts, seams and details of our garments.

For example, if we break down the anatomy of a vintage bustier or corset we’ll see that there was intent and purpose behind each panel, seam, grommet, and more.

I’m a gal that loves definitions so here’s an excerpt from The Lingerie Addict’s “The Anatomy of a Corset”: Parts & Terms”:

Bones: Thin slats responsible for maintaining the vertical tension of a corset. Bones do not create shape, but support it. Most bones are either “flats,” flat pieces of spring steel, or “spirals,” which resemble a flattened coil and have more flexibility. Though high quality plastic bones are available, including “synthetic whalebone,” the type of plastic bones used in mass-produced corsets are generally flimsy and warp easily.

Waist tape / waist stay: A sturdy “tape” (non-decorative ribbon) that reinforces the waist to minimize stretching. (Faulkner).

See that partially concealed red line? That’s the waist tape!

Perhaps it’s just me, but whenever I buy a bra or bustier I often feel that it isn’t meant for my body or it was thrown together with a lick and a promise. With many of my vintage shape-wear, they’ve lasted for 60+ years and they’ll last at least 60 more. Talk about sustainable!

I’ve heard the argument that shape-wear, especially shape-wear in the 50’s/60’s were a repressive tool used against women to make them conform to society’s view of how women should look. Unpopular opinion, but I don’t see it that way. Did you know that the bra as we know it today was first patented by a woman? Not invented since incarnations of bras have been around dating as far back as Ancient Greece.

A representation of a “bra” from Ancient Greece, similar to what we’d call a “bandeau”.

In 1914, Mary Phelps Jacobs received the first U.S. Patent for what was called the “brassiere”. She wanted a more freeing alternative to the restrictive corset, so she made her “bra” out of two handkerchiefs sewn together. She had stated that we wanted a sleeker appearance under her clothes so the boning and embellishments of her corset wouldn’t show under her clothing.

I personally love vintage shape-wear for its construction and embellishments. Is it a necessity in this day and age? Not at all! Luckily we now have to option to wear these pieces, modern lingerie or none at all! Pretty great, right? My advice is to give it a try! It may just become your newest addiction!

Courtney Schur/ Owner at Carmine & Hayworth Vintage

Have you ever worn vintage shape-wear? Let us know your experiences below!

Faulkner, Marianne. “The Anatomy of a Corset: Parts & Terms.” The Lingerie Addict: Intimates & Lingerie Magazine, 31 Aug. 2015, http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2015/08/the-anatomy-of-a-corset.html.

Ask a Stylist

Question: How would you style overalls?

Overalls have been a fashion staple for decades. They are one of my absolute personal favorites. Because of their versatility they are a must have for everyone.
But certainly, we get intimidated by them, some of us are not too keen on the “cowboy” vibe, I get it! So how do we make a pair of overalls look fashionable? Well I’m going to show you some of the styles you can try with your favorite overalls.

1. Overalls with basic shirts/t-shirts

Simple and effective. Wear with long or short sleeves. Whether it be denim overalls or other materials, you can never go wrong with a basic shirt or T-shirt. Want a casual vibe? Wear Converse or sneakers. Want something a little more formal? Wear pointy toed or strappy flats or heels!

2. Overalls with hoodies

Who doesn’t love hoodies? They’re not just for comfort, but also for fashion! Too basic for you? You can also spice it up by adding some statement jewelry or an eye catching purse.

3. Overalls with crop tops

One of my personal favorites, wearing overalls with a crop top gives you that subtle sexiness and elegance that is simply irresistible! And if you’re feeling adventurous, replace the crop top with a bralette or sports bra.

4. Layer it up

Sometimes it’s good to add that dimension. Layer up your overall with a nicely structured coat, will instantly lift your entire look.

5. Feeling vintage

Are you more on the retro side? Flare or boot cut overalls are perfect for a vintage look. Wear it with a high neck sweater, tie neck blouse or a fitted cap sleeve shirt, but remember, don’t be afraid to be colorful!

6. For the men

After all, overalls were designed by men, for men, so of course we’re not going to forget about them! Dig out your vintage overalls and show off your street style with these babies!

What’s your opinion on overalls?

Leave us a comment!

Have question about fashion, styling and makeup you want answered? Hit the link to submit!

February Designer Spotlight

Every month we want to shine a light on local designers who are carving their place in the Fargo-Moorhead Community and beyond! In this series, we ask them questions to get to know them better, so you can to!

1. How long have you been sewing?

I got my first sewing machine as a Christmas present when I was ten years old, by that point in my life I had already decided I wanted to be a fashion designer. I started doing little projects with my mom and grandma like making coasters and dresses for dolls. I remember making my first dress to be worn at that age and feeling so accomplished.

2. What sparked your passion?

The earliest spark I can remember was sketching dresses in second grade and my teacher at the time was so supportive of me. She, to this day, is one of the biggest supporters and motivators in my life. Her constant inspiration has kept me on my path all these years. Through the ups and downs of my own faith in my abilities and dreams, having her as someone who never doubted me and always knew I’d accomplish what I set my mind to, has given me a tremendous amount of drive and passion.

3. What do you wish people knew about making garments?

For me, making garments is about constructing a piece that makes people feel something. Most of my garments are inspired by vintage designs or reused fabrics and to me that is bringing new life back to old fabrics. Fashion tells a story and can bring back memories. I find that so beautiful when you can have pieces that provoke such emotions.

4. What’s your favorite thing you’ve made?

One of my favorite pieces I’ve made isn’t necessarily my best work, but it’s my favorite because it got me back into sewing after a long time of thinking I wouldn’t be successful and that I needed a more “secure” career path. I took an opportunity to make a dress for a local fashion show that I had been a part of years before with some friends. I created a navy blue, two piece silky wrap dress with a boat neck and black lace. The dress itself was semi successful but the spark it brought back into me reminded me why I wanted to be a designer.

5. What’s the most complicated piece you’ve made?

The most complicated piece I’ve made is also my most rewarding one. I took old jeans from my childhood and from friends and family and made a patchwork denim skirt. It took me days and a lot of help from my grandma to perfectly place each piece so that it was even. Although I did end up sewing a pin inside a few layers which my sister had to find the hard way. It is to this day the most worn and most noticed piece that I am so proud of.

6. What would you tell those who want to get into sewing or design?

The number one thing you need is determination. Skills can be learned and opportunities will come but you need determination and passion to be successful. There will be obstacles and the route may not always be clear but that does not mean you have to stop. Always push through and never let anyone tell you no.

Make sure to follow Hope on all her socials!

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In The Workroom

For this series, In the Workroom, we’ll be following local designers & sewists from a garment’s concept to creation. This ISN’T a step-by-step guide to constructing a garment rather a visual of what exactly goes into making a piece from start to finish.

The goal of this series is to show the importance, work and skill that goes into garment making. This is a true art form and one that we believe will make a revival as an alternative to fast fashion options!

Look below to watch this beautiful, brocade skirt being constructed!

A HUGE thank you to Cynthia for letting me be her shadow! Sometimes the visuals speak louder. It’s amazing how much work goes into making a garment and I hope this sheds more light on the importance of handmade garments

Courtney/ Carmine & Hayworth Vintage

Not Your Grandad’s Vintage: Retro Vibes for Modern Men

by Chen W. Fashion & Styling

Where do you shop for menswear in the F-M area? I have heard from many men that they simply have
no idea where to look for reasonably priced clothes that are not only stylish, but also fit well. There is no
doubt men don’t have as many options as women when it comes to shopping local.
Well why not give vintage clothes a try? From business casual, to playful and sporty, vintage clothing
stores like Revolver has it all! Just one clothing piece can elevate your entire outfit! Now, less talk, and
let us show 3 different vibes we created using fashion pieces we found at Revolver.

Look 1: Relaxed business
Neutral colors are perfect for workdays, but if you’re afraid of your outfit looking boring, spice it up with
a fun print button-up. And how about some converse instead of leather lace-ups? This look is great for
work AND going out for a drink when you’re off the clock.

Suit & shirt from Revolver

Look 2: Fun rocker chic
Who doesn’t like to look cool? And there’s nothing cooler than a rock star. With just a simple leather
jacket, and a pair of boyfriend jeans, you can show off your rocker side effortlessly. Want something
classier? Instead of a t-shirt, try a button-up of bright colors to make the outfit more fun and playful.

Shirt & jeans from Revolver

Look 3: The trendy jockey
Raise your hand if you LOVE bomber jackets! One of the most classic and versatile fashion pieces you’ll
ever own, goes with almost EVERYTHING! If you’re all about the sporty vibe, a bomber jacket is a MUST
HAVE. Wear it with a graphic t-shirt, jeans, and bold colored converse or sneakers, this look is perfect for
everyday wear and casual get-togethers with friends!

Bomber jacket & jeans from Revolver

Create modern, trendy and unique looks without spending top dollars, check out Revolver, and other
local vintage stores for more inspirations!

Revolver

627 1st Avenue North

Fargo, ND 58102

Photos by: Marilyn Elezabeth Photography
Styling by: Chen W. Fashion and Styling

To Edit or Not To Edit: Photography Etiquette

Contributor: Marilyn Elezabeth Photography

Imagine you’ve spent hundreds of dollars commissioning a portrait of yourself from an artist you love. You’ve seen plenty of the artists previous work, and you love it all. However, when you get the portrait back, you think your skin could use a little more warmth so you decide to add your own touch to it before showing your friends and family. No big deal, right? It’s your painting, you paid for it, and it’s of you.

Except, no one would actually do that to a painting that they paid hundreds of dollars for. We all know exactly how much time and effort the artist put into that painting. It’s just not a thing that is done, even if you don’t really care for something about the painting.

Now, imagine you’ve paid hundreds of dollars to have your portrait taken by a photographer that you love. You’ve seen plenty of their previous work, and you like their style and the colors they use. Except, when you get the portrait back you think it could use a little more oomph. So, before you share the photo, you put a filter on it or you do a little creative editing on your own. No big deal, right? It’s your photo, you paid for it, and it’s of you. It’s nothing personal towards the photographer.

Unlike with a painting, editing photos taken by photographers is all too common. Understandably, most people don’t consider how much time and effort photographers put into their work. It’s easy to imagine that we just press a button, maybe do some quick editing and then viola! Done. However, it’s not actually so simple as that.

For me, photography is my art. I spend time scouting locations, composing the shots and getting as much right in camera as possible. Then, I spend even more time at home editing the image to fit my aesthetic, fix skin, remove distracting objects, etc. And I do that for each final photo that I deliver to my clients, which takes hours.

So, if you have ever edited an image that you’ve received from a photographer, perhaps think it over next time before you throw that filter over it. Someone spent time and put care into that photo for you. Could it be better? Probably. Things can always improve in some way. However, art is subjective, and your version of better may not be in line with the artist’s. If you really do not like something about the photo, reach out to your photographer and see if they’ll work with you.

To help avoid this issue, make sure you spend time going through a photographer’s portfolio before booking them. Make sure you like how they edit their images in various settings and in various types of lighting. Look for consistency in composition and style in order to make sure that they’re a good fit for you. For example, if you really just want warm images where everyone in the photo is posed and smiling directly at the camera, don’t book someone with warm images where everyone is moving around and rarely looking at the camera.

Make sure to follow Marilyn Elezabeth Photography on her socials!

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An Education: A Passion for Apparel

Style Contributor: Maggie Barrett

Even at a young age I have always heard the creative field of fashion calling my name. Back then, I would just use fabric scraps and a lot of glue to put together clothing for my dolls. Today, I am a senior at NDSU studying Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design, and let me tell you, my design process has changed quite a bit! I put away the glue sticks and fabric scraps and traded up for a real-life sewing machine.

In my pattern making class, students were assigned to create a torso block pattern. This means we would measure several different increments on our bodies and ultimately make our torsos into a paper. From this base, we could add any design elements or alterations that we wished. Pattern-making… or how I like to call it, origami for clothes.

The inspiration from my garment came from my love of versatile clothing. Staple pieces that can be worn dressed up or down, and in several different seasons. Not only does this make the garment more wearable, but sustainable as well.

Even though it is challenging to work with, I love satin handed fabrics. So, I thought “why not make my own?” These dresses can be worn with high heels, sparkly jewelry, lipstick, or they can be worn with an old band tee and Doc Martens. It is a piece that can be altered to the style of the wearer.

My mood board represents the elegant fancy aesthetic that my design idea represents, along with the causal urban style. When designing, I use mood boards as a visual collection of my research and inspirations.

My past experience with dresses like this, and silk fabric, is that they aren’t always the most forgiving with movement… Judging by how much I like to dance, I would need to adjust my creative vison to be functional. That is why with this style silhouette, I designed my dress to be on the bias. If you aren’t a sewing terminology expert just know that the bias refers to the 45-degree angle from the crosswise or lengthwise grain of the fabric.

This means it has the highest amount of stretch. The bias would allow me to have more design ease, would make the dress more comfortable, and slightly adds a diagonal design element. I knew this element would add a challenge to my design process, but I really wanted to challenge myself.

Starting with the torso block we made previously in class, I had a really good base on where to begin my drafting. After creating a sketch of my garment, I measured all the areas where I wanted a seam, dart, or any other element placed. This allowed me to take my vision and put it onto paper.

What a lot of people fail to realize is the amount of time, skill, and resources it takes to make just one garment. Let me tell you, when I was young, I thought fashion design would be full of glamour, runways, and perfect outfits. Truth is, garment constructing is a lot of hard work, but it is beyond rewarding. After weeks of drafting, prototyping, seam ripping, one all nighter, and even some self-doubt, my dress was complete. And damn, was I proud.

Photos by Marilyn Elezabeth Photography

The Apparel program at NDSU has allowed me to explore my career in fashion design. It has given me the tools to practice the art of sewing in combination with learning about the retail industry. There is really no better feeling to be able to proudly wear something you made from scratch. I really believe that the sky is the limit and if you want to do something and learn about something enough it is entirely up to you. This is not only a dress; it is a physical representation of my passion for apparel.

To see my designs and other NDSU students work, come to the Fashion Apparel Business Organization on April 29th at 12:00 pm in the memorial union ballroom.

To see more of Maggie’s designs check out her Instagram!

January Designer Spotlight

We are beyond excited to kick off 2020 with our DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT Series!

Stay tuned because next week we’ll be launching a sister series to this called “In The Workroom” where we go into a designer’s studio to watch them create!

Here’s a little bio on our first designer:

” Cynthia has been sewing since the age of three, when her involvement in her mother’s sewing room evolved from taking naps under the cutting table to operating the sewing machine. Decades of patience and encouragement from her mother fostered this lifelong hobby.
She enjoys sewing classic and colorful clothing, incorporating high end finishing techniques to everyday garments. In addition to creating new, one of a kind items, she is able to refashion or upcycle existing garments into something current and unique.” – Cynthia’s Story

1. How long have you been sewing? About 35 years.

2. What sparked your passion? My mother is a professional seamstress, so I grew up in her sewing room. My sister & I started using her sewing machines shortly after our 3rd birthday.

My mom took this shortly after my 3rd birthday

3. What do you wish people knew about making garments? It is far more time consuming for one person to make a piece of quality clothing. A good tailor or seamstress makes it look easy because they’ve invested hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours into learning their craft.

4. What’s your favorite thing you’ve made? I’m very proud of the button down shirts I’ve made for my husband. I also really enjoy making jeans & trousers.

One of the shirts I’ve made for my husband

5. What’s the most complicated piece you’ve made? A plaid sheath dress with a floral lace overlay. I drafted the pattern, matched the plaid along all the seams, & hand stitched the lace to the dress so it appears seamless. It’s also fully lined with kimono silk.

6. What would you tell those who want to get into sewing or design? Invest in good tools & never stop learning!

Looking at getting something made for yourself? Contact her for commissions & rates!

While you’re at it, follow her on all her socials!

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Top 5 Fashion Trends for Spring 2020

Pantone Color of the Year: Classic Blue

There’s no doubt that classic blue is the hottest color of 2020, thanks to Pantone. It’s a shade reminiscent of the sky at dusk, and a symbol of anticipation. Add a pop of blue to your wardrobe, accessories, makeup and even hair, perfect for the beginning of a new decade.

Lightweight cotton and linen

Comfort and style can co-exist in harmony? Of course! This spring’s fabric trends are focused on light and bright fabrics with bold and exciting patterns that will instantly put you in a good mood.

Disco collar

You heard right, the disco collar is making a comeback! Make this look even more groovy by choosing a classic button-down with contrasting colors or bold prints, and show off that fabulous collar.

60’s wallpaper prints

2020 is all about eye catching colors, patterns and prints, this 60’s wallpaper trend is no exception. Whether it’s a flowy dress, or a formal button-up, this trend will add the fun to fashion.

Colorful mascara

That’s right, colorful mascara is officially back AGAIN! Don’t be afraid to incorporate it into your makeup routine, simply layer a colored mascara over your black one to add a subtle tint of color. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, go ahead and experiment, and there’s always countless beauty guides and tutorials if you need a little help!

How are you feeling about these trends? Comment below! – Chen W. Fashion & Styling