Ofeo ed Euridice, Irish National Opera July 24th, Galway International Arts Festival. Set Design by Sabine Dargent, Costume Design by Catherine Fay, Dresses made by Amy Brady in this scene. I Don't know who to credit for the suits x Check out it's review in the Times! https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/orfeo-ed-euridice-an-opera-of-intense-crisp-energy-1.3575139%3fmode=amp
Work on 1890s underbust corset
A 1890s underbust/riding corset in process. I sewed the front panels together for fitting and now I have chosen the lace and trimmings. The lace is utterly beautiful, I found it in a market a few years ago when I was on holidays in the south of France. I stayed in a little town called Isle sur la sorge.
Toile I'm working on!
This is a toile of a dress that I have been working on with the help of my good friend Denise, of Denise Assas Couture. It has a bias cut box pleat in the back of the skirt and I love the simplicity of it! In terms of lines, it reminds me a little of ladies Victorian day dresses of the late 1840s.
1940s Pattern Cutting and Sewing book
A good friend of mine has lent me a pattern cutting and sewing book from the 1940s. It has some fabulous instructions on drafting bias cut and drap-ey details. I have been sketching my favourite design details from the book in my notebook.
18th Century Dress Progress
Hello everyone! Just a quick update on my progress. I have moved onto fitting the bodice of my red dress on the stand. The finished bodice will be left on the inside with plenty of extra seam allowance, as a costume should for its working career. It could need to serve many other wearers over its life besides me!
Completed 1940s fair isle sweater
The recipe for this sweater comes from a book of Debbie Bliss patterns called 'Rialto Merino Classics' and was made using 4 ply 100% Italian merino wool. I started to knit my own sweaters because I can never find nice sweaters with short sleeves. Often in my rosy the riviter moments, I push up my sleeves and ruin all my long sleeved jumpers. I love to knit 2-4ply vintage, its elegant, different, fitted and most of the patterns are short sleeved. Fair Isle was popular in 1940s because mutiple skeins of unrationed 1oz repair wools could be used to make multicoloured sweaters. Fair Isle is also a great way to use up scraps of wool.
18th Century Dress progress
I really adore the red grand panier dress that Claire Fraser wore in Outlander Season 2 when she visited Versailles. Outlander's costume's are designed by the brilliant Terry Dresbach. I love that dress so much... I'm making my own fan homage version. In my case I am using the reverse side of a medium weight red satin that has a lovely depth of colour to it and will go well with my auburn hair. I have recently just finished up the cartridge pleats and will be moving onto the bodice next.
New Tweed waistcoat
I've made a lovely new tweed waistcoat! I recently did a waistcoat making course with the national tailoring academy.
1890-1905 Corset Cover and Matching petticoat
I've been busy designing and making lots of things lately! I made this matching Edwardian twin set, which is part of a larger project of building up my foundation wear pattern collection. In order to have a full 1890s-1905 underwear set, I still need to make a bum roll/bustle, a new 1890s corset and a pair of cotton and lace combinations.
Green Pea Coat
At the moment, I am busy working on a green tailored pea coat. So far I have mostly prepped the fronts. At the moment I'm doing the taping. The next thing that I'm going to do is pad stitch the undercollar and sew the lining. The next corset I'm going to make is an 1890s waspie.
Corsets-Waist Cincher, 1950s
Progress Photo, the Waist Cincher I am working on at the moment.
At the moment I working on a red and yellow herringbone waist cincher for myself. The pattern is based on a 1950s waist cincher featured in Jill Salen's book Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques.The original corset is satin and flesh coloured- meant for underwear... mine shall be outwear! All the pieces have been cut and I have machined the channels for the main steels in the front and back. It is ready for eyelets. I originally thought I would need to sew in the elastic side panels featured in the original from the 50 version, but that would make it too big. Why? Because the 'New Look' waist cincher featured in Salen's book was donated by Mrs Pamela Hodkin. It was made by Gossard and would have aided her return to a 24-26 inch waist after childbirth!
Jill Salen has two other books dedicated to corsets and historical swimwear. Jill Salen's books are an amazing resource to anyone with an interest in vintage clothing, makers in the film industry or anyone who enjoys sewing for the love of it. The next thing that I want to make from Jill's book on lingerie will be the 1897-1905 corset cover, it will test my ability with embroidering delicate hand worked eyelet details.
Dublin Youth Dance Festival 2016
Dancers of the Dun Loaghaire based youth Dance company perfoming thier piece last Sunday in my costumes - Dance Ireland, Directed by Mariam Ribon. Photography by Con Brady.
Welcome to the first post of The Flying Corset. My name is Amy Brady and I'm a fresh out of art college and starting on my career path of being a costume/apparel designer, illustrator, maker and all round creative. I am but twenty and three and I'm just starting out as a graduate designer, this blog will track my progress to finding my way in life and art. I have good news! I recently got my final degree results after studying for four years for my BA(hons) in Design for Stage and Screen: Costume Design at IADT Dun Loaghaire Ireland. I could'nt be more excited/delighted! I got an A in my undergraduate Thesis on Doctor Who entitled 'Costume Design and the Representation of the 'Other' in Doctor Who' and an overall GPA of 3.55. My Graduation is in November.
As to new and recent works, I just recently collaborated with Dance Ireland on a piece that was performed last Sunday, July 3rd 2016, live at the Pavillion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. I made, designed and sourced the costumes for a sixteen strong youth Dance Troupe! These are the pictures. The piece was made in collaboration with the Simon Community. The dancer's movements were inspired by what they interpreted in poems composed within that community. This wonderful troupe of dancers will be preforming this piece in Berlin, Germany on the 16th of July and my costumes will be going with them! It is an ambition of mine to visit Berlin and Dresden... but it looks like my costumes will reach Germany before me!
The overall presentation of dance on the programme last Sunday was incredible and showcased the bright future of modern dance and ballet in Ireland. A piece apart from the one I collaborated on, that I really enjoyed, was the duet. It was preformed to a song I had not previously heard, but has been in my ears all week, its called 'I was an eagle' by Laura Marling. Go check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg4FucEOfmU
Thats all for now, Blog again soon!