Events Musings: The Making of ParadiseMarch 5th, 2013 – 6 Comments |
When I see the ocean in the distance, the wreaths in the hair, and the nonchalant, effortless beauty portrayed in the paintings of Victorian artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, I can literally feel the sun and smell the flowers on the breeze. I wanted to take you all with me to this Earthly Paradise, from the gowns to the styling of the show. Of course there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes…Heaven wasn’t created in a day, right?!
Fabrics to drape, embellishments to design, cookies to bake (yes, those are cookies!), programs to paint, and chai tea lattes to drink…some very talented collaborators joined me in this process, and crafted quite an experience for our guests.
We created our own “painting” for the backdrop, combining petals, sea and sky, and continued the illusion with the addition of over 100,000 rose petals. When the massive canvas was unfurled during NY market week, and we began to scatter the petals on the runway the morning of the show, even I was amazed (and thrilled) with how perfectly our blank slate was transformed!
Hair and make-up were key in fashioning our modern goddesses, and I made these wreaths for each model while casting at the hotel (nothing like a little multi-tasking!) We even enlisted a few gorgeous immortals to escort our guests to their seats…and of course I made wreaths for them too!
Finally it’s time to welcome our guests with champagne flowing, programs ready on the chairs, models dressed, and a final word of direction before they cue the music, and the whole thing is over in about 15 minutes! Literally 6 months of preparation to make it all happen…kind of like a wedding!
Claire Pettibone An Earthly Paradise from Claire Pettibone on Vimeo.
I owe the artists and poets who have come before me, and the Earth and the sea and the flowers, my deepest gratitude. A huge thank you to our partners behind the scenes:
Photography & Video: Collective Edit
Rose Petals: Petal Garden
Programs: Kristy Rice of Momental Designs
Cookies: Sweet Ambs
Wine: OneHope Weddings
Hair: Giselle Modeste for Ojon
Make-up: Romero Jennings for MAC Cosmetics
Tags: Alma-Tadema, bridal, Couture, Designer, Fashion Show, gowns, inspiration, Runway, Wedding Dresses
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fantastic to see backstage action
So lovely to see your inspiration and all the backstage details that made for a fantastic show!
Simply breathtaking! Like you we’re in my brain with my inspirations for my wedding. I’m going to make myself a flower crown, any tips for the best flowers or construction would be greatly appreciated. I also loved all the hidden details on the backs of the dresses and the sashes! The pops of color were so eye catching.
What is the first dress on the video? It isn’t shown in the collection on your website.
Hi Randi,
Thank you for the inquiry. This gown is named Diana. Sadly, it did not go into production. The video was compiled and final edit completed before the full production run was set. It’s unfortunate, but she will only have a life in cyberspace.