New Style: One Of A Kind Black And White Cotton Kimono Women's Dress

I recently created this Black and White Cotton Kimono Dress. It is a one of a kind design, and its the first of many new Penelope Red fashion designs for this Spring and Summer!

This 2013-14 Spring and Summer I am intending on using up a lot of my vintage fabrics. There are so many special fabrics I have collected over the years! Since all of the fabrics have very limited meterage there will be plenty of one of a kind designs!

The Black and White Cotton Kimono Dress pictured here has been handmade using a vintage cotton twill that is lightweight and has a slight sheen to it. The black print looks kind of like a splash of a paint brush in a circular motion.

I decided to add black rik rak braid (also vintage) down the front, to go with the black shoulder yoke and black cuff. Then I happened to have the white beaded flowers and they make the design look even more special I think!

Check it out: The One of a Kind Handmade Black and White Cotton Kimono Dress is available in my Penelope Red etsy shop online here.

Vintage Finds: Green Buttons for a Dress

I love using vintage fabrics, buttons and trims for my Penelope Red designs. So many of my fashion designs have at least one element of a vintage find. I thought these green vintage buttons were really interesting as they must be quite old- it's not every day you see the buttons fastened to the cardboard by metal clips. 

They will be used on a pink, white and mint green dress! They will be perfect!

Creating the new Autumn Collection Part 2: The Judith Dress

Introducing the latest Penelope Red design... The Black and Gold Stripe Judith Dress. I am very proud of this design- the fabric is perfect in this style as it drapes beautifully, and the black and gold metallic stripes contrast well witht he black textured stripe.



This style mixes the Penelope Red Blue Skies Skirt and the White, Orange and Black Pop Dress together- two styles that I love, and I wanted to do more with.


This style is fully lined, has an invisible zip at centre back, exaggerated waist as the hips are quite full, a neck that curves around at the back, and a square neckline which I find is flattering on a lot of people.




The metallic sheen gives this dress a sophisticated and different edge to the design, but the dark colour and comfort of the dress means that you can wear this to the office.


It will be added to the Penelope Red Australian Shop Online very soon!

My Personal Penelope Red Outfits: A look inside my wardrobe!

Above, my Blue Indian-inspired corset dress. It features one-shoulder, gold sequinned beading, and a scarf hanging from the shoulder. I LOVE this dress, and I can't wait for another opportunity to wear it. I feel like a million dollars wearing it!

When I am at the markets, I tell a lot of my customers that virtually my whole wardrobe is Penelope Red. If it isn't Penelope Red, then it is a pair of jeans, vintage pieces, or something that I bought over seas.



Since I am the designer, I feel it is important to wear my own designs... for one thing, it is self promotion, but really, it isn't about that. I design what I want to wear- not what I think would sell. I dream up my ideas in my head, and it is up to me to transfer them to a 3-D object.



The above outfit was worn to the Tessuti Awards 2009. My Black and Lace Winter Dress makes me feel so special! I recently wore this to a wedding.

I love wearing something entirely different to everyone else, and also showing off what I can do!

I think it is also important to try out each style, and work out if it is comfortable; if it fits perfectly; if it needs adjusting.

So, in this posting I have included a few of my favourite Penelope Red outfits.




The above design was for a bush wedding; this red halter dress was a comfortable and beautiful dress, which could easily be worn with my flat sandles.



Yes, the above photo really was shot in Paris! I had planned to go to Europe at the end of their winter. I started to realise before I left that I would be freezing without a coat. I had this wool lying around, that my sister gave me, so I decided to create this coat before I left- I had 4 days before I was leaving! I wore it constantly, and I still wear it today, 5 years on!



Ok, so the little jacket is not Penelope Red, but the skirt is. I have constantly worn this skirt- I have lost count how many times... atleast 50 times. The hubby and I toured Moscow and St. Petersburg, and this is one of the outfits I constantly wore.



Above, the same coat I made before I left for Europe, and this photo was shot in Rome!



This orange top was worn constantly last summer, with my jeans or my black leather mini skirt (a fantastic vintage purchase!).



The Pink Victorian Corset would have to be one of my best ever designs. I have worn mine so many times, and receive comments on it constantly!


My Blue Squiggle Organza skirt was made from a stunning vintage fabric. There was only enough fabric to make one more of these skirts, which has been sold to a lady in Canada!


I made the above vest/blouse especially for this wedding. I started off with one idea, and then it changed as I created it- like most of my designs. This vest always receives many comments when it is worn, so I hope I can wear it again in the coming Summer.



The Penelope Red Black Chiffon Bow Tie Blouse is a top that I wear weekend after weekend! This photo was taken at the Observatory Hotel, having High Tea with a friend.



This was an interesting day (above). My hubby and I went to the Fifties Fair, at Rose Seidler house. I decided to go in Fifties inspired Penelope Red!



My Emerald and Ivory Coat keeps me so cosy and warm in Winter, but I also feel so glamorous, as soon as I put it on! This would have to be one of my all-time favourite designs.


My Coral Kimono (above)... I love it with my black pants, and a sexy heel. One of my friends said to me, "Penny, your wardrobe is like Austin Powers's wardrobe! So much colour..."

I just laughed at that- it made me happy. I can't help it- I love colour! She said that all she has in her wardrobe is black or grey.



One of my favourite dresses, the very first Penelope Red Winter Dress.


Dancing the night away in my Pink Victorian Corset!




I decided to put the above photo last. The girls in this photo I have known since I was 13 or younger. They have seen me in my daggy-est moments, but they have also accepted my style from a young age! I can still remember sitting in maths class, and designing formal dresses, and they all supported me in one way or another while I was designing for my end of school project, or while I was in college, stressing out!

So here's to another couple of decades of my style and fashion!

Flashback: Old School Projects

First things first; if this is the first time you are reading this blog, this is NOT what I do now! The designs in this posting are old school and college projects that I discovered hiding in my garage over the weekend. I thought it would be fun to share with you my weird style I had back then, so we can either laugh, cringe or cry together!


This design is a halter top, made from silk, machine embroidery, sequins and diamante. It is hard to believe I made this design almost 9 years ago, at college. It feels like it was even further back; almost another lifetime ago- I have learnt so much, and my style has completely changed.


The above design was made for the evening wear category. It is made from silk organza, machine embroidery, cording, beads, and diamante. Unfortunately, the beaded tasselling have completely tangled themselves, but otherwise, I still quite like this style.


The fabric was originally plain white silk organza. I then painted four pieces of this fabric, into four different colours- red, bright pink, purple and orange. I then placed them on top of each other, then satin-stitched the rows to form squares.


After this, I randomly cut out layers of organza to display different colours coming through- so some squares had one layer of organza, others had 2 or 3 or 4.

I then applied the pattern shape, moulded each panel to fit the body, the satin stitched over the top of previous lines. (A similar process to how you attach lace around seams). The above photo shows that there are no seams inside of the top. It is just a continuous, moulded piece of fabric.


I then applied the diamante and beaded tasselling. This design took forever! Not as long as my wedding dress, but still- Forever!





The next design was for my high school end of year project. While I look at it now, and wonder what was I thinking?!, I can appreciate the effort involved at least. This dress was made from plain white silk, which I painted.


I think sometimes it is fun to look back at where you have come from, and compare it to what you can do now. I am proud to say that I think I have come a long way!

If you would like to see my current designs, you can take a look at the Penelope Red website, the Penelope Red etsy shop, or previous postings in the Penelope Red blog.

The Penelope Red Vintage Tulip Dress: A new style

The Penelope Red Vintage Tulip Dress is a new design... I finished it last week.

The dress is made from two different prints. The print around the bust is a printed cotton- white print on cream background. The print placed around the waist and skirt is a gorgeous vintage screen printed cotton blend, featuring bright and bold large flowers in various colours including orange, yellow, peach, green, and aqua with a navy blue background.


I found the vintage floral fabric in an antiques store, amongst the clutter! I love bold prints, and this print was screaming out to me, "take me home!"



The shape of this dress is the same shape as the Penelope Red Pop Dress, pictured below.



Even though it is from the exact same Penelope Red pattern, it is amazing how the different fabrics create a completely different look. Also, swapping the contrasting waist (as it is in the Pop Dress), to the contrasting bust area makes the waist and legs look longer as well. I still like each dress as much as each other- but it is fun to mix it up and create different looks!


The back has an invisible zip to that starts from around the bra line- down. The back is actually open from the top of your bra and up; it gives you a bit of breeze around your back on those warmer days. A large orange button fastens the back around the neck and another secures the zip.


If you are interested in this style or any other Penelope Red style, please email me at:
designer@penelopered.com.au

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