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.

Recent Outfits

Here are a few outfits I have worn recently. Whenever I go out I only ever wear my Penelope Red fashion designs, the reason being I believe in my own style! I started Penelope Red because I would always receive comments on what I was wearing (and it was always my designs!), and I am never satisfied with fit/style/quality of others. 

I can be seen around the local parks quite often in my daggy mummy clothes, but just because I am a mum doesn't mean I can't dress up a little when I want to! So here is some Mum fashion for you...

All of the designs I am wearing in the photos above are my Penelope Red designs. You can see more designs in the Penelope Red online shop... Follow the links on the right column.

Custom Order: A Handmade Emerald Green and Bright Blue Silk Kimono

I was looking for some time to compose this post about this fabulous custom ordered green and blue silk kimono, and now that my bub has woken up with teething woes, and is desperately wanting a cuddle, it seems the perfect time to start! I think I sometimes live a double life! Fashion designer in one life, mother and wife in another! 

I just finished hand beading this kimono design last night, and Leanne only picked it up today- so it's hot off the press! Leanne was sweet enough to model it for me in these pics so I could show it off.

Leanne has purchased quite a few of my cotton kimonos, and its one of her favourite styles. She had asked me for a more evening wear type of kimono, and after discussion we decided on this gorgeous emerald green vintage silk. 

The green silk in the main body of the kimono features a dark blue floral print, so I decided to use a bright blue silk for the sleeve, then blue vintage rik rak braid,  and blue sequins to give it that finishing touch!

As with all my kimonos it's the pleating of the fabric that really makes my Penelope Red kimonos stand out... And it's unfortunate that you can never see it in the photos. Each kimono uses around 2 to 2.5 metres of fabric due to the pleating  and how it has been cut. 

I have handmade so many kimonos since starting my Penelope Red fashion designs. Each one has been unique or at least made into a select few. It's quite fun for me to imagine just how far some of my unique designs travel. In its life time, I wonder how far this kimono will go?!

Vintage Finds: cotton prints I currently have in stock

I use vintage fabrics, especially cotton prints, in my fashion designs all the time. They always seem to be very unique and special, and to me, good quality fabric means so much when creating a design.

The following swatches are just some of the vintage cotton prints I currently have in stock. I custom make a lot of my designs out of fabrics like these, and I simply adore collecting fabric!

(I have taken the photo of each fabric with the cutting blade included so you have a point of perspective. The rotary blade is 45mm wide.)

"Cute apples"- vintage cotton in blue, yellow, orange and white on a blue background.

"Pink Gingham"- Pink and white check vintage cotton.

"Green gingham"- Green and cream cotton check.

"Lilac Flower Power"- Large lilac stylised flowers on a cotton drill.

"Strawberry Fields"- red, yellow and green strawberry vines on a denim background.

"Aqua Jewel Stripe"- vibrant jewel tones of orange, navy, green and aqua in a striped cotton.

"Pretty Blossums"- red and blue flowers and a white background. A vintage cotton voile.

"Autumn Blossums"- pretty brown flowers on a very fine and sheer cotton voile.

"Yellow Blossums"- tiny little yellow flowers on a cotton poplin.

"Gold Jigsaw"- a very unique vintage cotton, printed with an unusual gold and black geometric design. The fabric has a sheen to it, as well as the printing. I haven't made a lot with this yet, as its one of those fabrics which I absolutely adore and I want to get the style just right!

All of the above vintage fabrics and more (that are in my collection) can be made into many different Penelope Red creations. Please check out my website at www.penelopered.com if you would like to see more.

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!

The Black and Purple Cairo Skirt

The Black Silk Emilie Blouse is worn with the Black and Purple Cairo Skirt in each of these photos. I really LOVE this outfit!


When creating the skirt, I decided to include two lines of embroidery that highlighted the centre front panel.



I wanted the embroidery in black to still have an eastern feel to it, so I used a more geometric design.



The Penelope Red Cairo Skirt has been handmade from a black linen and purple silk/cotton blend. The draped black body creates a feminine line, the contrasting T-bar in purple around the waist and centre front, makes an elegant impact.



This design is part of the Red Queen Collection, inspired by Gustav Klimt paintings and Ancient Egyptian Costume. The one-shoulder look of the Black Silk Emilie Blouse, and the pleating on the skirt, reminds me of something an Egyptian Queen would wear. The vintage metallic braid and black embroidery help to convey a feel of eastern design, but they also remind me of Gustav Klimt paintings as well.

Photos from the Rocks Markets: Feb 2011

I had a little bit of time last weekend I was at the Rocks Markets, and I took some photos of my latest designs and colours for Autumn...

Above I am sewing buttons on a dress- I always like to take a little bit of hand sewing with me.



My latest colours: black and gold, cream, purple, and blue, with a little jade green.


Also, I can't forget my favourite colour- RED!


I will be featuring each of these designs on the blog in more detail soon, but for now, this is just a sneak peek of the latest designs, and there will be more to come!



The Penelope Red boutique will be at the Rocks Markets this coming weekend, the 5th and 6th March, 2011. Opening hours are 10am til 5pm.

More Customer Photos!

I am very lucky that I have wonderful customers who return and tell me how much they love their Penelope Red purchases, and quite often they are wearing my design when I see them!

Every person wears Penelope Red in their own individual way, and it is a great way to show others what can be done with my designs.

Also, I love knowing that my designs have gone to a good home, and people are actually wearing them, rather than having them insulate their wardrobe!



Above, Sharna wears the Cosmopolitan Red Bow Tie Pants and Aqua Paisley Blouse.




In the image above and below, I wear the Vesper Kimono and Leanne wears the Black and White Nouveau Blouse.

How To Organise Your Wardrobe

Each season I try to organise my wardrobe... As in, I sort out the clutter: I go through my older items and decide what to keep and throw out; I sort out my seasonal pieces and decide what I will wear this season; I keep all the pieces I am excited about in my wardrobe, and store everything else.

I do this for several reasons:

1. I mainly do it because my wardrobe space is tiny! Since I live in Sydney, housing is expensive, and storage space is minimal- so I try to do the best with what I have.

2. It is a great way to be re-inspired by whatever you have! Think about it, if you store at least a third of the items in your wardrobe each season, when it comes to the next season you will have all those pieces to choose from- and probably items that you have forgotten about too!

3. It is always nice to be organised, and ready to go whenever you need it. I hate trying to get ready, and then I realise that my shoes are not polished or something doesn't fit as well as it used to!

Many of my friends tell me they have a few wardrobe issues too, and I started thinking that maybe a lot of women have the same situation: many clothes but not sure what they will do with them!

I have created a little video for any one who wants to watch it. You can view it on youtube here:

The Strawberry Daiquiri Polka Dot Blouse

As part of my new summer collection, the Strawberry Daiquiri Polka Dot Blouse is a brand new Penelope Red design. Handmade from a 100% polyester bright red and cream polka dot satin, and bright blue satin binding. I love this top, as it really is such a versatile style, and suits so many body shapes.

It usually suits women with a small or large bust, as the pleating flatters someone with a small bust, but also allows extra room for a large bust (around a DD can usually fit into it).



I have enough fabric to make around 8 of these. Even though it is a polyester material, the fabric is so soft, most people confuse it for silk. The blue stripe satin binding around the under bust seam creates a very flattering line, and I like the fact that is completely contrasting and unexpected!

An invisible zip is at the side. It is the same style as the Monet Pleated Blouse, just without the keyhole at the centre back (Monet version shown below)



This style is great to wear with jeans, wear with a cute mini skirt, wear with panst or a skirt. Such a versatile style, and great for many occasions. A cocktail setting, a bbq, a party, shopping with your girlfriends, wear it to work- the list goes on!

1/1/10: The Strawberry Daiquiri Blouse has been listed in the Penelope Red etsy shop! More photos of this design can be seen in the etsy listing.

Penelope Red featured on epherielldesigns.com

Penelope Red and the Purple Floral Corset Dress has been featured in the epherielldesigns.com blog, with a list of 10 Aussie Indie Dress Designers! Check it out here.

The Making of The Venus Floral Bolero

Last week, I needed to create another Penelope Red Venus Floral Bolero for an order, so I thought it was a good opportunity to show you the "making of" this new design...

First I cut out all of the "main" pattern pieces from the vintage cotton floral fabric.


Next I cut out the fusing; this is a stiffening which you iron-onto the main fabric. By the time I cut out the vintage cotton, the fusing and then the lining, it takes a while!


Once the fusing is attached to the floral cotton, I then start to sew as many seams as I can.


In some areas I can attach the lining to the facing pieces.


To keep the neckline from stretching, I place some stay-tape around it.


Next, the sleeves need to be fitted to the armhole. To do this, I place a gathering stitch around the sleeve-head, then I slightly gather it up to fit, and then use the iron to steam it. This shrinks the gathering and prevents puckering.


Once the sleeve-head is steamed, I pin it to the armhole, then I sew it in place.



Then I can focus on the lining and sewing the jacket together.


I like the lining to be just as neat as the outside, so I trim the seams to be neat, and press them flat.


I like to match up all the seams as best as possible too- including the lining.


Now that the lining is ready, I need to insert the pretty pink pleated frill around the neckline of the jacket, before I sew it all together. I create this pink frill from another vintage fabric. It is a large roll of pleated material, which I cut the edging off- this is what I use on the bolero.


Once the frill is attached to the jacket, I then sandwich the layers with right sides together, and sew around the entire edge.


I then trim and clip all seams, as it creates a better finish. Then the whole jacket is turned out through a gap in the lining seam- a little handy trick I learnt in college! This is where it really gets complicated!


Once it is turned out and the neckline has been under-stitched, I then need to finish off the sleeve hem. I do this by turning it inside out, through the same gap in the sleeve lining. It is too hard to explain, so just take my word for it when I say that is where my years of sewing experience comes in handy!


I like to use a contrasting blanket stitch on certain designs. I think it adds a certain handmade quality, while still looking chic and individual. In this design I use a bright pink thread to tone back in with the flowers in the print and the pink frill.

When I bought my sewing machine, I thought I was never going to need all of those fancy stitches that it can create. Now I am so glad they are available, as I think when I use them on my designs, it sets them apart from the rest.


By this stage it is practically done. All I need to do now is place the tiny hook and eyes onto the garment centre front. This is done by hand, and I even make my own little eyes with thread.




And the completed Penelope Red Venus Floral Bolero is done! You can purchase a copy of it in my etsy shop here.