If you are a fan of Dior, you will know that the tulle skirt plays an important role in their history and design. Paying homage to the classic post-War New Look created by the house, their latest tulle skirt design offers chic sophistication. The only problem is that many cannot afford the $3,800 price tag that accompanies the skirt. But what if you were able to create your own couture tulle skirt? With the guidance of couture designer Angela Kim, you can do just that at the

Karl Lagerfeld meant a lot to me. He is the reason why I went to Paris and studied at Lesage. He was the reason that Chanel acquired Lesage in 2002. And without his intervention, who knows where the atelier would be today, and where I would be today. I was lucky enough to meet Karl in 2010 at the Chanel couture show in Paris. I spoke with him telling him that I was a student of Lesage and I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to learn from the masters of embroidery. Thi

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours! This year marks my first ever American thanksgiving! I am so thankful for the opportunity to live in this beautiful country, and for my wonderful friends and family. Along with Thanksgiving comes Black Friday and I am excited to announce the launch of my jewelry business here in the US with a Black Friday Sale!! Please check out everything I have to offer in my Etsy shop by clicking here! I am updating my shop regularly with items for

In 2009 I packed up my life in Canada and traveled to Paris, France to get certified in Haute Couture Beadwork and Embroidery. One of the main reasons I went to Paris was so I could help keep the traditional techniques alive. With an ageing population, and a younger generation who are not as interested in learning handwork, there is some worry in the industry about the future of Haute Couture. But with some of the couture atelier’s opening up their doors and inviting young st

Every year, Karl Lagerfeld hosts an amazing fashion show called Métiers d’Art which showcases the work of Chanel’s atelier houses.  This year, the show was held in Salzburg.  Since studying at the Lesage embroidery house myself, I have become increasingly interested in the traditional atelier houses that service the Haute Couture industry.  As the traditional craftsmanship is dying and many atelier houses are slowly disappearing, Chanel have been buying the companies to prese

A world traveling exhibition of miniature Christian Dior Haute Couture gowns has begun its journey this summer in Chendgu, China.  This amazing show incorporates many of the fashion label’s most well known gowns, created in miniature versions from the originals.  Each piece is a third of the size of the original creations, yet still follows the same Haute Couture traditional techniques in the same precision.  The atelier houses still serving the world of Haute Couture still w

Once again I am in awe at the impressive embroidery produced by “les petites mains” in the Lesage atelier for the house of Chanel Fall Winter 2014/2015 collection.  The craftsmanship never disappoints, and seems to always be creating new innovative ways to stay relevant in today’s fashion.   This video shows the way the artisans make beads mimic the traditional Chanel tweed, and how the layered sequins create a beautiful 3D effect.  Karl Lagerfeld always stays true to his ate

I have found another inspiring video that shows the work that goes into the Chanel Haute Couture collection.  Being trained by Chanel in their embroidery house, I have had the luxury of experiencing the amount of work required to create Chanel’s lavish collections.  Hopefully by showing these videos, others will also begin to appreciate the talent and endless hours of work that is put into creating these pieces.   Enjoy! #embroidery #Fashion #Lesage #Chanel #hautecouture #Bea

Karl Lagerfeld showed his Bombay collection for Chanel in Paris back in December 2011, and it was a wonderful showcase of artisan craftsmanship.  The theme “Paris-Bombay” was a reminder that Europe’s fashion industry has increasingly turned to India to produce handcrafted pieces.   It has become expensive for the designers to make them in Paris as the ateliers are becoming obsolete.  Lagerfeld’s plan was to flip the equation, so that everything that looked intricately Indian

Bulgarian designers Livia S. Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov showed their designs for On Aura Tout Vu’s Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2012 fashion show in Paris and I was one of the lucky few who got a ticket to the show.  I was excited for this show as soon as I got the invitation.  The card had a picture of flames and there was an actual match inside the invitation.  I also noticed that the show was sponsored by Swarovski crystal, so I was looking forward to seeing the sparkli

December 1, 2011 was a sad day for those in the fashion industry. Master of Couture embroidery, François Lesage, aged 82 passed away after a long battle with illness. M. Lesage was a true visionary in the fashion industry. Tucked away in the attic rooms of a five story building, overlooked by Sacre Coeur, you will find Lesage, Europe’s most celebrated beadwork and embroidery house. These tiny rooms hold drawers and boxes filled with more than 60 tons of beads, sequins, thread

Just thought I would share a piece that I am currently working on! This is a couture embroidered piece that will soon be turned into a clutch purse. The hand embroidery is done with a Luneville hook which is the technique that I learned at Lesage, (an atelier house owned by Chanel). It is created with glass beads, sequins, threads and vintage silk. This piece was inspired by the Monet Iris jacket that Lesage made for Yves Saint Laurent. This is such a wonderful piece, I reall

Since 2010 is now over, I felt it was time to reflect on my past adventure filled year. Over the past year I was lucky enough to get to experience what most don’t get to do in a lifetime! One year ago today I was a new citizen of Paris, France. I had just finished my apprenticeship with Lesage (atelier house owned by Chanel) and was ready to experience a new Parisian life! Listed below are some of my most memorable moments over this past year! Earning my certificate in Profes

#Lesage #Shoes #ChristianLouboutin #hautecouture #paris

I have found my new favourite shop in Paris. “Ultramod” is a mercerie (dressmaker and sewing store) that has been selling buttons, ribbons, hats, and silks since 1890. It seems like you step back in time when entering into this shop. There are loomed silk ribbons which date back to the 1940’s, felts for hats that are over 50 years old, and rolls of silk fabric from the 1930’s. The shop itself is split into two boutiques which are directly across the street from each other. On