Design and Inspiration

Saturday, March 26, 2011

I've always wanted to create a collection of clothing using only black and white fabrics.
The beginning of each new piece is like starting with a fresh blank page...
the personality of the end product is completely dependent on
the graphics and manipulation one chooses to impose on it.
You can manipulate black and white to look harsh and imposing or soft and inviting.
No matter the combination, the end result is always impacting.
It's light and dark--no busy prints to distract the eye--no limitations.
Just pure creation.

Because the design can go anywhere--be anything, with these two colors
it was really important for me to have a specific goal for each look.
The main themes were B&W fabrics, jewel necklines, and lace.
Beyond that, I chose to base each look on the personalities of various friends from college.

I know people change.
These women may not have the same personalities as they did seven years ago.
These pieces weren't designed to be something they'd definitely wear
(they might even say they wouldn't be caught dead in the design that bears their name).
I simply took the characteristics I remember and love about them
to design pieces that reflect those traits.
Each look is named after a different one of them, just 'cuz...it's fun, ya know?

To be able to name something after a good friend is beyond cool and
the only sad thing about this process was not being able to
execute the number of looks needed to encompass all my college friends.
I've made more clothes than I can even remember,
but this is the first time I've ever made a series of pieces with common elements,
and hopefully the first of many such collections to be seen here at Kristina J.
As I introduce these pieces to you over the next several days,
I hope you enjoy the both the process and the end results.
And to the women who inspired and encouraged me all through college and
after whom these pieces are named...
This is my tribute to you.


Introducing
--A Collection by Kristina J.--

Reader's Choice 2

Monday, January 10, 2011

Good Evening, mah dears!

Sometimes I wonder what in the world I'm doin' over here. My taste is too kitchy to have a very good fashion blog. And my organization is about nil, so it's not a very good tutorial blog, either.
I'm constantly in limbo, wondering at my place in the blogosphere,
but this--the sewing--this I can do.

I'm smack dab in the middle of building some pieces with a black & white theme and
since getting my clothes into the hands of the general public (that being you) is the main idea around here, I wanted you to be able to vote on a look for one of the pieces.
I don't plan on directly recreating a dress, but I will use the dress with the most votes as inspiration for my own version, and hopefully, in the end, it will be obvious that I did.

If any of these dresses melt your heart, go ahead and have your say in the vote box on the sidebar, 'cuz ya just never know which pieces I'll end up offering your way!


1. Color Block

2. Satin Cutout

3. Fabric Origami

4. Feminine Military

5. Tuxedo

This is just a little teaser for the prettiness already completed. I'm going to wait to showcase all the pieces at once (as much as it's killin' me), but I promise to give you little hints every once in a while! =)

Constructing: Kristina J. Faves of 2010

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

When I built this, I was just wanting something breezy and light, and this completely fit the bill.
I wish I could find a store-full of this fabric--I'd buy it all up, 'cuz I can think of a hundred interesting ways to manipulate it.

This dress is what I came up with for a Valentine's date with the husbie.
I got an email once asking if this was a bolero over a tank dress, but it's actually all one piece.
This double ruffle thing is technique I use all the time.

I found this print in the quilting section of my fabric store and fell in love...or at least very strong like. I'm a huge sucker for a shirt-dress. I don't even know how many of these I've made in my life...there's been that many. I love these Seychelles, too.

This isn't a dress, but anything a girl puts on at least once a week has to be on the faves list, no?
I literally made this in a little over an hour...which I sorta regret, 'cuz I wanted an orange skirt so bad and like, RIGHT NOW, that I didn't take time to put in pockets, which is the only thing I don't just love about this skirt.

This poor fabric. The dress was originally a maternity sack...hehehe...then I reworked it into something less sacky...and reworked it again into what you see here. I really like this...it's makes my eyes look super blue and I always feel special when I put it on. Dupioni silk just does that for a girl, ya know?

So, this isn't actually one of my original designs. My readers voted to see me create a version of the Ruffled Plaid Dress that Anthropologie carried this fall, and this was the result. I can't take credit for the design, but I L-O-V-E this dress! I used the softest flannel ever and it's like putting on a warm, cozy blanket, except the look is much more fly, I guess.

There you have it. Kristina Clemens sounding off on KRISTINA J.
I love building pretty things for myself, but hope this year sees me constructing a certain amount of fabulousness for Y-O-U!
Much Love, mah dears!

Constructing: Midnight Jewel Dress

Monday, December 13, 2010

The circle skirt, the underlay, the jewels on the waistband...
Obviously, I was going for full-on, 1950's, Betty Draper glamor when I designed this dress, and I haven't used a strong print in a while, so I had a lot of fun working with this fabric.

But here's the thing...I already have a pretty dress for Christmas.
This one's my Christmas gift to you, if you want...

To qualify for the giveaway, you can do any of the following:

1) Share this post to your page (Twitter, Facebook, blog, etc.)
2) Friend me on Facebook
3) Follow this blog with the button in the sidebar
4) Follow this blog with Bloglovin'
5) Follow me on Twitter.


Make sure to leave one comment below with your name or email contact.
The giveaway will be open until midnight on Saturday, 18th.

The measurements of the dress are:
Bust--Up to 34.5 in.
(If you're not a girl, but not yet a woman...ahem,
then the dress will fit you like it fits me in these pics.)
Waist--26.5 in.
Length from waist--41 in.
A tutorial on how to make this waistband is here.

Pictures courtesy of Janelle's Looknook

Have a very merry two weeks before Christmas!

Constructing: One Wedding Dress

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hmm...I so almost didn't post these, but here they are...

This is the wedding dress I made for myself nine years ago...I kinda feel old just sayin' that.
I tried on what felt like 5,483 wedding dresses, but it was the year of the ginormous ball skirt dress, and everything I tried on just seemed too much.

I got married a short fifteen months after my brother died.
Life was complicated and confusing, and I just wanted a really simple dress that didn't overwhelm me. I didn't know how to slope or block a pattern back then, but I came across a vintage pattern from the 1970's (of course) that I loved.
I bought $100 worth of fabric, cut out a pattern for a train from an old sheet that the original pattern didn't include and my wedding dress came to be!
Nine years later, and I still sorta love it.

It was a FAH-REEZING 28 degrees outside when we took these pics. I really thought my lips were gonna look blue, so the coat never came off, BUT...
the really great story behind my coat is that one of my readers, Lanee' Marshall, found this vintage 1970's leather coat and bought it for me.
How awesome!?!? She totally made my day.

I guess in a way, it works, right? Both pieces nod to the 70's and I was originally a fall bride, so the leaves on the ground are quite perfect, actually.
And in the end, all that really matters is that Scott and I still love, and are in love, like fire on kindling.

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.-- Dr. Seuss

Constructing: Creme Brulee Dress

Thursday, November 18, 2010

I built this dress for my amazing and supportive friend on her birthday.
I wanted to do something really special and surprise her, but I'm not sure it was much of a surprise since I had to get very precise measurements first!

There's always a delicate balance when designing pieces for someone else--
using fabrics and silhouettes they like and look good in,
while maintaining a part of myself in it so I can be proud to put my name on it when it's done.

I don't wear jersey knit all that much, but she does, so I went with it, making sure to use a color palette we both love (cream and chocolate brown) and including the hem ruffle (a signature) so I'd recognize it as mine...

So pretty!


I included a tutorial for these flowers here.


Introducing: Reader's Choice

Friday, October 22, 2010

I am continually recreating beautiful things for so many different reasons:
  • I liked the design, but not the color
  • My wallet said no to my fondest desires
  • The fit was off
  • I was pregnant when it was available
  • I missed out on it for some other reason
  • To challenge myself
So, this week I happened to think, if I'm going to be doing this anyway, why not let my readers decide what I reinterpret next?

Ruffled Plaid Dress

Elevenses Pearl Overcoat

Hudson & Houston Dress

Bold Boutonniere Dress

These are four pieces I'm dying to reinvent, and it doesn't really matter to me which comes first, as long as they eventually find they're way to my closet.
In keeping with Voting Season, I've decided to let you vote for which piece you want to see next. Keep in mind I may change the color or design a bit to fit what works for me and what I need in my wardrobe (need used very loosely here, tee, hee...) .

I'll be posting a survey in the sidebar, which will be open for the next couple weeks. The item with the most votes by November 1st will be fair game for reinterpretation!
Happy Voting!

I've answered some questions I've been getting via E-mail in the video clip below.
If it doesn't load fast enough in Blogger, you can click on "My Explanation" to watch on YouTube.


Constructing: Orchid Whisper Dress

Thursday, October 7, 2010

So, this is for those of you who've been asking to see this dress again (original post here), which actually turned out to be kinda, sorta, perfect since summer decided not to leave quite yet and things warmed up around here.
Of course, you know it'll show up again with tights and a blazer, right? Of course, right.
As you can tell from the pictures, it was a warm, but blustery day in the Hundred Acre Woods, and I spent most the day just trying to keep my hair out of my eyes. Hmm...maybe should have gone with the ponytail. Oh, well...
I'm off for the weekend,
and super excited about what's going down.
I promise to fill you in next week!!!
Have an awesome weekend, Ladies!

(Dress, handmade, Anthropologie Enchanting Eyes belt and Extra Zest Pin, MIA Cadet Booties)

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