projectmakeitwork

How Leanne Marshall Makes It Work

Leanne Marshall carries herself with quiet elegance.  In season 5 of Project Runway, Leanne consistently produced beautiful work, and stayed true to her style, which is a challenge for many designers.  With confidence in her skills, and the ability to deliver results, Leanne deservingly won the season. She has her own flagship location in New York City, in which she and her team create gowns that are ethereal and feminine.  We got in touch with Leanne recently, and she shared a bit with us about her Project Runway experience, and what she and her staff of magical fairies are creating now.

Leanne Marshall in her Studio

Leanne Marshall in her Studio

HOW LEANNE MARSHALL MAKES IT WORK

1.  Who are you, and what season/s did you participate in? 

Leanne Marshall, Project Runway Season 5, Winner.

2.  Please give a brief description of your design style.

 My designs are known for their light, flowing lines, feminine details and timeless elegance. I create clothing I believe women will want to wear.

Leanne Marshall Gown

Leanne Marshall Gown

Leanne Marshall Gown

Leanne Marshall Gown

 

3.  What was the most challenging thing about the Project Runway experience BESIDES the challenges themselves?

It is constant and unrelenting. As soon as one challenge stops, another begins. A week in, you are exhausted and drained. Determination and a strong focus are the only things that can pull you through.

 

4.  Who have you met or worked with during or since the Project Runway experience that you are most proud of or excited about?

I had an amazing time working with Paula Abdul. She is very hands on in the process while still allowing me the creative license to do what I do best. She was one of my first and most memorable celebrity clients.

 5.  Besides the basics, what sewing notion or tool could you NEVER do without?

My snippies. They can be found around my neck in every waking hour. I use them for everything!

6.  How has social media impacted your life after Project Runway?

It has been a very powerful tool. I am just now beginning to take full advantage of it. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest allow me to share my work and new projects in a very personalized way. From the various social media outlets, I get several clients every month.

(Twitter: @leannemarshall_, Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fashionleanne/)

A Close-Up of Handwork on A Leanne Marshall Dress

A Close-Up of Handwork on A Leanne Marshall Dress

7.  What are you currently working on or excited about professionally?

By this fall, my bridal line will be in 30 global retailers. We have locations all over the US as well as Canada, Japan, Australia, Japan and England. I am also thrilled to be a part of the BHLDN family. They are currently selling two of my gowns. I have also had a very fulfilling partnership with Simplicity Pattern Company. Since 2011, I have been creating exclusive designs for them. It is really wonderful to see what the home sewers of the world create using my patterns. This past June, I celebrated one year in my NYC Flagship location. We meet with our real women and celebrity clients and everything is made right there by hand.

Leanne Marshall Bridal Gown

Leanne Marshall Bridal Gown

Leanne Marshall Gown

Leanne Marshall Gown

8.  Is there anything else you’d like us to know or see?

I would love you to see everything I am up to.  Check out Facebook.com/leannemarshallofficial, and Instagram @leannemarshalldesigns.  (also check out Leanne’s Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/Leanimal, and her homepage: www.leannemarshall.com)

Leanne Marshall Dress

Leanne Marshall Dress

We’d like to thank Leanne for taking the time to do this interview, and especially for all of the stunning images!  Leanne, we wish you the best in all you do, and we dream of wearing your dresses!  -C. Scott

Leanne Marshall Gown

Leanne Marshall Gown

All interview answers and images provided by Leanne Marshall unless watermarked, linked, or specified. Photographer: Leanne Marshall, Makeup by Nathan Johnson.

Delicious Homemade Melon and Peach + Coconut Popsicles. NOM NOM NOM
Melon and Peach +Coconut Creamsicles

Melon and Peach +Coconut Creamsicles

Beat the heat with these beautiful and delicious homemade pops.  We started drooling when we saw the photo, so we had to share Song of Style’s Popsicle Recipe.  Enjoy!

Lena Dunham gets a Platinum Dorothy Hamill Cut and looks UberChic

ANNOUNCEMENT:  LENA DUNHAM HAS A NEW HAIRDO!

All right, we know we’re not talking about the most important things in society by discussing celebrity hair, but we HAD to show you Lena Dunham’s beautiful new cut and color.  Lena’s chic new ‘do also reminds us of the amazing Dorothy Hamill, Olympic Figure Skater, of 1976 hair fame.  You can read more about Lena’s new style at Lucky Magazine, and on People.com.  Lookin’ good, Lena!

 

The Dorothy Hamill Haircut Everyone Wanted in 1976

The Dorothy Hamill Haircut Everyone Wanted in 1976

How Johnathan Kayne Makes It Work

 

Johnathan Kayne’s designs sparkle, just like their creator.  In the literal sense, his signature gowns are covered in Swarovskis, but figuratively, they reflect the care and love Jonathan puts into designing them.  We would go so far as to say that Johnathan is the event gown guru of Project Runway.  Johnathan has the market cornered for red carpets, beauty pageants, and proms.  We would also refer to Johnathan as a Project Runway pro, as he has done his time on a regular season, and a season of All Stars.   Recently, we had the wonderful pleasure of speaking with Johnathan, and he shared with us all of the very exciting things he has going on in his sparkly world.

HOW JOHNATHAN KAYNE MAKES IT WORK

1.  Who are you, and what season/s did you participate in? 

I competed on Season 3 on Project Runway and was a Top 5 finalist.  I also competed on Project Runway All Stars Season 2.

2.  Please give a brief description of your design style.

My design style is very elegant and feminine. My shoe and dress collections are typically adorned with Swarovski crystals and intricate hand beading.

Johnathan Kayne Design SS2014

Johnathan Kayne Design SS2014

 

3.  What was the most challenging thing about the Project Runway experience BESIDES the challenges themselves?

Honestly, the most challenging aspect was trying to figure out exactly what the judges were looking for each challenge.

 

4.  Who have you met or worked with during or since the Project Runway experience that you are most proud of or excited about?

I have been most excited to work with and design for Jennifer Lopez, Lee Brice, Martina McBride since my Project Runway experience.

Gown by Johnathan Kayne

Lee and Sara Brice at the American Country Music Awards

 

Maggie Rose at the CMT Awards

Maggie Rose at the CMT Awards

 

5.  What are you currently working on or excited about professionally?

I have moved my home and entire business operation back to my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.  I also serve as a red carpet fashion correspondent for Country Weekly Magazine and Zuus Media. I am building my brand as the go-to red carpet designer of the south.

I am prepping to launch my SS 2015 collections debuting this fall. I also have hired a good friend and Project Runway All Star, Joshua McKinley, to collaborate on an evening wear collection.

This is the first time in history that two Project Runway Alum have collaborated on a collection!

From itsjoshuamcklinley instagram

Johnathan with collaborator and friend, Designer Joshua McKinley (From itsjoshuamcklinley instagram)

 

6.  Besides the basics, what sewing notion or tool could you NEVER do without?

A seam ripper.

 

7. How has social media impacted your life after Project Runway?

Social media has allowed me to give the world a closer look at my creative vision, and allows for my fans to see what inspires me.  I believe a picture truly is worth a thousand words, and a video, millions. We try to inspire our followers through our collections and through our social media. I love connecting with our fans, and am so thankful and blessed to have such beautiful people across the world as followers.

(Johnathan Kayne social media: Twitter: Johnathan_Kayne, YouTube: johnathankayne, Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnathankayne, Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/johnathankayne/)

8.  Is there anything else you’d like us to know or see?

Check out my website, www.JohnathanKayne.com where you will see all of my current collections, custom designs, and related media. Also please like and follow all of my social media links on my website to stay up to date with my brand and I.

Model: Chanley Painter, Photo by Adrian

Johnathan Kayne Dress, Model: Chanley Painter, Photo by Adrian

Thank you so much to Johnathan for his participation and generous contributions to this piece.  Johnathan, it has been a pleasure chatting with you, we wish you all the best! – C.Scott

All text and images provided by Johnathan Kayne unless watermarked, linked, or specified.

 

Charles James: Beyond Fashion. If you missed The Met exhibit, read this!
The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute

Charles James: Beyond Fashion

Charles James: Beyond Fashion by fabsugar

The Met’s Costume Institute exhibit celebrating an enormous collection of Charles James garments ended today.  We snuck in under the wire and got a chance to see it, and we can’t be happier to have witnessed this display of genius in fashion live.  The Met has been creating inspiring exhibits for years, but since they combined efforts with The Brooklyn Museum, their archives and resources have become legendary.  We are so glad to see time, effort, and truly creative curatorial technology in play when it comes to showcasing fashion history.  The Met really is the best place to see exhibits of this type in The United States, and the only thing we’ve seen to compare with their work is at The Victoria and Albert in London.  Support these institutions, and others like them!

How a designer bag is made, by Delvaux.

Here is part two on Delvaux- how a designer bag is made!

Nathalie's avatarThe Merrymakers

If you haven’t read my introduction to the house of Delvaux yet, first head over to my previous post right here!

Now in this post I’ll tell you why it’s a good idea to invest, yes it’s an investment, your money into a Delvaux, above all other designer bags.
I have my fair share of designer bags carefully archived in my closet, but none are more precious to me than my vintage Delvaux and my most recent buy, the Delvaux Brillant X-Ray.

When visiting the Delvaux atelier in Brussels, I discovered that all is created by hand, like the hands of the man you see in the pictures, working here for most of his life, dedicating it to the craftsmanship that is the house of Delvaux.
No industrial feel here, leather is selected from the finest hides in the leather library, scanned for mistakes, carefully cut into patterns…

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Delvaux, from the kingdom of Belgium: An introduction

Amazing insight into a designer bag factory. Meet Delvaux.

Nathalie's avatarThe Merrymakers

DSC_5139

Now that we’re all proud being Belgian, thanks Red Devils for the World Cup fun, it’s time to look beyond the football field, onto another terrain we Belgians have been mastering for over decades…

Not to long ago, I had the honor to visit the ateliers of Delvaux in Brussels. It was all I ever expected and more. It made me proud to be Belgian on a whole new level. It made me long for a time all things fashion were created by skilled hands to endure the test of time.

They gave me a warm welcome and took me on a one hour trip through the whole process of making a designer bag. Needless to say I won’t be able to integrate all of what I’ve learned into one post. So I’ll start at the beginning, with an introduction. When your done reading all my posts, you’ll understand why…

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Half Man, Half Woman, A Makeup Challenge

We had to share BuzzFeed’s post of men trying makeup on for the first time.  Watch the video as men comment on their experience while a professional makeup artist makes up half of their face to look like a woman.  Their commentary is the best part.  That, and the long flowing locks they all end up with.

How Melissa Fleis Makes It Work
Melissa Fleis, Fashion Designer

Melissa Fleis, Fashion Designer

 

If you’re looking for a Project Runway alum with edge and drive, Melissa Fleis is your woman.  A finalist from season ten, and a competitor on All Stars season three, she plays with leather, angle and line, often accented with pops of color.  She likes her black, but she’s not afraid to think outside of the little black box that some designers can get trapped in.  Melissa  uses color wisely, whether it’s to accent her desired silhouette, or to draw attention to details.  She’s a badass, sexy woman, and when we look at her clothes, that’s who we envision wearing them.  We caught up with Melissa, getting her fashion hustle on from San Francisco, and she shared more details about what’s up-and-coming in her fashionable world.  Before we give too much away, we’ll let her tell you in her own words.

HOW MELISSA FLEIS MAKES IT WORK

1.  Who are you, and what season/s did you participate in? 

Melissa Fleis, fashion designer based in San Francisco.  I was a finalist on Project Runway Season 10, and designer on Project Runway All Stars Season 3.

2. Please give a brief description of your design style.

Artisanal modern design with a feminine edge.
MelissaFleis-24-3219081779-O
From Melissa Fleis' Defiant Collection

From Melissa Fleis’ Defiant Collection

 

3.  What was the most challenging thing about the Project Runway experience BESIDES the challenges themselves?

The most challenging thing for me was time management. I always found myself working until the final seconds before the runway.

4.  Who have you met or worked with during or since the Project Runway experience that you are most proud of or excited about?

I have been showing a lot with Mychael Knight, Daniel Esquivel, Jeffrey Sebelia, and Michelle Lesniak. I can’t say who I’m proud of the most. I’m just proud of us all!
Melissa at Dirty Habit, Palomar Hotel, San Francisco

Melissa at Dirty Habit, Palomar Hotel, San Francisco

5.  What are you currently working on or excited about professionally?

I continue to work on my own collections, as well as, custom orders, and designing uniforms for a new Kimpton restaurant in San Francisco. Hustling to make this all work!

 6.  Besides the basics, what sewing notion or tool could you NEVER do without?

My leather hammer!

 

 7.  Is there anything else you’d like us to know or see?

Some of my pieces are currently being sold at CHURCH Boutique in Los Angeles and Olivia Boutique in Los Altos, CA. I will also be launching my e-commerce site soon, so customers can order directly from the website!
(Update:  Since our interview, Melissa has launched her site!  You can find it here: http://melissafleis.com)
From Melissa Fleis' Defiant Collection

From Melissa Fleis’ Defiant Collection

Thanks so much to Melissa for taking the time to talk to us!  Melissa, we wish you nothing but the best with the Defiant Collection and the new site! – C.Scott
You can get in touch with Melissa on Twitter @MelissaFleis, or check out the website at melissafleis.com.
All text and images provided by Melissa Fleis unless watermarked, linked, or specified.