For my Sweets: BLACKxWHITE

I have so many lovely photos from this most recent show I couldn't possibly narrow it down to one picture of each, so I've decided to break it down to a post about each look. I'm also trying to keep the IDD blog more active! No more 6 month breaks!

OK! No more excuses, here are the goods! One of my favorite looks from the line: the BLACKxWHITE rococo gown. Now I know I told you that all of the girls in this line would be sweets.. . and this is no exception! This dress was made to bring to mind black and white cookies. I know they aren't something lolitas normally think about as being cute, but they are just so delicious!


The model has on a very light pair of 18th century stays underneath the gown to give it that rigid shape. I love how neat 18th c. foundation garments make everything look!
The back of the dress is cut partially on the bias. I love making striped dresses like this so I can create those gorgeous chevrons down the back of the dress!

The stomacher is reinforced with a very stiff facing and is trimmed with black and white striped ribbons.


The neckline and sleeves are trimmed with a black dot-tulle that;s all hand ruffled. The sleeves are also trimmed with the most gorgeous frothy white lace. I think that really give it that 18th c. feel! The black skirt is separate so the dress can be worn with different skirts! It might look really stunning over a white skirt!
I hope you all love this dress as much as I do~!

Pure Imagination show: THANK YOU~!

Photo by Alex Lee

A big thank you to everyone who helped at the Pure Imagination show this past Sunday! Be you models, make-up artists, photographers, audience members or organizers helping me keep my wits together I couldn't have done it without you!

And as always thank you to Shien Lee, founder of Dances of Vice and Lord of all things gorgeous~!


I'll be out of town until the new year, but when I return there will be photos.

Dances of Vice: Pure Imagination

Hi everyone,

Sorry for my recent absence. I've been running around in circles over non IDD things. But to make up for it I'm bringing you an all new collection! The inspiration behind these all new pieces is sweets! I know all lolitas love sweet things (or at least all the lolitas I know) so I thought it would be fun to try to bring some of my favorite sweets to life! Cinnamon rolls, red velvet cake, black and white cookies, petit fours and layer cakes! I hope all of you will like them.

The new collection will be making it's debut at the upcoming Dances of Vice event: Pure Imagination.


There are going to be some fantastic acts so I hope you'll come see the show!

Facebook page!

Hi everyone! I promise pictures from the Lolita Fashion Show at Otakon will be up soon. But in the mean time I'd like to let you know that I Do Declare finally has a facebook page.

I DO DECLARE ON FACEBOOK

I'll be posting little updates and in-progress photos of new projects.

Also there are new items going up bit by bit in the Etsy shop.

It's that time of year: OTAKON

Hi everyone~!

The time for Otakon is fast approaching and although the schedule for events has not been posted yet I thought it would be fun to let you know what I Do Declare will be doing at the convention~!

Friday is the lolita tea party at The Explorers Lounge~! It's sponsored by Morrigan NYC, Perianth, Moss Garden, Tea, Love and Crochet and I Do Declare. It's a very elegant place and I can't wait to enjoy it's opulence with some fellow lolitas. I Do declare will be contributing to the gift bags! One for every attendee~! I'm also working on a super secret raffel prize~! I hope everyone got their tickets already because all the spots are sold out.

I Do Declare will also be featured in the Lolita Fashion show. Sadly we don't have a time or day for it yet but I just know it's going to be fantastic. This year IDD is showing alongside some of the most talented people I know: Morrigan NYC, Lily of the Valley, Little Macaroon, Corazon Carmela, Perianth, Candy Threads, Lolita Nouveau, and one other~! I'll be posting the date and time as soon as I know it.


I'll also have an I Do Declare booth in the Artists Alley with Morrigan NYC~! I hope you'll all stop by to say hello~! I'll be selling little things (t-shirts, tote bags and accessories) along with a few lolita pieces.

I hope to see everyone at the convention!

<3
~Kelsey

Summer Collection: Pastoralism

Hey everybody! I hope you're enjoying the summer as much as I have been so far. I know I always work so much better when it's baking hot. Maybe it's because I lived in Florida for so long. . .

Anyway I'd like to introduce you to The I Do Declare summer 2011 collection! This collection is inspired by the general theme of pastoralism. Even though I live in a city it's wonderful to dream of afternoon picnics in the countryside. That's what I'm hoping to evoke with these summer pieces.

My model promptly dubbed it an 'ice-cream dress' because the colors remind her so much of her favorite ice-cream flavors!The model is 5'1"
The wide hat is vintage
The straw top-hat is one I made for fun

How do you like the first new dress?

I'm going to try to be more active. . . posting my sketches and pictures as I work on things! Sorry for not posting more often!

<3

~Kelsey

A few new things

Hi everyone~! I realized I haven't updated in ages! Never fear though, despite my absence I have not been idle!

Project #1


A cute dress for the casual 18th century gal. I started working on this dress with Marie Antoinette in mind. . . though it seems some more modern influences have jumped in. Most notably Martha of Moss Garden's natural style. Just a quick teaser pic for now~



Project #2
Is everything I love encompassed in this fabric? The answer: pretty much! Sadly I only had two yards of this lovely vintage brocade to work with so I had to forgo all off the frills and embellishments I'd been dreaming of in favor of a more simple, almost retro style.




What do you think?

<3 Kelsey