Motion Editorial Preview: Desire Kaniki

More beautiful pics from Desire Kaniki. This is the preview for a motion editorial shot in Northern Ontario earlier this week. Doesn't the model look so happy to be hanging out in those rapids? This is how I hope to spend a few days this summer too...

Director: Adam Zivo.
Styling & Creative Direction: Desire,
Styling Assistance: Fiona Nikole,
Make Up: Mercedes Nucaro
Top: The Make Den, $50~ OR Make it yourself!

Victoria at Work on her Prom Dress (2011)

It's almost finished!!! I won't post the final pics until after her big day (this Friday) - but Victoria has worked SUPER hard on her prom dress this year and it's definitely paid off. It looks spectacular! She used an icy white microfibre charmeuse to create the gathers on the bodice, and then covered them with a cream coloured silk chiffon to warm up the colour. She used the draping technique of creating gathers directly onto the judy. This was NOT an easy dress to create, and took Vicky literally months to make but I'm so proud of her! Go Vicky!!!

Psychedelic Booty Shorts at The Make Den!

We here at The Make Den have a deep, deep appreciation for 60's psychedelic prints... Maybe it's because we're on top of the cities finest collection of tickle trunk treasures at 69 Vintage Collective (buy the pound) but how can you not love printed daisies on bright orange polyester?! When Madeline opened up her fabric stash bag for us this morning, it was love at first sight. From her printed giraffes to the Where's Waldo sheets (stay tuned for pics!) there must have been a whole year's worth of projects on her to-do list! We finished these beauties in an afternoon. Backed with (you guessed it!) bright orange spandex, Madeline left the studio in her fab new short shorts without a stitch out of place. Sunday afternoon perfection!

Last Knight Creative + The Make Den = Photoshoot Heaven!

The Make Den Spring 2011, shot by Last Knight Creative Group
Photography: Johann Bona.
Styling by Desire.
Model: Marta @ Spot 6 Models
View more pics on our Facebook Group
Crop Top: The Make Den. $30~ Available at Tomorrow Never Knows
OR Make It Yourself at The Make Den 1207 Bloor St. W
Long Skirt: The Make Den. $50~ Short Skirt: The Make Den. $40~ Available at Tomorrow Never Knows
OR Make It Yourself at The Make Den
email themakeden@hotmail.com to register for sewing classes!

Fashion Prep School 2011 at The Make Den!!!

Prep School Cool at The Make Den is your key to Fashion School 2012! Sign up now to learn all the tips and tricks that will make your portfolio stand out head and shoulders above the rest! Learn the ins and outs of proper garment presentation and sewing techniques that will make your portfolio shine! Camp runs from July 4th -15th and August 1st - 12th.
Email themakeden@hotmail.com to register!

Trends for Spring 2011: Leather, Leopard and Lace! (oh and don't forget fringe!!!)

Photo Credit: Digitalfabrik.ca

The three L's are what tastemakers are shakin' and makin' at The Make Den this spring: Leather, Leopard and Lace!!!
Make them all yourself in one of our upcoming sewing classes at The Make Den - email themakeden@hotmail.com to register for classes!

People we love: Jess G!

Colour photo: Digitalfabrik.ca

Jess's prom was last Friday - check out her adorable vintage-inspired look in the black and white photo on the left. We designed the dress together based on a description of her dream dress - lots of flowing chiffon, lace and draped shoulders. The flounce on the shoulder went just low enough to show off her tattoo which reads: "embrace uncertainty". The dress has a sweet-heart neckline with gathers in the centre, a lace overlay and of course - lots of flowing chiffon! We had to stay late to make some last minute changes to the dress - but in the end it was totally worth it because she looked SO stunning in it!!! And although the dress sustained some lipstick related injuries during her prom, it will be in good shape again before the 26th - the date of Jess's next prom.

(Sidenote: to remove lipstick stains, remember that lipstick is basically grease. Start with alcohol, which works well. Do not rub, or you'll spread the mark. Simply take a clean, white cloth and moisten it with alcohol. Then, blot the lipstick stain with a cotton swab, which will disappear. Other options include hairspray, Dawn soap or ammonia. Remember to ALWAYS test the treatment on a part of the garment like the inside of the hem or back of the dress which doesn't show too much first! Spot treatments can leave marks too if used on the wrong fabrics.)

Jess is super-smart and also totally gorgeous - she has not only written her own play which is being produced at her highschool, but also did a phenomenal job modeling for The Make Den at Alternative Fashion Week in April!!!
We love you Jess!!!

Make Den + Make Up For Ever = LOVE

Here's Ivanna and Michelle after getting their make up done by the Make Up For Ever crew backstage at F.A.T. this year. I don't want to brag, but DAMN those are some smokey eyes. I've done a few fashions shows in my time (okay waaaaaay more than a few) and I have to say that they did a phenomenal job making the girls look totally glam without over-doing it. Thanks, Make Up For Ever!!!

Press from FAT 2011

I was surprised and happy to see this awesome illustration by Chloe Cushman of our very own Gaga jacket front and centre on Torontoist today! Here is a quote from the well-written article:

Then there was the clothing. Known mostly for its drama and dissent, [FAT] came out this year with talent that was on-trend and gave a glimpse at LG features of the future. While the unusual was still the norm, we noticed a few trends that connected the variety of radical designers, influences, styles, and perspectives that actually mirror the mainstream. We saw cropped tanks, fringe on everything from denim to leather, Gaga-worthy exaggerated shoulders, pants that were slouchy yet sophisticated, and headdresses and facial accessories that were often the crowning jewel of an outfit.

We were happy to see this mention up on Fashion Magazine, too:

After all the buzz over Berlin designer Julia Knupfer, we were beginning to feel antsy when her I.C.A. Watermelon collection was postponed to later that evening. Luckily, our attention was diverted to Bloordale sewing club The Make Den’s presentation of fun DIY garments, including a bold-shouldered ‘Gaga blazer’ that might have us convinced to take up a new hobby.

All in all, I think everyone had a really great time this year - our models were really awesome and had so much fun dressing up in all the Make Den gear - and the backstage crew (Sissi K, Karen K, Jenn N, Emma Z and Margaret D) were super professional. I have to say, the make-up team from Make Up For Ever were especially awesome - the smokey black eyes looked incredible on everyone and might be my new favorite make-up look of all-time! Stay tuned for more backstage pics...

Make-It-Yourself Runway Looks from The Make Den at Alternative Fashion Week 2011!

The reviews are in and FAT 2011 was a huge success! The Make Den team (Karen Kiener, Jenn Nguyen, Sissi Ke, Emma Zener, Eva Bowering and Margaret De Gruchy) were a force to be reckoned with before the show - Karen was altering garments by hand up until 10 minutes before the show, while Jenn and Sissi supervised hair and make-up with eagle eyes. Our hard work paid off and the girls looked fantastic wearing the three L's on the runway - Leather, Lace and Leopard! It's exciting to officially have a Make Den clothing line - as well as a new magazine 'Atelier', edited by Jenn N, our resident graphic design genius!

All of the pieces seen here are available for sale at Tomorrow Never Knows, at 1207 Bloor St. W as of Tuesday morning!
The best part? You can make all of these pieces yourself at The Make Den Sewing Club. Email themakeden@hotmail.com to register for classes!

Photos courtesy of Wes Harkness and Steve Alkok