Reality Friday

Oops, so the photo shoot for the Miu Miu line was canceled so I'll have those to you next week.
Here's a sneak peak at one of the looks that inspired the opera collars.
It's all about the scalloped edge!
xo
the real Michelle

Shoe love

These Alexander McQueen shoes are sort of amazing, if you ask me, which you didn't, but I'm just saying, they are.

from style.com

Miu Miu

Doesn't Tavi look so lovely in this drop dead drool-worthy Miu Miu combo?

The Fourth Opera Collar

Here is another piece I finished. This one is great because it's totally adjustable due to the chain and lobster claw clasp I sewed on! Available here

Haters

Well, well, well, yet again there are a few doubters out there who think that my last photo with my friend Marc was photoshopped! I'm appalled! What kind of weirdo would go so far with a fantasy to actually take a photo of herself dressed like Marc Jacobs and then photoshop herself into said photo???
The proof is in the pudding my friends. Yes, I did walk the runway with Marc not once, but TWICE!
Wearing matching outfits.
Gazing into each other's eyes.
Almost.

Look Trois

Voila, the third opera collar from my Dream Collaboration with Marc Jacbos/Louis Vuitton. Available here.

Look Deux

The second look from the Louis Vuitton Dream Collaboration is available here!

Reality Friday

Well it's that time of the week again. Back to reality to write about my dream world experiences from my real world standpoint.
I think it's been pretty clear that I've been having fun with photo shop this week. I had a blast going through internet photos of Marc Jacobs, and then photographing myself as if I were reacting to him in the photo. Below are a few outtakes from my shoot.

I actually finished the next phase of this art/fashion project, which is the fake collaboration with Miu Miu. I had a lot of technical difficulties with that project as I was teaching myself some new sewing techniques, so it was at times making me want to rip all my hair out, but I figured it out which ultimately left me feeling really good.

The Miu Miu pieces I will start posting at the end of next week.
Until next Friday, I'll be back in my DREAM WORLD!















My dog Woody Guthrie was constantly trying to insert himself into the photos with Marc and me. Publicity whore.




























Even my dog thinks I'm a little wacko, perhaps.














Real Marc:


















The outcome:

Ad Campaign

Here is my Fake Marc Jacobs Ad Campaign.
Real:












Fake:

"Louis Vuitton" Ad Campaign

Since Marc Jacobs is head honcho over at Louis Vuitton, he told me what to do for the ad campaign for our opera collars. He wanted to go with a contrasty/washed out look for the photos, and when Marc says jump, I ask how high?
Here's the results from our first photo shoot together.














This is the first piece that is available for sale! You can purchase it here.

Marc is so generous!

Remember in the Sex and the City movie when Carrie gets a package delivered to her (a huge box) and opens it up and it's the Vivienne Westwood wedding dress she tried on during the Vogue photo shoot that Vivienne so generously gave to her? Well I pretended that happened to me. It went like this:
Someone knocked on my door and handed me this HUGE box. I opened it up, and it was the Marc Jacobs dress that has been keeping me up at night, with a note from Marc that said:
"Michelle, it was so wonderful collaborating with you. I know how much you have been gushing over this dress at your "real world blog" and I felt like you just had to have it.
xo
Marc"

How do you think it looks with those white socks??

Move over Vicki!

I think Victoria Beckham is jealous of me because Marc replaced her with ME for his ad campaign!!

Marc and I

Well, well well, it seems that some of you are questioning if I actually do KNOW Marc Jacobs. My question to you is, would I have this photo of Marc and me if I did not know him???
Touché!

SOLID GOLD

I'm back from my trip to Milan. Miuccia and I had dinner at Dolce & Gabbana's concept restaurant "Gold." It was dreamy. Indeed it was.
(The rigatoni was to die for)

Vintage button opera choker

Marc thought this collar would go lovely with the look above. I used vintage buttons on this piece.

Yellow

It was fun adding the yellow highlights in this opera choker. It goes with the look above.

Here is the second look for the Louis Vuitton line!

Reality Fridays

I've decided that every Friday I will come back to the real world and reflect on my dream world experiences.
Just to clarify, unfortunately no, I did not have dinner with Marc Jacobs, or fly to Milan to meet with Miuccia Prada, nor did I actually collaborate with Marc at Louis Vuitton or get a pad in Greenwich Village. (That wasn't even me in the photo with Bob Dylan, it was Suze Rotolo, but you know, it's my dreamworld) What is real is my dream to work for or with these designers one day, and I don't want to keep living my life without acting out on my dreams. I know I probably won't be able to work alongside Marc Jacobs, so this is the closest I am going to get to it, and do you know what? It's been incredibly fulfilling to live in my head and my dreams.

It has also been rewarding to pretend I'm part of the fall collections my heroes have worked on, and what is real are all the pieces I have designed and made by hand. I showed my first piece yesterday, and I already have seven more that are finished and waiting to be photographed.

I also want to say that I feel lucky that there are some things from my real world that still exist in my dream world. My husband is still my husband in dreamland, and my family is still my family, and I have the same friends, which makes me feel really good to know that even in my dreams I want the people in my real world to come along for the ride.

Until next Friday,
I'll keep dreamin' on.

*photo by Fabienne Lin

The first piece!

Here is the first opera choker! It goes with the look above. Marc is really excited about this one and I am too!!

I'm off

I'm heading to Milan for my meeting with Miuccia Prada to discuss the details of my collaboration with Miu Miu!! The best part is I get to take little Woody Guthrie (my dog) on the flight with me!!

Home Sweet Home

We just closed on our place in Greenwich Village! (Did I mention I moved into 1961 Greenwich Village, not 2010 Greenwich Village?)
That's me on the right.

Sketchbook

During dinner the other night with Marc we finalized the 8 looks from Louis Vuitton's fall season that I will be adding to. We are going with a mini opera choker inspired by vintage pieces from Baar & Beards collections from the 1940's and 50's! (Not with real fur though, it scares me)


















photo by Jess James Jake