DIY Grammy Dress!

What more natural place for an LA Pretty to go than to the Grammy Awards with my Grammy Award Nominee boyfriend on some idle weekend in February? Which I am doing. This weekend.

I devised in my head how to avoid nip slips, keep my Spanx from showing, and the best handshake to give starlets wearing full body makeup. I went to Melrose to window shop, perused Cavalli at the Beverly Center, and inhaled the radiant awesomeness of Jimmy Choo. I envisioned myself in all manner of glitter, sparkle, bling, and Swarovski.

I looked at my bank balance. I backed the fuck away from anything plastic in my wallet. I realized then that the little voice in my head telling me to do this sounded a little like Tyra Banks talking about her love of the 99 Cent store.

Dolce & Gabbana starts at a wholesome $2,995 for the dress I want. Love the cut, hate the fabric. Custom Dolce was going to run me $7,800 or better. There was a solution to my problem. This Solution is called the Los Angeles Fashion District.

Spread over over 20 square blocks and de facto sectioned into the Upholstery Walk, Children's Wear, Menswear, Up And Coming Coutrier, California Mart, Never Ending Prom, Designer Prints, Beads and Accessories, and the Santee Alley. The Los Angeles Fashion district is flanked by the Flower District to the North, East LA to the East, Downtown to the West, and the Warehouse District to the South. Anything in the world that you can possibly imagine that can be manufactured, machined, shrink-molded, glittered, feathered, or encrusted in diamonds can be found here.

Fashion District + being a costume designer's daughter = DIY LA Pretty!

Be resourceful on your LA Fashion District trip. Bring a friend and a camera! This is good for two reasons: company and strategy. When you see a fabric you like, take a photo of the fabric (with flash), and a photo of the card from the shop. This way you'll remember the price, place, and look of the fabric you loved and avoid walking up and down the streets. Don't buy the first fabric you see that you like. You are more likely than not going to find another slightly more awesome fabric for cheaper at another store. Monday - Friday are the best days to bargain with the shopkeeps. The district collectively closes at 5pm, so don't be late.

Knowing how to sew, or knowing someone who can is key. The most amazing dresses are the simplest ones, i.e. few cuts and slices in the garment. You can find a number of inexpensive seamstresses in LA by asking around the district at fabric stores. They know their customers best, because they sell them their supplies. Take a community college class (LA has at least 30 or so community colleges and technical schools for $26 per unit!) in basic fashion sewing. It will go a long way! FIDM being in the District guarantees you'll bump into some current students at the Michael Levine LOFT. Go there, make friends, and get tips.

If you're not down to make your own dress, the women's apparel stores will sell you one. Just know your measurements, since you can't always try them on. If someone asks you to pay over $300 for a dress in a downtown wholesale/weekend retail store, you are getting ripped off. $200 will get you finery to the nines. Lie to your snobby Upper WhateverSide NY friends and say you're wearing rent.

After getting an amazing set of fabrics for my TWO Grammy dresses, my friend and I beat it for The Griddle off Fairfax.

LA Pretty DIY tip: Keep your fabric flat, Jack! Fold it flat in the bag, store it flat (or hang it) at home. Before you sew each pattern piece, IRON it. After sewing pieces together, IRON. Before you put the zipper in, IRON! Before you wear it out, get the garment dry cleaned and pressed (for finer fabrics). Steam it at home if you can't dry clean. The difference between obvious DIY dresses and couture is how they fit and the details.

xx,
Kim