Royal Redness!

Marcia Marcia Marcia! Her Hair is Perfect, and so are You.

I am not doing this week's challenge from ProJRun because I have a rule of not designing fashion clothing  for children (costuming is different) until they get boobs.  If I HAD to for a TV challenge, I would probably make pants like these, because I think the little girl would love to spin and twirl and play with the skirt part without worrying about anyone being able to see her undies.  Wearing it, they would look like either a princess or a super hero.  Every girl would want one.

So, here to brighten your day is Marcia Brady.

This outfit actually has a couple of hidden features.  Back in the 70's, these tight shirts were really in.  But did you ever wonder how it was that Marcia's top was always perfectly tucked in?  Because it was a body shirt, which meant it fastened under the crotch like a unitard.  Making this shirt in this method really made it easy keep the blouse from bunching.

But this outfit is really about the skirt in my opinion, since the blouse isn't at all complicated.  It's dangerously short and low-waisted.  What keeps it in place?  As Marcia would never wear something that ran the risk of being truly risque, this is actually a Skort.  So when she moves or sits, the skirt won't run the risk of showing anything.  It also won't ride up or rotate while she's walking.  So really it's a safety issue as well as a fashion one.

You might also notice that there are pockets and the pleats escape from under them, which is unusual to see in a pleated miniskirt.  In fact, I've never seen it before except when I did something similar for this hotpant kilt, so I'm totally taking ownership of this one until I see it all over the place in the near future, such as my short-sleeved jackets and one-side corner flappy flappys that other designers have totally stolen from me.

You know what the most challenging thing was with this photoshoot?  Marcia's hair.  Every time I reposed her, I had to brush her hair to make it look perfect.  I'm sure I went through the hundred-times technique that Marcia practiced on the show during the shoot!  It gave me a new respect for Christine Taylor, who played Marcia in the Brady Movies.  You can tell by the way that holds her head on screen that she was instructed to make sure her wig didn't become imperfect when she moved or walked!

Rhoda Morgenstern: Beaded Curtains and Egg-Shaped Seams

Well, you know... You put a head wrap on anyone and automatically she's Rhoda, but that's what made Valerie Harper a fashion icon of her time. The video on the right is the opening theme from Season 3 of "Rhoda." I chose that one not only because it's the opening that shows off her headwraps the most, but strangely enough, I remember this opening from when I was a kid! (I was three when this season aired). I specifially remember the shot of Julie Kavner trying to be as pretty as Rhoda by wearing the scarf on her head and thinking, "She'll never be as pretty as that other girl."

Also, the season one theme is kind of annoying with all the talking, especially the "New York, this is yuh last chyance!" line. Nonetheless, if you'd like to see it, you can do so by clicking here.

Frustratingly, I tried to make this outfit another three-piece with a jacket over the white turtleneck (it's not newly-made. I've used it twice before as an undergarment). I wanted it use the sheer fabric that eventually became the "shawl" first as drapy sleeves on a cropped jacket, and then a sheer blouse after the jacket attempt failed. If you look closely at the pattern, it looks like a beaded curtain, very 70's. The two attempts at a top, though, turned out so badly that I finally turned the remaining fabric into a simple drape over the shoulders. I don't feel too badly about using it as an accessory because I think the outcome looks nice and still has an "urban bohemian" quality about it that I was going for. The only thing I feel bad about is that if I had done this drape thing to begin with, the outfit would have been finished two days ago.

So it's now pretty much all about the skirt if you are looking at what was "designed" about this outfit. I like the skirt. It's a complicated piece that ends up looking easy and natural, which is good. It's like when you spend hours on your hair to make it look like you just rolled out of bed and it looked like that. If you examine it closely, it's a meld of an ever-so-slightly flared straight skirt with a pants-like upper area and a tiered peasant skirt. See it? The hem that separates the two parts is egg-shaped and tips to the back and is totally asymetrical and required much skill to accomplish! I can totally see this being re-created for real in suede, denim, or even corduroy. Again, very 70's and very cool.

Also! TERCIARY WIG UPDATE! This wig is the second to celebrate a third anniversary of use! And it's a men's wig! Happy third use "New Jesus!"

BONUS QUESTION:

Who's The Mary?  Who's the Mary?

(email answers to me or better yet, leave a comment here.  Fastest winning answer gets a prize!)

Hogan's Heroes: Ruteno Kinchu, Communication's Expert

Okay, so it was actually "Sergeant (Kinch) Kinchloe" but I couldn't resist changing it because "Ruteno Kinchu" sounds cooler than "Sajenta Kinchu."

Sgt. Kinch was argualbly a less "adorable" character on Hogan's Heroes, being more of a subdued personality rather than childlike and cartoony like the others. He often tended to blend into the background (so much that his character was replaced in later seasons without explanation).

So this outfit is obviously not "All American." I just received this awesome wig and it screamed Harajuku Girl, much to Raine's delight. Can you tell she is SO much happier dressed like this than she was when she was portraying Mary Ann?

Meet Ruteno Kinchu. She is an undercover communications expert that poses as a DJ at a popular nightclub in Japantown. While most people think she is spinning hot tracks, she is actually monitoring conversations through her headphones and sending messages via her costumized turntables. Very sneaky, indeed.

I'll start with what I LOVE about this outfit. I love the shorts. It was the first thing that I constucted for this ensemble and I think it's unusual and gorgeous. The cross-between hotpants and a pleated miniskirt was inspired by Japanese Samurai armor, with it's geometrical side panels hanging against the hips. I've never seen this combination done this way before in a skirt and I think it's very sexy.

The hot green undershirt was made from remnants of bedsheets that I hemmed for a client last year and is meant to have an Air Force look. In a way, I think that the outfit looks completely fine with just the blouse and skirt.

The jacket is meant to look a little ridiculous, such as many Harajuku girls do. I really wanted to use my strange "flourescent green snails against polka dots" fabric that I don't even remember buying. I like that it looks unusual, but also wish that I didn't put the time into adding so many of the details into the garment that I did. With the loud print on the fabric, you simply can't tell that there are two pleated pockets with diagonal flaps on top, circular epaulettes on each shoulder, and a mini "belt" on each sleeve held on by little belt loops, all trimmed with rusty stars as buttons. The jacket took an entire day to make!

Yay for brightness!

Wigs Wigs Wigs!

 

This last outfit marked this wig's third anniversary for being used for a project!  Congratulations, "Pamela!" (That's the wig's name...)

Click here to read rest of this article >>>>>>>>>>>>>

As of this week, Pamela has been used for Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke, Capt. Lewis from Private Benjamin, and Mrs. Roper from Three's Company (the wig looks different because it's on backwards).

Paying attention to the number of times Pamela has been utilized, it's making me think of all the others that have had multiple uses.  Let's take a trip down memory lane just for fun!

Crystal has been used for:

Knight Rider's April - and - Laugh-In's Pamela Rodgers -and- Gilligan's Island Ginger

--------------

Cindy (In Black) has been used for:

Jeannie Party Guest #3 - and - Hogan's Heroes French Dog Trainer

-----------------

Moca has been used for:

Jo - and - Rosie the Robot
------------------

Cindy (in white blonde) has been used for:

Judy Jetson -and- Sea Goddess

-----------------

Shannon has been used for:

Endora - and - Jane Jetson

--------------

"New Jesus" has been seen with

Lost In Space -and- Happy New Year - and - Rhoda Morgenstern

--------------------------

Cindy (in ash blonde) has been used with:

The Avengers -and- TV Land Red Carpet Dress

---------------------------------

Eve has been used with:

Carol Burnett -and- Hogan's Heroes Pickpocket

But you also may have seen her as:

Random Picture that kinda looks like Parker Posey

-and-

"Halloween -09"

-------------------------

Cindy (in light red) has been used for:

Carol Burnett in White - and - Jeannie Party Guest #2

------------------------------

Ashley has been used for:

Mod Squad -and- Laura Ingalls

----------------

"Human Layered" (I can't remember the name!) has been used for:

Charlie's Angels Kelly - and - Mary Ann

---------------------------

Becky has been used for:

Mary Trina Moore - and - Hogan's Heroes Explosive Expert

But you also may have seen her as:

Trina's Bio Hair

----------------------------

Amora has been used with:

Industry Party Girl - and - accidental 5 sedond dress

and also as:

Leonora's Bio Picture

but this shouldn't really count because in all three she is playing herself.

--------------------------------

Tulip has been seen with:

Tootie - and - Mork

(The latter was an uber phail, so picture was removed quickly)

Jewel has been used for:

Gidget/Beach Girl - and - Samantha Stevens

--------------------------------

Dang... That's a lot of wigs... and those are only the ones that I've used multiple times.  There are a lot more that I have only used once and even more that you haven't even seen yet!  Oh, my God!!!  It took me an hour and a half to even make this list!!!!  I have problems!!!!!  Serious problems!!!!!!!!!