Charming Necessities Boutique: December 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Just Launched! Spring Boutique Clothes for Girls

I am so very happy to announce that 3 of the 5 girls clothing collections I have planned for Spring have been launched! Genteel in Pink, Genteel in Yellow, and Enchanted are available HERE.

Daydream will also be launching within a few days, and Graceful is due to be released in a couple weeks. Boys Tie Shirts and matching Shorts will also be available at the same time as the Graceful collection.

Each collection includes a knot dress, halter swing top, capri pants, retro sunsuit, matching hair accessories, and lace leggings!

Enchanted

Genteel Yellow and Genteel Pink

New Vintage Beauty Sunsuits

Lace Leggings

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Spring 2012 Collections will launch on Friday!

I am so excited to launch the first two Spring collections on Friday! There are some new designs, including a ruffled sun dress, halter swing top and capri ruffle pants; as well as old favorites like knot dresses and retro sunsuits.

Photography by the amazing Artsy Tartsy Photography.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Planning for Spring 2012 and some sneak peeks

I am SO EXCITED about Spring 2012! After lots of planning, things are coming together perfectly! It takes a bunch of behind the scenes work to launch new collections.

First I have to decide on fabrics to use. I keep in mind the season that I'm designing for {in this case, spring} as well as what holidays are a part of that season, what specific colors have done well in the past, and also what the trends are.

Then I have to make sure I'm not buying all the same general colors, I want to make sure that I have a good selection of different prints and colors. I know my customers have different tastes, so I try to have lots of options! If I were designing just for my girls I would probably make all pink dresses. LOL ;)

Once I have my fabrics and any trims I want to use selected - I decide on what staple pieces I want to do, as well as what new designs I want to bring in. The possibilities for new designs are endless, so I have to narrow it down to a few sets of outfits {which takes forever!} that I think will work well for the season.

When I have an idea of the outfits I'm going to make - then I have to decide how to use best position the fabrics with any given piece. I take into account the colors and patterns of the fabric and try to use them in a way that makes the outfit flow well and is aesthetically pleasing.

Usually I just write down where I want to place fabrics in a notebook, but this year, I decided to be fancy schmancy and give myself a better visual. I can't draw to save my life {thus the reason why sewing is my creative outlet! ;)} but here are my planning "maps".

When I have everything mapped out on my papers, then all the pieces get cut out. Here are my maps organized by type {ie dress, pants, top..}, and my pattern folder.

So after this point I didn't take any pictures until the clothes were finished. Why? Because it looked like a bomb went off in my studio. I can't stand unorganized spaces and let me tell you - it was driving me crazy! Piles of cut out, unfinished clothes were all over the place. Remember that I have to work on new things in addition to working on current orders, so its definitely a stressful time.

After the clothes are made then I had to make up some made to match hair accessories. Ooooooh I am so excited about them - but I will leave that for a surprise when the collections launch in early January.

There are a few other surprises I have up my sleeve, but you will see those soon!

Three of the five collections for Spring are out to photographers - and the last two will be going out this week. I am so grateful to be able to work with some amazingly talented ladies - and can't wait to share their stunning work with you!

For now, here are a few more pictures of some new designs coming for Spring: