More dress research

Well that's my story and I am sticking to it! Last week I went to the garment district in Sham Shui Po to check out trims - there are a couple of streets of stores that sell trims, buttons and other notions, it's a real treasure trove. However I thought I would just pop into the fabric market first to see what was there and managed to get so weighed down with fabric that I never made it to the trim stores! Here's most of what I bought (there is some other plain stuff), all HK$ 15-18 a yard (around US$2 - 2.50).

These are poly satins but the prints were irresistable, I'm already working on a dress in the pink/grey border print.

Another border print, this one in a sheer fabric of some sort.

Jerseys! The black & white ones were made for White House/Black Market according to the printing on the selvedge. I admit I hadn't heard of them but they have an ad in my September issue of US Vogue.

I did make a return visit to the trim shops on another day, so much inspiration, feathers, crystals, chiffon roses and much much more. I think I have decided on my fabric, a kingfisher blue silk dupion, so I will make a 3rd visit soon and try and decide between purchased trims or my self fabric experiments. You can't really see the colour here but it is aptly named and looks just like the iridescent blue feathers on a kingfisher. I ordered some swatches from Angus International one afternoon and received them the next day, pretty amazing service from both them and the HK post office.

Thanks Kristin for posting a link to the Lacroix dress in your comment, it's easier to see the details in the plain green version. I do actually have the Patrones pattern but it is just too low cut for me and rather than fuss around altering it I decided to start with the Hot Patterns dress (I know, lazy!). As I say, the finished dress will probably look nothing like either!

Up next, my border print dress.....