California Dreamin’ in Abstract Floral Cotton

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Jamie

California Dreamin’ in Abstract Floral Cotton 1

We’ve been experiencing quite the heatwave in California these last few days, which means perfect weather for wearing dresses! I selected this vibrant, textured cotton shantung to make a classic fit and flare dress for my trip to Los Angeles over Labor Day weekend. This designer fabric by Milly features an abstract floral print with bright persimmon and chocolate brown notes.
California Dreamin’ in Abstract Floral Cotton 2 I photographed this look against one of the many Instagrammable walls and street art in LA. I came across this black and white photorealistic mural of palm trees by Noah Abrams Studio while strolling along Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice.
This gathered-waist silhouette features flattering cap sleeves, a square neckline, and center back zipper. I added inseam pockets versus sewing patch pockets so I would not distract from the flow of the print. California Dreamin’ in Abstract Floral Cotton 3 Follow me on Instagram for more scenes from this trip. If you are interested in placing an order for this dress in this fabric or another cotton option, email us at jamielaudesigns [at] gmail [dot] com.

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Jamie

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit 1

Hei from Helsinki! For my vacation, I created a few travel outfits for my Scandinavian summer adventure. Working with some core JLD silhouettes, I updated my wardrobe, including the addition of a new Motion Jumpsuit design. I love designing with textured solids and selected this ultramarine blue linen, wool, and silk blend from Italy.

The bodice features relaxed short kimono sleeves and a center back zipper. This easy-to-wear pleated jumpsuit also incorporates deep hip yoke pockets, perfect for travel. The fabric blend is drapey and soft, and the subtle sheen adds textured interest to the movement of the silhouette.

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit 2

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit 3

For contrast, I styled the look with semi-sheer polka dot socks and wore the jumpsuit in Helsinki during my visit to the Iittala & Arabia Design Centre.

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit 4

I am very inspired by color and offer my core silhouettes to customers in a variety of colors and prints. I love finding design inspiration while traveling. On this trip, I learned about Iittala’s color development process. Iittala is one of Finland’s most celebrated design and lifestyle brands. With over 100 active production colors, each color recipe is cast to a “stair model” to see how the material thickness affects the color. Iittala has over 10,000 different color recipes in the archives!

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit 5

Follow me on Instagram for more scenes from this trip. If you are interested in placing an order for this jumpsuit in this fabric or another cotton option, email us at jamielaudesigns [at] gmail [dot] com. For those of you in San Francisco who would like to shop in person, I will be vending at the Renegade Craft Fair at Fort Mason the weekend of July 15-16, 2017. The event is free and open to the public.

Ultramarine Blue Motion Jumpsuit 6

This new design is also featured on the Britex Fabrics blog.

Metallic Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Jamie

Metallic Linen Palazzo Pan Jumpsuit Main The JLD Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit silhouette has been a customer favorite. We’ve decided to update this look in new fabrics for 2017, starting with a luxurious linen with a silvery sheen. The metallic finish adds visual interest and elevates the material, yet still meets the functionality criteria since it is a linen.

The inspiration for this design came after a trip to Palm Springs earlier this year. (And yes, I brought along another version of this jumpsuit to wear during my trip!) In Palm Springs, I was surrounded by Old Hollywood glamour—Mid-century modern architecture, poolside bungalows, and vintage shopping—as well as the city’s modern makeover. I visited several art museums and dined at stylish restaurants around town. What I noticed when looking back at my phone was the number of photos I took of lighting fixtures. They all happened to be my favorite images from the camera roll and themed around the bright, shiny, and geometric.

Similar to the intersection of old and new that I observed in the desert, I wanted to update this vintage-inspired silhouette in a modern fabric. Here are some of the lighting design pieces that caught my eye.

Lindsey Adelman’s Branching Bubbles at L’Horizon Palm Springs

Marjorie Edris Chandelier with its 365 bulbs at the Palm Springs Art Museum

Jim Campbell’s low-res light art experiment in perceptual cognition on view at the Palm Springs Art Museum, based on the digital pixel and the information it carries

To break up the shininess, I decided to cut and sew the necktie in black using the wrong side of the fabric for some contrast. I added side seam pockets—just like in the original version—and used woven flat non-roll elastic for the waistband to help resist rolling or twisting.

Left: Our Blue Cotton-Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit; Right: Our new Metallic Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit

The elastic waistband on this garment carries the weight of the linen pant legs, creating an effortless feel when worn

I styled this wide leg silhouette with my No. 6 Crowley Tassel Slingback Clogs for some elevation. And in case you were wondering, we shot this look in the Moon Viewing Garden, quite appropriate for this silver metallic jumpsuit. If you are interested in placing an order for a jumpsuit in this new fabric (or another option), email us at jamielaudesigns [at] gmail [dot] com.

Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 4

This new design is also featured on the Britex Fabrics blog.

Fashion Travelogue: Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Jamie

Jamie Lau Designs Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 1

Photo shoot near the waterfront this past weekend

As a follow-up to my last post, I’ve whipped up another jumpsuit design, this time using linen and going for a much bolder look – a colorblock palazzo pant style with short kimono sleeves. Silhouette-wise, I was inspired by a variety of sources, including 1940s high-waisted wide leg women’s trousers, a style which reemerged in the late 1960s/early 1970s as palazzo pants. I was also loosely inspired by the hakama trousers worn by samurai, as well as the silhouette of hanbok (traditional Korean dress).

Jamie Lau Designs Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 2

Inspiration from my visit to the Portland Art Museum last winter; (Right) Hakama trousers from 18th century Japan – divided trousers worn under armor for ceremonial occasions

For the yoke and necktie, I chose a lightweight linen that is a cross between hunter green and teal green. And for the volume-heavy part of the garment, I used a midweight linen that is a lovely mix of warm copper and terracotta tones.

Jamie Lau Designs Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 3

A mix of lightweight and midweight linen

I’ve worked with this earthy color combination before, including my Colorblock Wool Cross Front Dress design from a few years ago, and decided to revisit this duo again for spring.

Jamie Lau Designs Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 4

Colorblock Wool Cross Front Dress

Linen is a great option for warmer months and has a nice, natural luster to it. As for the pants, I felt that the natural creasing properties of the linen added to the natural flow of the intended blousey, boxy design.

Jamie Lau Designs Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 5

Pockets are a must

Jamie Lau Designs Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit 6

Totally hooked on jumpsuits – be on the lookout for other versions coming to the web shop in the future

We had a lovely shoot this past weekend and I have to say, the garment is quite comfy, breathable, and billows nicely in the wind. This is definitely on the pack list for my upcoming trip! Stay tuned for the next installment of Fashion Travelogue!

P.S. This jumpsuit is also featured in my latest guest blog post for Britex Fabrics, where I sourced these beautiful linens. Hop over to their site to check it out!

Fashion Travelogue: Cornflower Blue Drawstring Jumpsuit

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Jamie

Playing hair model for the day for Norwegian stylists during their visit to New York

Sunny days are here in New York, though layering is still needed. I’ve been working on a few jumpsuit designs in the studio, starting with this first version that features a simple drawstring waist. This style is cut from Japanese cotton which I sourced in Tokyo last spring. The embroidered windowpane checks are cut on the diagonal at the top, followed by meticulously aligned checks from the waist down.

Embroidered gridded fabric detail

A great development from doing this Fashion Travelogue series is that I’ve been inspired to dig into my wardrobe archives from the past 10+ years for some styling options, including this speckled A.P.C. cotton blend tee (reminiscent of sprinkled Momofuku rainbow cake crumble B’day Truffles and candy gumballs).

Jamie Lau Designs Drawstring Jumpsuit Styled

Digging deep into my wardrobe archives and rediscovering some old gems

I styled the rest of the outfit with my go-to Rachey Comey braided leather wooden platform clogs and a bright red Cynthia Rowley handbag with (what I think are) a duo of bluebirds on the front.

A sunny (but windy) afternoon in Bryant Park

Jumpsuits will definitely be making it to the Jamie Lau Designs web shop later this year. Stay tuned for the next installment of Fashion Travelogue!

Fashion Travelogue: Vermilion Gathered Top

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Jamie

Jamie Lau Designs Vermilion Gathered Top 1

Dramatic sleeve with volume in cotton jacquard

Last weekend, I went to The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. As you may know, I love color and it was the perfect weekend inspiration to kick off spring. The exhibition was beautifully designed and featured both classic and modern orchids.

It was the perfect day to wear my new Vermilion Gathered Top, which I designed in a textured Swiss cotton jacquard fabric. One of my favorite color combinations is a red with a little bit of orange in it mixed with a nice pop of blue (think the look and feel of Jean-Luc Godard’s La Chinoise).

Film still from Jean-Luc Godard’s La Chinoise, 1967

Guillaume and Véronique, played by Jean-Pierre Léaud and Anne Wiazemsky

When I first saw this fabric, I immediately thought “dramatic sleeve” given its nice texture and body. I styled the top with a pair of blue linen polka dot pants this past weekend (I will definitely be packing this outfit for Japan as well.)

Jamie Lau Designs Vermilion Gathered Top 2

Color everywhere in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

Here are some snapshots of my favorite finds at the botanical garden.

Prayer plant – lush green and full of textural inspiration

Aechmea ‘Del Mar’ – this bromeliad is even more beautiful in person

Neoregelia “Jampa” – some intensely colored leaves

Afternoon sunlight hitting the Wicked “Red Head” orchids

I am in love with these orchid wall hangings

Hop over to the Britex blog for my latest article on how to sew set-in sleeves using this top as an example in my tutorial. Stay tuned for the next installment of Fashion Travelogue!

Fashion Travelogue: Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Jamie

Jamie Lau Designs Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress 1

My favorite spot in the Noguchi Museum

Two weekends ago, I visited one of my favorite places in New York, the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, which has both indoor and outdoor components. Spring has been such a tease this season and I was finally able to catch a sunny day break (and also wear my new Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress while exploring the museum).

Light versus dark

I love Isamu Noguchi’s play on opposites, particularly the lighting in this former industrial space turned gallery. I also took part in an intimate, docent-led tour and learned more about the artist’s life and work. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning/afternoon, full of inspiration.

Jamie Lau Designs Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress 2

Under the birch trees

The sculpture garden

In addition to the beautiful sculptures, the space also has amazing natural light.

The afternoon light hitting the marble room

View of Long Island City from the second floor gallery through the birches

Jamie Lau Designs Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress 3

My new favorite outfit

As for the outfit, I will definitely be taking this with me to Japan. This dress is a bit of a permutation of my Ikat Demi-Gathered Waist Dress and a great palette for accessorizing. I styled it with a pair of opaque purple tights, my ceramic bead necklace by Object & Totem, and my go-to black tassel loafers by Dieppa Restrepo from Totokaelo.

Jamie Lau Designs Dieppa Restrepo Gastons

My go-to leather tassel loafers by Dieppa Restrepo

Stay tuned for the next installment of Fashion Travelogue!

P.S. Check out Artsy’s Isamu Noguchi page for more info about the artist.

Fashion Travelogue: Spring Floral Linen-Cotton Gathered-Waist Dress

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Jamie

Jamie Lau Designs Spring Floral Linen-Cotton Gathered-Waist Dress 1

Ready for spring in a Japanese linen-cotton blend Photo by Liz Clayman

Things have been quite busy at the Jamie Lau Designs studio. We kicked off the new year with a photo shoot featuring our new textile designs inspired by the natural environment, travel, and art, with prints based on my photographs. We designed a few custom bridal dresses and also celebrated the opening of our month-long pop-up shop at Makeshift Society in San Francisco, open until the end of this month on March 31, 2014.

In keeping up with the momentum, I’ll be embarking on an exciting textile-filled journey to Japan later this spring and summer (more details coming soon!). In preparation for my two-month trip, I’m starting a new series entitled Fashion Travelogue, with the goal of designing and sewing the bulk of my wardrobe and accessories for my travel abroad (yes, even pajamas!). I’ll be sharing snapshots of my designs on the blog throughout the next few months, starting with this Spring Floral Linen-Cotton Gathered-Waist Dress. (For similar styles, check out my Yabane Gathered-Waist Dress, Electric Cranes Gathered-Waist Dress, and other items in my web shop.)

Anatomy of a dress

As you may have gathered, I love dresses and design, sew, and wear, well, mostly dresses. For this classic Jamie Lau Designs fit and flare silhouette, I chose a Japanese linen-cotton blend featuring a gridded background with a pink, orange, and lush green floral print overlay. And of course, you definitely can’t forget the pockets!

Jamie Lau Designs Spring Floral Linen-Cotton Gathered-Waist Dress Styled

Styled with accessories from two of my favorite designers

This dress is perfect for impromptu picnics and I would totally style it with my Rachel Comey wood wedge sandals and A.P.C. tortoise shell chain shoulder strap purse. Stay tuned for more Fashion Travelogue and hop over to the Hart’s Fabric blog for my latest article on how to sew a blind hem stitch using this dress as an example in my tutorial.

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