Last night, we saw Episode  4 of The Fashion Show.  I was so happy that my white siamese twin shirt dress was selected as one of the top looks.  The evening’s show was a great achievement for me!

The design consists of two classic cotton button-down shirts sewn at the hem and worn as a dress. The top shirt has a zig-zag and circular yoke detail; the bottom shirt is bigger with a periwinkle satin yoke. The shirt can be worn as 1) a dress, 2) upside-down as another dress, and 3) as two shirts layered on top of each other a la Pretty in Pink.  I had envisioned reversible cuffs and collars for the shirts and a zipper to separate them (so they could be worn solo) had we been given more time. 

I normally feel like my ideas and concepts are too forward for most people outside of the fashion community to accept. With this siamese twin shirt dress, however, I felt that my design concepts were finally being understood by the public.  I was able to make something commercially viable while still maintaining my design integrity.  It was a perfect balance of commercialism and design innovation!

To be able to produce something exactly as I had originally envisioned it, AND to be commended by a public audience…that was the greatest achievement for me as a designer.  It is a great affirmation of what I have been developing in my own womenswear label. 

This flipable, convertible dress idea is actually a concept that I’ve been developing for the last year.  This trench coat from my Spring 2008 collection was designed to be worn as a skirt as well.  

This cotton shirt dress from Fall 2008 has a removable scarf and flaps that unhook and turn into sleeves when worn upside-down.  It can be worn 3 different ways.  Oh yes, and the print colors change when pressed against a warm body to give shades of yellow, turquoise, and deep green. 

Many of you have asked me where to buy my white siamese twin shirt dress after seeing it on this week’s episode.  (Because it was not the winning design, it is not available for sale on Bravotv.com)  

Given the great amount of interest, I am happy to announce that I will re-make the white shirt dress and sell it here on my website!

Thank you all for your tremendous support!