Frock Gets Glossy

Back in May, Frock was approached by  local design company www.villanova.co.uk who had an interesting proposition. They explained that they were launching a new range of fifties inspired fabrics and wallpapers. One of the designs featured an illustration of a lady wearing a dress similar to our Bombshell shape and wondered if we could make three dresses in the same style. These dresses would then be used in the advertising campaign in September.

We made the dresses in June and have been waiting patiently to see the results. Then, yesterday, I received an email informing me that the advert was out and would be appearing in the September and November issues of Ideal Home, Living Etc, and Homes and Gardens.

Today  I legged it down to W.H Smith, in the pouring rain, to grab myself copies and felt very proud as I flicked through the mags and saw my dresses in the gorgeous, glossy ads.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a copy of Homes And Gardens, I will have to keep looking for that, but here are some photos of the magazines I did find.

The dresses have been sent to showrooms in Holland, Germany and London and I have also been asked to make two more for the showrooms in the U.S. Good or what?

Image taken from the Villa Nova website.

http://www.villanova.co.uk/collections/prints/high-society.html

Fab In Japanese....I Really Think So

I have been really excited about this new Japanese import fabric. It's quite a heavy weight cotton with the most gorgeous vintage look design and beautiful colour range. Initially I thought I would use it for the Betsy design, but as the fabric is so pricey ( the Betsy uses 3 to 4 metres per dress), the price I would have to charge, I thought, would be too high. So, I decided to make it up in the Clara style, not only because the meterage is less but because I was really pleased with the structured quality of the Clara made up in the heavier weight cream fabric as shown below.

Judge for yourselves, but I think that the resulting dresses are stunning. Fun, pretty and certainly eye catching. These would be fabulous for a wedding and the perfect antidote to the omnipresent Monsoon and Coast dresses that mostly make appearances on theses occassions.

Clara in grey floral/ spot fabric

Clara in turquoise floral/ spot

Clara in pink floral / spot

Clara in red floral/ spot.

The three colours work so well together, bridesmaids maybe?

I have to give a massive thanks to the newest member of the Frock team, Norma. (Hence the dress name. Oh, and a nod to Norma Jean, obvs!) Norma was a sample machinist for Janet Reger and I honestly could not have found anyone better to help with making the dresses. Whilst I am incredibly busy making the made to measure orders, Norma has been concentrating on sewing the standard sized dresses for the ready to buy rail. Whilst I still cut these dresses out myself (sometimes with a little help form my Dad, who I would also like to thank big time.) she makes the dresses beautifully,  from scratch, which is hugely important because the ethos behind Frock is a personal, unique, hand made experience and product. I have had the opportunity to have my dresses made in a factory in Poland, but somehow that doesn't sit quite right. I want to keep Frock close to home and going with mass production, well that wouldn't make us any better than any High Street store, would it?

New dresses and fabrics

Haven't blogged for a while because I have been madly busy, which is great but doesn't leave me much time for many extra curricular activities (except food and beer ) So I quickly wanted to show you some new dresses I have been making and some new fabrics in stock. Not only have the floral Betsys been going strong in our own fabrics but lots of you are enjoying the fact that you can design your own dress by combining elements of our patterns with your own fabric.

 Some of you already have your own stash of fabric which has been lying around until the right time and others have enjoyed trawling for fabric inspiration. At a very reasonable price I can highly recommend the Wednesday morning market in Hyson Green, Nottingham (next to Asda). Tracey and her gorgeous Dad Alf always have something worth picking up and at £1.20 a metre it's worth taking a risk on as it's not going to break the bank. Another stall has also opened there more recently with prices ranging from £1 up to £5 metre. You can also find a habadashery stall which has all kinds of wierd, wonderful and shiny things which appeals to the magpie in me, even if I haven't got around to using many of my purchases. They also stock interesting ribbons, braiding etc.

Another option, which is slightly more expensive but has an amazing choice is the fabric stall Sharma's in the Victoria market and if you mention that Frock sent you they will give you a 10% discount. John Lewis also sells fabric but choice is limited, not very adventurous and a bit on the dear side.

Norma and Betsy in the same duck egg blue/floral cotton fabric.

The same fabric below in two other colourways.

Bespoke Betsy and Clara in the same fabric bought in by the customer.

And Emma in her bespoke Clara.

Another bespoke Clara in customers' own African batik fabric given to her by her mother in law.

Fun new fabrics which would suit any of our dresses.I think the skull pattern will look great as a bombshell dress.

This is going to look great as a Betsy and I am also hoping to try out a tea dress pattern in this fabric.

This will look stunning in the Norma style dress, very Tiki.

Betsy in red/white and black/ white gingham.They will also look fab in any of the polka dot fabrics too.

Combination of a Norma bodice and bombshell skirt in customers' own fabric.

I'm also very excited because in April I have some amazing Japanese import fabrics coming in which are expensive but fabulous. There will only be enough on each roll for 3 or 4 dresses so they will be totally unique (that's if I can bear to sell them and not keep them all to myself) Will post on this when the fabric arrives....can't wait!

Meet the new girl....the gorgeous Betsy

Here is the latest style to be introduced, Betsy. Based on an original 50s dress this has a fitted, darted bodice with square neck and full pleated skirt, super cute in this original, sturdy vintage fabric and very authentic looking. I only have enough of this for four dresses, two have already been made, one in a 12 and one in a 10. I am expecting them to fly out as the one in the window is attracting alot of attention already.

Also in stock are the Clara in new fabrics.

Royal blue

                                                              Blue with small white dot

Duck egg blue

Green with small white dot.

A black, satin sleeved Georgie has also made an apperarance, made from a wool mix with a white Peter Pan collar, lined.

and finally....the Isla, named after my little niece, cos it's so darned cute. This one is in a duck egg blue, shot silk type fabric, it is halter style with a decorative closure at the back of the neck and the skirt is full and pleated, also in the shot silk with a fine, cream dotted net top layer.

Frock 'n' Roll

Thanks so much to The Outriders for coming along and playing outside Frock. It was a FREEZING day but the chaps put on a thoroughly good show and entertained the passing cars as well as the Frock guests. Thanks also to my sister in law Sarah for stripping off and changing into a Bombshell dress on one of the coldest days of the year (and it was her birthday! ) On the plus side, we got our mugs in the local paper, so I suppose the cringey embarassment of having to twirl like  loons was worth it.

He hid it in the recycling bin in the garden......just in case you were wondering.....

Frocks, freebies and rock n roll

Local Rock n Roll band The Outriders will be playing at Frock this Sat the 18th between 1 and 2 p.m. Anyone visiting us and at this time will receive a free £5 gift voucher to spend in Frock in the New Year. So come and say hello, have a bit of a jive to stay warm and get a freebie....what's not to like?!
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/The-Outriders/419123875719?v=wall

Give a Frock this Xmas.

All you lovely people,  in the shop now we have gift vouchers available to buy from as little as £20. Why not show somebody you love them by giving them the unique gift of a handmade dress this christmas. They then simply have to visit the shop and buy a dress off the peg or choose their fabric from our stock and have a dress made especially for them. What an unusual and thoughtful gift.....think of all the brownie points for the New Year. x