LINEN!!!

I have been experimenting with linen a lot recently and have finally got a shape that I am happy with. This dress meets all those practical considerations that Minnie + Ree clothing is well-known for:

• The usual flexi-sizes Small (NZ 10-12 ish) and Average (NZ 14-16-18 ish)
• Comfortable fit (and not too close fitting as this is made for warm weather)
• Effortless to dress up with heels and jewellery or just barefeet/jandals
• Durable and made to last
• POCKETS of course!!
• An interesting row of snaps down the back.

Here are photos of a couple of prototypes I am taking with me to summery France TOMORROW :-) !!!!

A nice bit of boro style embroidery because I love it!

And this one in black and white I made for a friend - photos from Hong Kong coming soon!

So I will report back from France over the next few weeks - I'm off to search for new and interesting fabrics for Minnie + Ree and will also be visiting Tokyo for a few days on the way home...

Ree

xox

Fooling around being a famous model ...

Recently I was a Famous Model while working with arts student, photographer and friend Elise Dunn on how to do a photo shoot for Minnie + Ree. We did it ourselves as we were working out what we wanted, what we needed to do, how best to tell our story etc. 

My Famous Model preparation and upskilling consisted of watching a few Youtube videos on how to pose, and getting over myself and accepting that some photos would be great, most would be average, and some would be a serious attack on my self esteem. BUT the more you take the more chance there will be some great ones!!

We will be putting these together into a lookbook for the new GRACE DRESS and it will be Wellington theme. Cable car, Botanical Gardens, city views of course! So here's a few less than serious photos to show how much FUN it all was...

1. The ghost model of the cable car.   2. Here it is, what do you want me to do again?

3. Why are these people in my picture??   4. The cable car driver is a Famous Model too!

5. Pretending the Dominion Observatory building is my house. Actually it is the studio/gallery of Cartographica.

6. Another stunning view from the Botanical Gardens across the harbour. We love Wellington!

And how the dress really looks:

Grace dress by Minnie + Ree

Ree

xx

What's up?

Summer is starting to fade. I am so not ready for this. It's getting dark in the early mornings and at nights. So I need an Extending Summer Strategy!

Plan 1 is obviously to go to places where it is still summer and so Minnie + Ree will be in Hawke's Bay this weekend. On Saturday 19 March we will be at the Maraekakaho Country Market Day. It is looking like an amazing day. Check it out on their Facebook page here 

Maraekakaho market

So that does mean that we won't be at Underground Market in Wellington that day. And note that we have a new spot at Underground. Our stall is now right beside the door that opens out to the waterfront. So enter through the glass doors, walk down the steps, and we are the first stall on the right, opposite Zamm Lights.

Zamm Lights 

Plan 2 is to book a trip away so winter isn't so scary. YAY, I'm going to PARIS to hang out with friend, M+R supermodel and ceramic artist Stephanie Cahorel. I will be checking out this shop in Paris in July!

And here's a quick preview of the dress I'm currently working on - Sorry, bad photo! But I'm very happy with how it has turned out so will be making a sample size Small in the next week or so, and all going well I will then be getting a few into production. As usual the dress will be flexi-sized so size Small (NZ10-12) and size Average (NZ14-16-18). 

Any ideas what name this dress should have?

Ree

Holiday skirts - comfortable is good ...

The holidays are coming up and there could be some large celebratory meals in your future! What to wear???

At Minnie + Ree we pride ourselves on making comfortable clothes that look great. This may be useful if you are planning a wee over-indulgence on Christmas Day...

Snap wrap skirts - designed to be flexi-sized and so you could just wear it one snap looser than you normally would. Go out one snap and wear it lower on your hips. Have another slice of ham!




Belle frocks are fitted around the bust and then skim across the stomach and hips. Room for another glass of bubbles!



And of course our favourite Sea Breeze dress currently in La Catrina fabric. Let those svelte ladies take all the attention while you think about another slice of pavlova ...





What's the weather going to be and what will you be wearing on Xmas day?

Ree
xx

How to layer up your cotton skirts & dresses for the cooler weather

The weather is starting to turn and for some of us it means that the clothes we loved all summer are starting to be not quite enough in the mornings and evenings. 

Of course a similar but reverse situation is happening for those people in the northern hemisphere who are coming out of winter.

I usually wear my Minnie + Ree dresses and skirts all year round. The important thing is to add layers - long sleeve tops, cardigans, jumpers/jerseys, slips, tights, boots, scarves, jackets, coats ...

Here's a couple of photos from the beautiful Stephanie showing how she wore Minnie + Ree clothing during the cooler months.

Our reversible skirts are more cool-weather-friendly with their double layer of fabric. And the last of the very popular Poppies ones are a good colour for autumn/winter ...

Poppies reversible skirt

And here's a couple of suggestions for the Belle frock:

Belle frock with denim jacket

Belle frock with linen duster coat

And of course you can always wear your Belle frock with your favourite (falling to pieces but I still love it) cardi!

A final autumnal pic ...

xox

The Belle Frock is nearly ready

Over the last few weeks we have been tweaking the Belle Frock pattern.  It is now looking good and the cutting and sewing has begun...

Sadly I can't get any more of the original print shown here on holiday in Sydney :

Belle Frock in Sydney

But these are the fabrics we are getting ready.  And some will have applique and some will be plain.  What do you think?

Belle Frock fabrics 1

Belle Frock fabrics 2

Belle Frocks - new colours

The new Belle Frocks are coming along nicely.  The most fun, but most time consuming part is the final embellishments.  I love doing them but being a bit of a perfectionist it does sometimes take ages to find the right mix.

Do let me know in the comments section if you think I should leave a few plain.  You could then wear a huge statement necklace instead??

Here's some pics.  They aren't on the website yet.  I took these with my iPhone at the market on Sunday so sorry about the quality ...

These are a burgundy colour - organic cotton fabric. The birds on the main fabric are flying free, the ones on the applique are more goth and caged.

These ones are a beautiful floral, again the fabric is organic cotton and the appliques are in a Matisse style.

These ones are quite a pretty floral print and the appliques are Japanese inspired kawaii.  I so love them!

Email me if you want to buy: minnie.faux at gmail.com. 

There are also some others at the Napier pop up shop - there a couple of foxes and the other caramel coloured ones, at the back of the rack!!

There are a few more colours coming - here's the original cutting pics:

New Belle Frocks ...

Belle Frock swingtag

New Belle Frocks

More colours for the new Belle Frocks

I have been cutting new frocks today. Here's a few pictures of the new colours.

I am trying out some darker colours as I think they will look quite dramatic.

The red/pink floral is from an organic cotton fabric as is the maroon one.








 

And some maybes for the embellishments but I can never really tell what's best until they are sewn up!

Belle frock - new style almost ready ...

The new dress that I have been wearing everywhere lately is nearly ready.  It's pure cotton and is a beautiful bell shape with huge pockets and hand-stitched applique.  It is the perfect summertime dress and we still have some great days left here in the Southern hemisphere before it gets too cold.  Then you can warm it up with a slip and/or tights underneath and a cardigan on top.  

Cotton is such a great fabric - I am so looking forward to having a couple of these frocks when I go up to Fiji in a couple of months time.

Here is me doing some hand sewing at the market last Saturday ... I didn't get much done!

Here's a couple of finished ones - the appliques are all different!  I have made the back interesting, a wee applique near the pocket and left the front clear so you can wear a great necklace with it.

Do you need one?  They aren't on the website yet ... they are all size Average so just email me minnie.faux (at) gmail.com