Just before Stav left for O.S. we had a ( lets make as many hot frocks for Stav day ) Stavroula bought every fluro shiny, gold, leopard fabric she could find. We left the fabric in the car on a hot day and I joked about how it had melted into a ball and gone rock, sticky solid. Stav's reply to this was............."we can go buy more there's plenty". So I made 7 frocks that day none of them overlocked. Well the joke is on me, everywhere Stav goes in New York people are asking about her wardrobe. I'm not surprised she can make anything look hot. Stav said she has been giving out my business cards and if I had these garments on my website I would make a killing. Food for thought, they are all my designs just not the fabric I would have chosen. I think Stav is right I need to get some of these on my website....might call the range "Where the Wild Things Are". Below are photo's of Stav in Vegas wearing the famous gold number, I swear every mexican in town wanted their photo taken with her. The other one is one we made up on the spot out of pink leopard with a black skirt. I tell ya that girl is working overtime. XXX Joy

Sydney highlights

Here are some highlights of my Sydney trip. Having breakfast with my daughter Gypsy and her friend William Lazootin ( finalist from Project Runway ) We met at Mint my fave breakfast place. William is even more fabulous in real life, if that's possible. It was great chatting about Project Runway, having been flown to Melbourne myself only to be the one John West rejects. I feel a whole lot better now knowing that it wasn't all fun, truthfully I don't think I would have lasted the distance. After breakfast Gypsy took me to Fox Studio's where she is working on Me and My Monsters. I was especially impressed with her car park space...........you have to be doing things right to get one of those. I couldn't take photo's of the monsters but let me tell you it looks like one great series. Another highlight was my night out with my son Eddy we had sushi and then headed off to Tokio Hotel where Hot Couture's model Pia was performing with her big band. Eddy and I even managed a dance before he left to head home. I did get to a few wholesalers always on the search for new fabric but mostly it was R and R. We have had a few months of non stop craziness here at H.C.H.Q and it was nice to slow down a bit. I'm back now and things are running at a nice pace. We have our new designs on the slide show website and photo's coming to our blog soon. XXX Happy Happy Joy Joy

H.C in ink.

It makes you feel pretty good when one of your fave customers has a tattoo of herself in one of our frocks. Bex Terity has done just that. Her tattoo is wearing our new sarong frock in leopard, I think she would make a hell of a model. I told Bex if she puts on weight it will look like she has me on her arm, that would be weird. Thanks Bex that's about the best compliment we could get. XXX Love Joy

Hot Couture is proud to be a sponsor of the Adelaide Roller Derby. Not only do we sponsor roller derby but we make most of the team uniforms. Along the way we just happened to fall in love with the game. No one was more surprised than I was, not being a huge sport fan myself. We lived in the States for a bit and I fell the same way for Baseball as I have fallen for Roller Derby. Those of you who haven't been before have no idea what your missing.
It's not just the game but the entertainment that goes along with it. When you turn up for the very first time I think most people are surprised at the line-up to get in. Roller Derby has it's die hard fans that come every week and it has new people coming along each bout to add to the 2,500 throng. You will be greeted by roller girls before you even go through the doors. Once through there are stalls, merchandise and fabulous pre 1950's cars. There is always one of Adelaide's best swing or rock bands playing live, that only adds to the excitement. The M.C. Boon and sometimes special guest Nikki Candy will walk you through the game before it starts and IF you can hear them they are extremely entertaining to boot.
The skate out is always thrilling, when the teams skate out to the sound of their very own hand picked music to go along with their team name.
The Salty Dolls blew us all out of the water with the huge shark ( below ) complete with bloodied jaws, to the music of Jaws. Mile Die Club skate out in a jet formation and throw red paper planes into the crowd, watch out you don't lose an eye. Wild Hearses ( the only team uniforms H.C. hasn't made. ) Still we are very impressed with the girls sewing skills. They skate out with a coffin covered in Marigolds and throw paper marigolds into the crowd. Last but not least The Road Train Rollers skate out in an enormous blue road train. We think all of the teams are genius to pull this off each week. If the refs can do it they get the crowd to do the mexican wave although I often find I'm the only one standing in my row, I've no idea why but I love a good mexican wave. I'm pretty proud to think we have made all those uniforms but even more proud of these remarkable girls who have made Adelaide Roller Derby so exciting. Why don't you come along next time and see for yourself. XXX Joy