Another trip to Sydney

My daughter Gypsy was having goodbye drinks on Sunday before heading outback on the Priscilla bus around Australia working on a new T.V. show.
Anyhoo I decided to surprise her so I flew over on Saturday, I had other things to do as well one of was going to this amazing textile place where they print up your own fabric, something I have been wanting to do for some time.
My husband Deane was already there working on a film so I had a nice hotel to stay in, we met on Friday night and went to dinner with an old friend, just happened to run into Sarah and Pete from Deadbeat on our way to the restaurant, always great to see those two.
On Sunday morning we met up with out son Eddy and went to the Narnia exhibition. Gypsy worked on Narnia 1 and 3  so it was really cool seeing all the amazing costumes and film of behind the scenes. It's a fantastic exhibition, my favourite bit was walking through the huge wardrobe and climbing through fur coats and out the other side.
Gypsy's goodbye was in the afternoon at a local pub, Gypsy has a really nice bunch of friends, mostly in the film business so it was great to hear what they were working on or moving on to, so much talent in one room. Gypsy was so excited about going outback, they are headed off to Broken Hill for a few days of filming, it's a reality T.V. show involving drag queens so I'm sure it will be a lot of fun. We had a really fun night and said our goodbyes then as Gypsy was off at 6.15 in the morning. Happy Trails Gypsy.
Caught up for breakfast the next morning with Stav who used to work for us she always looks so fabulous. Stav's off to Europe with her flat mate Charlotte at the end of the year, one of the producers has offered his apartment in Paris while he is away. Christmas in Paris, wow that will be a fun. Stav told me our friend Carla was in town so I called her and we went Wheels and Doll shopping. I must have watched her try on at least 10 outfits she looked amazing in everything. The new store is so beautiful I've always loved there designs, Melanie certainly did something right there.
I also called into my fave restaurant Porteno to meet up with the girls to try the new uniforms. It's so fun going there in the afternoon. I got there about 4.30 and they were all having dinner downstairs, if I was younger that would be where I would want to work, they really take care of the staff. Sarah was so happy with the uniform it's a simple 50's frock just perfect I think. So we have a lovely big order to get on with next week.

I had left all of my appointments till last other than Porteno and sadly I got sick on the last two days. I was watching the news while getting ready and they were talking about this dreadful flu and what do you know, someone sneezed and I caught it from the T.V. I had to cancel a fabric design place I was really excited about. It's all good gives me another reason to go back. The only thing with going away is coming back to a zillion e mails and orders.

KATE'S BACK IN THE BUILDING YEEHAW!

 

THE TAYLOR KID'S

I have a lot of people write and ask what the kids are doing so I thought I should include them in my blog even though Gypsy and Ginger have their own.

GYPSY is traveling around the outback at the moment working on a new television series about drag queens in the desert, yes desert not dessert. Gypsy got back from Mexico a couple of months ago and hadn’t had a ton of work except Pearlie the kids books that she illustrates. Being a lot like her dad she is a bit of a work-a-holic so working 7 days a week, with drag queens is the perfect job. 

Gypsy also gave a talk at The Powerhouse Museum just before she left. There is an exhibition all about Narnia and the making, Gypsy worked on 1 and 3 as costume illustrator. There was an amazing photo in the Sydney paper of her with the queen’s gown but I can’t seem to get my hands on it.

EDDY graduated from NIDA and has been working at this amazing place called EARTH where they have been making huge dinosaurs for a traveling show and How to Train Your Dragon stage production, I called in there when I was last in Sydney, the place is incredible and Eddy is right at home. I’m so happy to see him doing what he loves, he was the only Taylor kid I worried about having chucked it all in 2 weeks before he graduated high school. Next month he is going to be working in the prop’s dept on Wolverine.

GINGER  was working at an Animation studio last year but in her words “ I can’t stand the quiet and everyone has on earphone’s so you can't talk to them, it’s driving me insane. ” Needless to say Ginger prefers retail where she gets to hang out with like minded fun and noisy people. She is so much like me. She works in a hip shop in the city three days a week. and gets so much free stuff because of her sales she could start her own shop. The other 3 days Ginger works for a recruitment firm. That way she get’s the best of both world’s and doesn’t get bored easily.

Ginger is still making her skulls which she sells at Derby and to a few shops around in the city, she is so clever I’m sure there is a business right there. Just like Gypsy she is always busy.

Who knows where life will take our lovely kids but their proudest achievement as far as I am concerned is that they are just really nice people. That’s why we love them xxx Joy

Where's Willy

The first time I met William Lazootin was when my daughter Gypsy first introduced us in Sydney. Gypsy had been working on Chronicles of Narnia and William had made one of the main characters patterns.

We all had breakfast together and William told me he was moving to Adelaide to be with his family while he had treatment at the R.A.H. sadly Willy had cancer (which is now in remission) but at the time was a dreadful shock to everyone.

I was hoping we would catch up when he was a feeling better and told Gypsy to tell him I was happy to meet up with him anytime or hang out at the hospital.

I had been a huge fan of Project Runway of which he had been a finalist. Not only did I know a few of the contestants but I love the show anyway and I didn’t miss a single episode of that particular one. I felt as though I knew William even before we met  but does anyone really know William.

 He is so eccentric and so out there you never know quite what your going to get.

To cut a long story short Willy text me and we caught up. We talked about P.R. fashion and all sorts of stuff  and quickly realised how much we had in common. We hit it off from the start, I told Willy how much I would love to have someone like him at H.C.H.Q. but there would be no way I could afford to pay him what he had been paid  on film and working for Collette Dinnegan, Sass and Bide, Marc Jacobs ect.
Willy didn’t seem worried about the money at all and said he just wanted to stay busy so we came to an arrangement that suited us both and William set about making patterns for the new website. Every Monday we would go see a movie and have lunch and as William got better I kept thinking he will be leaving any day now but 15 months later he was still making me laugh.

I have so many wonderful memories of William dancing down the stairs in a pink tutu, spinning around the room with a mannequin or laughing so hard at lunch we nearly choked. My favourite memory will be of him coming in first thing in the morning and rolling around on the floor in his velvet jacket with our cat Chico.

You may have guessed already but William has left us now, we’re so happy he came into our Hot Couture lives like the whirlwind that he is. Willy is heading back to Sydney at the end of June, I know that’s where he belongs.
We will miss him but life goes on at H.C.H.Q we already have someone fabulous starting tomorrow. SHHHH!!!!! I will let the cat out of the bag in the next blog.

In the meantime Willy have a wonderful, wonderful life we wish you all the best with your next adventure. XXX Joy

Up close and personal with Lanie Lane

Wow! Sometimes the universe just opens up and drops a whole lot of wonderful in your lap.

Lovely Sarah Doyle from Porteno in Sydney asked if we would make a few outfits for Lanie’s new video clip. It was being filmed at Porteno last month and sadly was cancelled because of sickness. I still sent the outfits anyway as they were made for Lanie and I was excited at the prospect of  her wearing Hot Couture in her video clip or otherwise. I had heard about her from my daughter Ginger who is a huge fan and several friends who had raved about her from the last gig she did in Adelaide. I watched her video “That’s what you get falling in love with a Cowboy” and fell in love with Lanie too. One of my friends Sharon had Lanie sign a poster for me at the last gig that I couldn’t make, I WILL be framing it.  I didn’t miss this gig however, Lanie gave me a few tickets and myself Ginger and a few friends all went along.

Elly picked me up and on the way Lanie called to see if I could swing by the hotel to pin in the pants and skirt.

I was not cool it’s true and I was a little excited about meeting her but realised that Ginger would be absolutely beside herself when we told her. I made a very mean joke about calling into the hotel before we picked Ginger up but that would have been too cruel. The hotel was on the way and when we got there Lanie was standing at the door in tiny little shorts playing a blow up pink guitar with matching blow up microphone. She gave me a huge hug and I could hear Ginger stifling a squeal behind me. I have to say Lanie could not have been more chilled. We met the other girls who were just as adorable and I set about pinning and trying things on Lanie. I have only met one other person in the music industry as humble and unaware of their fame and that is Pat Cappocci whom I equally adore.

As we were leaving Lanie offered us more free tickets but I didn’t want to put her out so I asked if it would be OK for Ginger and Elly to have a photo with her instead. Lanie said she would text us after the show and we could go backstage for photo’s, I don’t know how Ginger got through the rest of the night really.

The show was incredible and Lanie certainly delivers, this little gal has one powerful voice, I love all of her songs and her band is dynamic.

As promised, Lanie text and we went back for Gingers and Elly’s photo.

I feel very lucky to have been a part of last night Lanie’s star is rising fast have a look at her wonderful clip and see for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ec_lw2JXeIY

Love Joy

Pia and Peter

Sixteen years ago I had the most wonderful girl working for me at my costume hire shop in Sydney. It was like having Snow White work for me, she was beautiful, always happy and she sung all the time. I'm sure little blue birds circled her head whn I wasn't looking, I loved her.
This week a Peter Alexander catalogue is out and Pia Anderson my gorgeous helper has styled the whole thing. It's quite wonderful, I can see Pia's magic all over it.
Pia took a big a risk, went out on her own and started her own company at the age of 30.
I love love love that she did this. Pia worked in a Vintage shop in the Rocks for years and put her heart and soul into it. When that all turned to dust and the owner did a runner Pia picked up her bundle and bravely went off to make her own way, just like Snow White and just like Snow White it has paid off for her too, she has quite a few incredible jobs under her belt. Like the time some land owner who owned a huge sheep station called her up to see if she could organise a parade. They flew Pia and her friends up to the station put them up, fed them paid them lots of money and asked Pia and her band back to perform a few months later. You can read all about Pia and her wonderful life and see what she has to offer on her website http://vintageallsorts.com.au/ her blog is definitely worth a read.

If ever you wonder if you should take a risk and start up your own business doing what you love take a look at what Pia has done, no money and all on her own. It just goes to show that working hard and doing what you love pays off in the end. Well done Pia Anderson we are very proud of you. X Joy