Chapters Rarity’s Blog on Life, Fashion and All Things Fabulous
Greetings My Little Gems! 💎💎💎
Mood: Cheerful!
Hello all you wonderful ponies out in the ether!
I am Rarity, designer and couturier based in Ponyville.
You might be familiar with some of my work, or have heard about the adventures I have had with my friends. And we certainly have had many of those! Nary a month seems to go by without some disaster or evildoer making havoc on our lives. And me and my friends rally as the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and do what we can to help. It is an interesting, busy life, I suppose.
But this blog isn’t about that. This is about other aspects of my life and work, the less dramatic parts. And I started this on the recommendation of a good friend.
A fortnight ago I was having a simply scrumptious lunch at the Tasty Treat in Canterlot with my friend Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Have you visited the establishment? They have the most marvelous Eastern Equestrian cuisine! I especially recommend their new tasting menu. It takes you on a magical ride from the lush orchards to the salt-sprayed coasts in the east, all served on a single plate of bite-sized treats.
Anyway, we were enjoying our food, and chatted as girlfriends do. I had returned from Manehattan Fashion Week the night before, and was eager to tell Twilight everything! The shows, the ponies, the fashions! Even now, the memories give me the shivers. What a wonderful time we live in, and what amazingly talented designers we have!
After I had described Coco Pommel’s latest, breath-taking collection Études de Bleus, Twilight gave me one of her knowing smiles.
All of us who are lucky to count her amongst their close friends know that smile. It means you are about to recieve good and well-meant advice. And advice she had.
”Have you ever considered writing a blog?” she asked me.
”A blog?” I answered, ”Haven’t thought of it. I’m a visual creator, first and foremost. Writing is more your forté, darling.”
”True. But you do have a lot to say about the things you are passionate about. I think there are lots of ponies who would be interested in your thoughts on fashion and things like that. And it would give you a chance to connect with others with similar interests. So think about it?”
I promised I would.
These past two weeks I found myself pondering more and more about starting this blog. And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. Twilight was right: I do have a lot to say, and sharing that does sound like fun!
So here we are.
I had a hard time deciding what to write about first. But then I realized that the yarn I spun about Études de Bleus made Twilight recommend writing to me, so I might as well start there.
Coco Pommel is a good friend of mine, and I had the chance to discuss her new collection backstage. So I’m in the happy position to be able to share my thoughts, as well as her inspirations.
As the name suggests, the collection is a celebration of the various shades of blue.
Ultramarine, lapiz, sapphire, cerulean... Blue is a color with many faces, from the depths of the ocean, to the vivid, almost blinding brightness of electric blue, to soft, soothing pastels. Not to mention how some blues are close to purple, while others have a clear tinge towards green!
Because the color has so much variety, a designer must usually choose the hues they are to work with very carefully. Even if it is technically the same color, a multitude of varying shades of blue thrown together willy-nilly makes for a disjointed garment.
I asked Coco how she chose her colors. This is what she told me.
”Well,” she said, ”my inspiration was twilight in Manehattan, and how the bluish light is different, yet similar every day. So I took two shades of blue: a deep midnight blue to represent the night, and a softer cornflower to show the day. Then I made several dyes with those two as the base, making some lighter and some darker, and making slight variations. And I used those to dye my fabrics.”
What a wonderful idea! She got a large variety of shades, but because they had the same base, the whole stayed harmonious. Here are some swatches of the colors she used:
And what wonderful garments she put together!
The collection featured fourteen beautiful looks. Instead of sparkly evening gowns and high-end cocktail dresses, the vibe was delightfully down to earth. You could see these outfits on any trendy girl living their best life out on the town! And some of the smarter pieces could take a mare from the office to an after work cocktail, to the local eatery and home in style.
For her materials Miss Pommel had chosen denim, to further explore the theme of blue, and chantilly lace. The casual, heavy fabric and the rich, delicate lace made for an interesting pairing. I do love contrasting materials, especially when working with a limited color palette. It makes the designs pop , if you know what I mean ✨
The detail work in the collection consisted of intricate piping and ribbons of different shades of blue woven and criss-crossed on the fabric. The effect was pretty, but playful and youthful.
Most pieces featured were feminine skirts and dresses and blouses. A girl of any size or shape would find something here, whether an easy-to-match pencil skirt or a bold statement piece, like the amazing floor-lenght kimono jacket with lace embellishments on the shoulders.
One of the stand-out ensembles was a pair of cigarette pants and a slim-fitting jacket, with a frilly lace shirt with a bow collar. It was the perfect combination of girly and soft, and tailored and sharp, all in such glorious shades of blue!
My absolute favorite was the last look to walk down the runway. It was a swing dress with just the slightest bit of crinolin under the skirt, but not so much you’d look like a waitress in a 50s diner. 👗👗👗
The skirt and bust were gradient colored, from a light sky blue at the neckline to a dark navy at the hem. The beautiful color shift was cut in two at the waist with a wide band of navy lace. You could see the slightest bit of skin through it, making it flirty and sexy without being vulgar. The dress had the lovely ribbon detailing on the v-neckline and cap sleeves. It’s always a good idea to draw attention to your assets like that 😘✨
I will most definitely order one for myself!
I could go on and on about the collection and Coco’s work in general. But I just wanted to give a short overview and share some thoughts and highlights here.
Check Coco Pommel’s amazing creations on Manestagram!
Now, since I’m new to this whole blogging thing, I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions what to write about. Do you want to hear my thoughts or opinions on something? Do you need fashion advice? Do you have any questions?
Put a ”Dear Rarity” message in the comments below and I’ll try my best to answer! Include pics if you want to hear my opinion on a look.
Have an absolutely marvelous day my Gems!!! 💎💎💎
Kisses and Glitter!
Rarity
Rarity’s Blog on Life, Fashion and All Things Fabulous
The Moment Their Eyes Light Up
Mood: Proud 👌delicate ones, mind you.
How are you my precious Gems? 💎💎💎
Thank you for the comments on my earlier post! I’m so glad you reached out. 😊
I know it hasn’t been that long since my first post, but something positively marvelous happened today, and I wanted to share it with all of you!
I GOT MOONDANCER TO WEAR A GOWN!!! AND SHE LIKED IT!!!
I know, right? Can you believe it?!
Oh. But some of you might not know who Moondancer is. Well, allow me to enlighten you. This is her picture:
Moondancer is a resident of Canterlot and friend of Twilight’s from way back when. She is a highly talented unicorn and a dedicated student of magic, among other topics.
Unfortunately, one of those topics is not fashion.
When Twilight invited her to this year’s Grand Galloping Gala, she sent back a letter where she seemed strangely reluctant to attend. After some gentle prodding, she admitted to Twilight that the thought of dressing up and mingling with ”fancy-smanshy” ponies, as she put it, made her uncomfortable.
Naturally, Twilight was concerned for her. Nopony should ever feel they weren’t good enough! So she reached out to me and asked if I could help. Of course I told her I would do my utmost.
So Twilight persuaded her to come to Canterlot Carousel for a consultation with me. I had cleared a good couple of hours in my schedule so we could get better acquainted and talk over her wishes and thoughts in peace.
She came right on time (I do appreciate punctuality!) and I took her to the kitchen for a cup of soothing chamomille tea. I thought it best to keep it casual and conversational, instead of overwhelming the poor dear with fashion advice from the get-go.
We had a lovely chat. I told her that I was aware of her trepidations, and she shared her feelings and where they came from. I am not at liberty to divulge any personal details, but the point is, once she had talked it over out loud, she admitted she felt less burdened.
I told her that wearing formal attire need not be a chore, and that the Gala is just a party. A fabulous party with intriguing conversation, wonderful music, exquisite cuisine and even more exquisite couture, but a party nonetheless, and nothing to be afraid of.
I think our conversation made her feel better about the whole affair. Once I saw she had relaxed a bit, I asked if she was ready to discuss her ensemble. She may have gulped a little, but she was a trooper and we proceeded to take her measurements.
I tried to find out if she had any wishes or preferences when it came to her outfit. She had very few demands besides ”not to make her look like parade float.”
That is the thing with customers. Sometimes they are very particular about what they want, to the point where you wonder why they didn’t simply go to a seamstress and ask them to make the dress, instead of consulting a designer. And sometimes calling their wishes ”vague” is generous. Moondancer is very much in the latter category.
”Well, since you don’t have a particular style in mind,” I said, ”why don’t you leave it in my hooves? I promise I will do my very best to make something you feel comfortable in.”
”Please do, Rarity,” she answered, ”I wouldn’t know where to start and would probably choose something hideous!”
”Nonsense darling! You really aught to trust your own judgement more. But worry not! I am positive you will feel lovely at the Gala!” I tried to reassure her.
I’m not completely sure if she believed me. She certainly shuffled her hooves in a hesitant manner. However, when I waived her on her way out, she did seem a little more cheerful that she had coming in.
And now my Gems, came the fun part: designing the outfit!
Moondancer has a very pale yellow coat, in a lemon shiffon shade. Her mane and tail are a slightly muted coral red with purple streaks. I must say, her complexion and hair color are a most rare combination! Usually ponies don’t have colors almost opposite to each other on the color wheel.
So choosing a color for her ensemble was the first thing I had to tackle. I had to find something that wouldn’t clash with her coat or mane, or make her pale visage appear sallow.
And let me tell you, it was no easy task! I thought about white or cream, but they would wash her out. I considered jade green, but even the softest tone would clash with her mane. Most of the blues I tried weren’t flattering, and metallics would be too flashy for her!
Then it came to me! I would take her natural colors, and celebrate them! So I gathered swatches and samples, creating a beautiful, autumnal bouquet of reds, purples, oranges and yellows that bridges all her natural tones together. Here are a couple of inspirational pictures I gathered so you’ll see what I mean:
Next I thought about the silhouette. The colors are quite rich, so I decided it best to keep the cut simple. Moondancer didn’t want anything too showy, so lots of frills or structured shoulders or a long sweeping train would be out of the question.
So I landed on a fitted bust and waist, made from cotton satin, and a tulle skirt with a bit of volume. Tulle is a wonderful material! It’s light and floaty, and so sheer that if you put layers of different shades on top of each other, they create this beautiful gradient effect:
As my main color I chose a rich shade of deep crimson. A slightly darker tone on top would calm the effect of the brighter colors, making the whole a bit more sedate, as per Moondancer’s wishes. I made most of the bust and the topmost layers of the skirt in that hue.
I went with a bateau neckline, for it pairs well with the volume in the skirt. I left the gown sleeveless, but with a sliver of crimson lace covering the shoulders and zhushing up the simple neckline.
I refrained from adding rhinestones or sequins or other embellishments. As much as I adore opulent sparkles, the most important thing was to make Moondancer happy, so keeping the materials matte and unobtrusive would serve her better.
Finally I was done, and invited Moondancer to come for a fitting. I was quite pleased with the final piece, but you’ll never know what your customer will think. So I must admit, I was slightly nerveous. What if she didn’t like it? What if she lost confidence and refused to come to the Gala? It would break my heart!
She came over to the boutique, looking even more tense than she had last time. I welcomed her and took her to the back, so she could have some privacy in case she felt self-conscious. The ensemble was on a mannequin, waiting for her.
”Ta-Dah! Your gown for the Gala! I do hope you like it, darling!” I exclaimed, hoping she would.
And... she said nothing.
For the longest moment, she stood there quietly. My heart sank. I had to keep myself from sighing, and reminded myself that every designer had these moments. Not all of your customers will love what you do. I have been through it before, even with my closest friends...
”It’s too pretty.”
I had to do a double take on that.
”What?” I gasped. How can anything be too pretty?!
”It’s too pretty for me. I couldn’t possibly do it justice. You should sell it to somepony else.” She sounded genuinely overwhelmed and sincere in her scruples.
”Now darling, don’t be silly! This outfit is designed for you, and nopony else would look as good in it! Just please try it on? For me?” I coaxed her.
She finally consented to put the dress on. I wanted her to see herself in a finished look, so I also gave her a mini-makeover. Her mane was umm... How do I put this delicately? Disheveled? So I gave it a quick brush and put it up in an elegant bun, and added an orange-and-crimson silk rose on her ear.
Also, I changed her glasses. It just so happened an up-and-coming eyewear house, Spectacular Spectacles, had sent the boutique a promotional package of their latest designs. It included a very chic pair with thin, purple rims, which brought out Moondancer’s eyes. Much better than the thick, black, taped-together glasses she had on!
Once I was done, I led her to the grand three way mirror.
”There you go darling! See what I mean?” I asked her.
And she looked absolutely amazing!!! The colors worked even better than I had hoped! Her complexion looked vibrant and luminous, the fit highlighted her figure and the layers of tulle made the whole thing so feminine and joyful!
”It... I’m...” the dear stuttered at first, ”IT IS SO LOVELY!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS ME!!!” she exclaimed jubilantly.
(EDIT: Since writing this I have gotten a picture of Moondancer in her new gown! Behold!!!)
And this, my Gems, is my absolute favorite part of my work, and the main reason I wanted to write this post.
I call it ”The Mirror Twirl Moment.” The moment a customer puts on a dress that fits them to a T, and turns from an everyday mare into a princess! And it’s not the clothes that do that. It’s the way they light up from the inside, the way their eyes sparkle, the way their posture and demeanor changes. And, without exception, they do the twirl. They turn in front of the mirror, trying to catch every detail, watching how the beautiful fabric moves with them.
I have seen it a hundred hundred times, and I will never tire of it. Never.
”See? I told you so dearest!” I giggled, relieved and happy she finally saw what I saw. ”Nopony could carry this gown better than you.”
”They would have to pry it from cold dead hooves! I can’t wait to wear this to the Gala!” she said, visibly giddy.
She thanked me most profusely, and we promised to meet for a coffee soon. I watched her strutting away with her purchase held high in her magic. And I must say, there was a whole new spring in her step
I have done this with so many ponies in the past. This is my happiness, my pride and joy as a designer: making others feel as beautiful as they are.
And I wanted to tell you all about it, my darling Gems! Do note, I had Moondancer read this post before I published it, because I wanted to make sure she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable about it.
”Go ahead!” she wrote back, ”After how much help you gave me, you may write all you want. And now that I know I have my own ’fabulosity’ like you taught me, I don’t mind being the topic of conversation!”
She really is such a sweetheart, and a fabulous pony! 💖✨
So this is my story for today.
What do you think? Have you had a Mirror Twirl Moment?
As I’ve said before, leave a Dear Rarity message in the comments if you have questions or thoughts for me. I would love to hear from you!
Have an amazing weekend, my precious Gems!
Kisses and Glitter,
Rarity
Author's Note
Hi lovely peoples!
The amazingly talented The Sleepless Beholder drew Moondancer in her new gown!!!
Here is the picture again, just because it’s awesome:
Rarity’s Blog on Life, Fashion and All Things Fabulous
Mood: Nostalgic 💖
Hello my Gems! Hope you are having a good day today 💜💜💜
Thank you for the lovely messages and comments you’ve sent me! They really do brighten up my day.
I’ve been busy designing ensembles for the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala. There is so much variety in the guestlist this year! I will be writing a post about some of the looks I’ve been working on once I’m done. And they will be absolutely marvellous, even if I say so myself!
However, today I wanted to write about something else. And I got the inspiration from my dearest sister, Sweetie Belle.
I was working at Carousel Boutique, when Sweetie came home. She is staying with me at the moment, as our parents are on their yearly cruise, celebrating their anniversary.
From the way she huffed and puffed on her way in, I could tell she was in an unhappy mood.
I asked what was wrong, and she recounted her day. And indeed, it sounded tiresome in more ways than one. She had slept badly, failed an exam, and accidentally dropped her lunch in a puddle.
”And if that wasn’t enough, we helped Dusky Summit with a cutie mark problem. When he overcame his fear of heights so he could do mountain climbing, I was too annoyed by everything else to even smile for him! And now I feel terrible,” she concluded her tale of woe.
”Oh Sweetie Belle! Everypony has a bad day once in a while. Don’t let it bring you down too much sweetheart,” I tried to comfort her.
At that moment the bell chimed, announcing the arrival of a customer. I had to attend to her, so I left Sweetie alone in the kitchen with her mug. There is nothing like hot chocolate with whipped cream to cheer you up! Pinkie Pie taught me that 💕
The customer was an earth pony mare, who needed an outfit for a friend’s wedding. We tried several, until we settled on an ashes-of-rose colored, long chiffon dress with bishop sleeves. It was delicate and feminine, and modest enough for a wedding. That is important when dressing for such an occasion: one needs to look put together, but not like you are trying to out-do the happy couple.
The lovely pastel color looked amazing against her light antique green coat and silvery mane! We spent a good amount of time in front of the mirror admiring her from every angle. She was so pretty, and did the dress so much justice!
Once she left, a voice sounded behind me.
”How do you do that?”
”Oh Sweetie Belle! Please refrain from startling me like that!” I admonished her, ”And what do you mean? How do I do what?”
”Sorry! And I mean, how do you always have something nice to say to everypony? I have never seen you not compliment a pony, even when you are tired or in one of your moods,” she said. ”I didn’t manage to do that today for the colt. So how do you do it?”
The question was intriguing enough to give me pause (and not demand to know what exactly she meant by ”one of my moods.”) I thought back, and remembered something I hadn’t dwelled upon in years.
”I learned to,” I finally answered.
”What, you practiced or something? How does that even work?” She sounded doubtful. ”Did you write down a bunch of nice sounding things and choose one that fits the pony?”
”No, of course not! That would be silly,” I giggled. ”Let’s have dinner and I’ll tell you all about it.”
And the answers I gave her made me think I should write a post about this. Maybe my experiences could give some of you, my darling Gems, encouragement or insight.
The thing is, I wasn’t always generous with my compliments. When I was younger, I was very much aware I was a beautiful and talented unicorn. A bit too aware, if you know what I mean. It is embarrassing to admit, but I was somewhat stuck up and it was much too easy for me to feel superior to others.
I strut around town, basking in everypony’s attention, like nothing and nopony could measure up to me. It is so horrible to remember now, but I used critize others in my mind. ”What a terrible mane color! And that shirt does nothing for your waistline,” or ”Learn to walk in heels darling if you are going to torture a pair of Loubutails to death,” or else ”Nopony is going to date you if you slouch and eat like slob, you slob,” and things like that.
I am not proud of the attitude I had back then 😔😔 And what’s more, others could tell I wasn’t thinking of them kindly, even if I never said any of it out loud.
My big wake up call came when I got my first real job in the fashion industry. It was at Splendour Fashions, a boutique and atelier owned by miss Splendour Spools. She was a great lady, with a decades long career. I was in awe of her, and positively flabbergasted to work so close to a genuine legend and a trailblazer in the industry!
As soon as I stepped into the boutique, she greeted me warmly and took the time to show me around. I could barely speak without stuttering! Here I was, a youngster in her late teens nopony had heard of yet, being spoken to so casually by one of my idols!
She only left me in the hooves of the senior assistants when customers started arriving. They showed me the ropes, and I soon learned the tasks expected of me.
I watched as mares and stallions of all ages came and went. Sometimes they would buy something off the racks, and the shopping assistants took care of them. I never saw anypony leave the shop unsatisfied.
But the customers who came for a consultation or a fitting with miss Splendour herself were more than satisfied.
They were beaming.
Everypony who was escorted to the studio in the back, no matter how homely or worn out or frumpy I though they looked, left with a smile. And, to my eye, oddly beautified and regal, even when they weren’t wearing their purchases! I could not understand it. Did miss Splendour have a spell or a potion or some ancient secret she shared with her customers?
Then came a day I remember like yesterday.
I was on my lunchbreak, nibbling on my brushchetta, and sketching some ideas I had for a ball gown. I was just finished adding notes about the ruffles on the hem, when miss Splendour herself walked in the breakroom.
”Hello miss Rarity!” she said with her warm smile. ”What are you working on there?”
Blushing, I managed to answer. ”Good afternoon miss Splendour! I’m just... umm... sketching a gown.”
”Oh a gown! May I see it?” she asked, kindly.
I was quite overwhelmed when she wanted to see my work, but this was such an honor and an opportunity! So I handed my sketchbook over. She sat across the table, and went through my drawings while sipping on her cardamom chai.
I hardly need point out I was on pins and needles when she scrutinized page after page! She didn’t say anything, just browsed my book, sometimes pausing to look at something more closely.
Finally she closed the book and sat back in her chair. She let her eyes wander the room, seemingly deep in thought.
”Miss Splendour?” I said when I couldn’t take the silence anymore.
”Oh! I’m sorry dear. My mind is all over the place today,” she chuckled.
”It’s alright. I... I just wondered... What do you think? Of... of the designs?” I believe I managed to stutter out.
”Well dear, they are beautiful,” she said, simply.
I was elevated to hear that! But I sensed there was something more to her thoughts.
”Thank you miss! It means a lot coming from you! But is... is there some advice you could give me?” I dared question.
”Hmm. You certainly have great taste and knowledge of fashion, especially for one so young! The details and silhouettes are lovely, choices of color and material show talent and potential. But there is one thing I did wonder about.”
And she looked at me in the eye, and asked:
”Who are you designing for?”
My mind went quite blank. What did she mean? Of course the designs were for ponies to wear! I couldn’t think of an answer that didn’t sound stupid or obvious.
Seeing my nonplussed stare, she giggled and stood up.
”Come help me in my studio tomorrow. It might give you new inspiration,” and she gave me a playful wink and strutted off.
I was thrilled beyond belief at the invitation! I would have the opportunity to follow a true master at work! Such an amazing chance to learn! Obviously she had seen the brilliance in my work, and was eager to help me develop.
So after that day I would accompany Splendour in her workshop, where she received her clients. I helped in whatever ways I could, bringing materials and serving tea.
And I watched her, as she talked with her customers and came up with the designs. Everything she made was perfect for every single pony! Every color choice highlighted their complexions, every silhouette was flattering no matter their size and shape, every material was ideal for the occasion the couture was for!
What was more, she spoke to them like a good friend, and she complimented everypony who stepped into her studio.
At first I thought this was just good customer service. One needs to give a client one’s full attention, and make them feel happy that they chose your establishment, after all.
However, after a while I started to realize there was more to it. Whenever she talked to ponies, she looked at them in the eye and smiled, genuinely. When she gave a compliment or a suggestion on what would suit a pony, she seemed completely sincere. And once they had left, she did sketches and looked over her notes, humming happily to herself.
Also she would give comments like:
”Wasn’t she delightful miss Rarity? What a sweet idea to get herself and her grandchild matching outfits for her birthday!”
Or
”He was such a nice gentlecolt! This chocolate brown pinstripe will look marvellous against that lovely navy blue mane, don’t you think?”
Bit by bit, I started to feel miss Splendour had asked me to accompany her for a reason other than to teach me about the art of couture.
One evening I was at home, poring over my sketches. I had been so proud of them, but now they felt... lacking, in some way.
”Who are you designing for?”
The question shot right through me. I looked at my work again. And that, my Gems, is when I saw it.
Every single design was something that would look best on ME, and nopony else would do them as much justice.
I was shocked. Shaken. Discombobulated.
All this time I thought myself so talented and so wonderful. But I hadn’t even bothered to think of the ponies I wanted to design for! What did that say about me?
I went to take a very long, lavender-scented bath. And I thought, deeply. To my intense embarrassment, I realized how self-centered I was, and how meanly I often thought of my fellow ponies.
I felt terrible, and not just because of what a bad attitude might mean for my career. I really didn’t want to be a [as a lady I won’t use the word that came to me back then], so obviously I needed an adjustment!
So what was I to do?
First thing I did, from the very next morning, was trying to think of nice things about the ponies walking past me. Instead of sniping at them in my mind, I tried coming up with compliments:
”That is a stylish mane-do, I do love when ponies put in an effort in the morning! ”
”Oh dear, you look so busy and stressed! I hope your day gets better. ”
”You have such a graceful trot! I wonder if you are a dancer. ”
And so on. And the more I did it in the days that followed, the easier it became. Ponies started to look so beautiful to me. How had I never noticed it before?
I also tried my best to be nice to others, not just for politeness’ and appearances’ sake, but because they deserved to be treated with kindness and respect.
This, my Gems, was a big turning point for me, both as an artiste and as a pony. I felt better, like a great burden had been lifted. I felt more like myself than I ever had before. And designing was not just interesting to me now, it was utter delight!
The thought that ponies would be wearing my creations one day, trotting out of my boutique with a smile on their face, made my heart positively soar! I started sketching feverishly , coming up with an idea after idea, inspired by the ponies in my life, or even complete strangers!
A few weeks after my revelation, I was wiping the coffee table in miss Splendour’s studio, when something landed on it in front of me.
My sketchbook.
Swiveling around, I found myself face to face with miss Splendour Spools.
”You forgot this in the breakroom. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of taking a peek at your latest works,” she said, sweetly.
”Oh! Thank you for bringing it to me!” I answered, ”Hopefully you liked the new ones! I have had such fun with them!”
For a moment, she said nothing. Then she walked over to me, and without a word, pulled me in a motherly embrace.
I was surprised, but happy. When she pulled away, she looked at me over her winged spectacles, her eyes twinkling.
”Well done, miss Rarity. Well done.”
And giving me a knowing smile, she turned and went back to work.
It has been many a moon since my time as an assistant at Splendour Fashions. But I have never forgotten the things I learned.
I must admit, sometimes my uppity self does emerge, and I can get overly critical and stuck up at times. Luckily I have good friends now, who are there to talk sense into me when I need it. Sometimes I need to remind myself not to get a big head.
But now I know my greatest inspiration are the ponies I create for. Everypony is beautiful and worthy.
Including you, my precious Gem
This is my tale for the day. I hope you won’t think of me too poorly, given my behaviour in the past 😔 I am sorry about those things, truly.
As ever, leave a Dear Rarity comment if you wish to ask me anything.
There will be the post about the Grand Galloping Gala ensembles I’ve worked on this season soon! I’ll post it as quickly I am able, so stay tuned!
Hope you recieve and give a heart-felt compliment today!
Kisses and Glitter,
Rarity
Author's Note
Horsepuns:
Lou Steed - Lou Reed
Rarity’s Blog on Life, Fashion and All Things Fabulous
How to Make a Stallion into a Queen!
Mood: Excited!
Hello again my darling Gems, it has been awhile and I've missed you! I hope you are all doing fabulously!
Today I have a very special story and a slightly different kind of customer.
I was putting away my supplies in my boutique, after I had just finished my latest frock. It turned out quite beautiful, if I say so myself! I think mint green silk will be quite popular next season
"Apple Bloom! How nice to see you again! And Big Mac, how good of you to come," I greeted them, "Are you in need of a new dress? Or maybe a pretty new bow? I have some new hair accessories and they would do your mane so much justice!" I told her.
"Thanks Rarity, but we're not here for me today. We need a dress for Big Mac!" Apple Bloom chirped, pointing to her brother. He blushed and scuffed at the floor.
"Oh?" I asked, a bit surprised. As far as I knew, he is not the sort of stallion who cares much for clothes, let alone ladies' fashion! I suppose Apple Bloom saw my nonplussed expression, and she launched into an explanation: at the time me and Applejack were called to Manehattan to revitalize the Midsummer Theatre Revival with Coco Pommel, Big Mac dressed up as a mare, "cousin Orchard Blossom," so Apple Bloom could take part in the Sisterhooves Social. And she showed me a picture:
I had heard part of the story from my sister, but I had not realized how far he went to make his sister happy! It was truly touching
"I see. And now cousin Orchard Blossom is making a new appearance and needs something to wear?" I asked them.
"Sugar Belle spotted a flier for an open mic night at the Starlight Club for drag performers, and thought she would love to see miss Orchard Blossom as well, if Big Mac was up for it! And even if the Sisterhooves Social didn't, um, go exactly as planned, both of us DID have fun," Apple Bloom enthused, "and I've gushed about her ever since!"
"Yeeap," Big Mac said, "it was fun. So I'd like to give it another go. And if it makes Sugar Belle happy as well I'll do my darndest."
"So I thought he should do this properly and get a pony who knows how to look anypony look real purdy make a great dress for him! Last time he just threw together whatever we had in the attic," Apple Bloom added.
Touched by her compliment, I now turned my attention to Big Mac. "Hmm, it will take some work, but I think I can make you look absolutely fabulous ! Do you have any wishes when it comes to the outfit?" I asked him, as I ushered him in front of the mirrors.
"Noope. Just make it classy. Orchard Blossom is a lady," he told me in his straight-forward way.
"Oh do not worry, she will look every bit the proper southern belle she is!" I assured him.
Now, when it comes to designing feminine clothing for stallions, there are different situations that need a slightly different approach. There are stallions who prefer to wear dresses just in their everyday life, and as a designer it is my job to make sure they feel comfortable and beautiful in their couture. Of course they are like any other customer, and simply want something that compliments their colors and looks lovely on them. And I would modify their dresses to fit them better when needed.
This, however, was a bit different. This was a drag outfit, something made for a performance. Now I absolutely LOVE making costumes for the stage! You can let go and really make things as sparkling and fantastical as you can! And this is not my first time making an outfit for a drag queen. Many ponies who perform the art of drag are really quite spesific about their costumes. Not only do they often have a particular look they have honed for years, but they want to accentuate or hide certain features: make the shoulders look smaller, make the eyes bigger, or some such thing.
I would say that to a fashion designer, making costumes for drag queens and kings is a wonderful chance to learn! It really opens your eyes to the art of proportions and illusion, that can inform your more everyday designs as well!
Now Bic Macintosh is an athletic, well-built stallion, as you can see:
So to make him look more ladylike and dainty, there are several tricks I used.
First of all being, I knew making the outfit voluminous and resplendent would make his natural features look smaller in comparison!
And since he wanted something elegant, I thought a traditional floor-lenght gown would be just the ticket. And to add enough volume, I decided that a layered, very generous hem would be best. But I didn't want it to look too heavy, so only the bottom layer is an opaque fabric, but the top layers are made from a sheer, lighter fabric, which moves beautifully.
However, just adding volume on top of volume would result in him looking bulkier, not more graceful. So the huge skirts needed a counterpoint.
Now here, my gems, we ran into an issue that every drag performer must face: how are they willing to shape their natural features? By that I mean, there are all kinds of trade secrets into making your figure appear more masculine or feminine. There are many queens who use a very tight corset to make their waist smaller, and add padding to their flanks to make their bottom look rounder. And many kings put a little something around their shoulders to look wider. And then there are performers who prefer not to do any of that, either because it would make performing too difficult or because they simply don't see the need to.
After talking to Big Mac, he decided he wanted to wear a corset under his dress, but any extra padding would feel too hot and uncomfortable. That is part of the reason I made the skirts so abundant, so he wouldn't even need to wear pads!
So, since he was willing to take his waist in, I though making the top of his gown form fitting would not only show off his cinched figure, but paired with the hem it would look très élégant
I debated if I should add some type of sleeves. The right kind of lovely covering for ones hooves can make a look really pop, after all! But after I draped some fabrics over his shoulders, I realized even the most delicate sleeve would add to his mass and width. So making the gown sleeveless was the better course of action. I carved the armholes to be smaller than his natural shoulders, and a bit higher to make his legs look longer (this is a trick I have sometimes used myself
Oh and then came one of my absolute favourite parts of dressmaking: choosing the materials and colours!
Big Mac, like most members of the Apple clan, has a very vibrant coat, his in a lovely, slightly muted red. Dressing ponies with a darker or a brighter colour is a bit different than ones with a softer pastel tone. If the colour does not pair well with their natural hues, the clash is ever so much more apparent. So getting them right was of utmost importance!
I tried several options against his coat, but then I realized that miss Orchard Blossom is an Apple ! So what better to dress an Apple queen in than fruity apple colours! Fortunately my supplier has just released a series of gradient dyed fabrics in their summer collection, one with JUST the right cheerful reds, yellows, greens and oranges. And to give the outfit that special stage flair, I was determined to add oodles of sparkly rhinestones! ✨✨✨
Now that we had the design of the dress nailed down, we had to consider a most crucial part of any truly remarkable drag outfit: The hair.
This was an important part of this look. Big Mcintosh has a very handsome, square jawline, and while it is attractive, it would make miss Blossom look less lady like. So what he really needed was a VERY large, spectacular wig. Making such a wig is possible by taking several wigs and combining them into one. Now I am not a wig maker, but constructing one from ready made materials is within my abilities.
I chose a beautiful golden blonde colour, and I designed a hairstyle with lots of large swirls and curls and waves. They would draw the eye away from his sculpturesque jaw. Also I thought a style where most of the hair is draped on one side of the face would look marvelous with the gown.
Once we were satisfied with the designs, I asked Big Mac who would be doing his make up. Maybe they would like a few swatches of the colours or a sketch of the look, so they could take it into account in advance?
"Umm, I just thought I'd do it miself. I did it before," he told me.
Here, my Gems, I almost dropped the sketchpad. I mean, did you see the make up he did himself?! I do not wish to be rude here, but it was COMPLETELY wrong for his complexion! That ballet slipper pink lipstick applied too generously, and that blush ... No no no no NO ! I was not going to stand by and let him use those with this outfit!
"Umm, Big Mac? Would you be opposed to me applying the cosmetics? I would love to complete the look, if you do not mind," I coaxed him.
"Oh, I do not wish to impose on ya," he answered, humbly.
"It's no imposition! I like to stretch my skills as a make up artist every now and then! It would be fun," I assured him.
"Well, if ya truly don't mind," he said (thank Celestia.)
Well today was the day, he came to the boutique in the afternoon and I went to work.
We cinched his figure and put him in the dress. Then I put the wig on him. To make his face appear smaller, I positioned the hairline a little lower than where it is naturally. This would make his eyes appear larger as well.
I had made a few delicate fabric flowers, which I placed in her hair, and added a couple to the neckline as well. They add a lovely feminine touch and they bring the colours together quite nicely. Also a bracelet, for what is a queen without her jewels? 💎💎💎
We chose a dark cherise hoofpolish, which makes her hooves appear smaller. I also used a darker red eyeshadow and lipstick, MUCH better than the pastels he wore before. And as the finishing touch, the biggest, longest, most luscious false eyelashes to really make those green eyes stand out!
And here my darling Gems, is the completed look of miss Orchard Blossom!
I accompanied her to the Starlight Club, and oh the Ooohs and Aaaahs that followed us!
When we got there, her family was already present. And their reactions to her appearance were absolutely golden! Apple Bloom would not stop squealing and bouncing around. Applejack looked as though her eyes would pop out, her mouth hanging open. Granny Smith said "well, I always knew the mares in the Apple family are the greatest beauties around!" And Sugar Belle was blushing and giggling, lamenting how she was no longer "the pretty one." Miss Blossom assured her that this was not the case, and left a slight lipstick mark on her cheek.
And it was a delightful evening!
There were many very talented kings and queens, doing all sorts of numbers, some funny, some dramatic, some touching. The costumes were splendid and many were very imaginative, like the queen dressed as the Purple Pony Eater!
Orchard Blossom started with a really funny story about trying to find heels in her size and then sang a truly wonderful country song medley. She garnered a loud round off applause and cheers, deservedly so.
It seemed like she had a lot of fun, so who knows? Maybe miss Blossom will make another appearance sooner or later
Well that is my story for today.
How about you my sweet Gems? Have you ever done drag or gone to a drag show?
As ever, leave a Miss Rarity comment below, and I will do my utmost to answer
Hope you have the most marvelous day today, and do something fun and creative!
Kisses and Glitter,
Rarity
Author's Note
Hello again, after a long long time! I'm really sorry I haven't been adding chapters in such long time, or gotten back to the Gala outfit thing. These past months I have been through a lot of personal issues, which severely depleted my energy. Also I've been kind on a drawing kick and I've wanted to do that more than write for awhile.
The picture of Orchard Blossom, as well as the designing process, is something I did as part of a series of pictures I've been making I call pony makeovers. I take a character and design an outfit for them and draw it on Gimp. I post them on DeviantArt under #ponymakeover as well as the Art for Fanfiction group.
I actually have made many many drag costumes in real life, so the ways I feminized Big Mac are actual things drag queens do. Except lowering the hairline. Human drag queens accomplish the same effect by hiding their natural eyebrows under make up, and drawing new ones higher. This gives them more space to do a dramatic eye make up and it changes the proportions of the face.
Also I'm a HUGE RuPaul's Drag Race fan, and I based the look on RuPaul's outfits with hair by Mathu Andersson and gowns by Zaldy.
