What fun! While here in Houston - on our day of fun between the wholesale market (where I had my first ever booth to sell my Creative Sweatshirt Jacket books, patterns) and the Houston Quilt Festival (retail extravaganza), my associate Glenda and I took in not only 2 wonderful fabric 'heavens', but around the corner from the first one we found LOT 8 - Chloe Dao's boutique. That is Chloe - as winner of one season of Project Runway! What a delight to have her sister, Sydney, help us - personally! She showed us all around and shared generously about learning to sew from their Mother, showing us detail on the new line for Fall, etc. In this picture of me with the mannequins at the shop, I'm wearing a silk charmeuse top (backless pretty much) that Sydney showed us as one of the favorite of Choe's designs. Their Mother had her own alterations shop - and retired now to do the sewing for Chloe's line along with another of the sisters. Another lady who helps do the sewing - I wish I could sit at her elbow because she does the most wondeful LITTLE double-turned little hems on all the silk...and it is not any of the numberous sewing techniques that I have learned.
Chloe has gone very geometric for her fall line. See the skirt I'm holding above in the picture with Sydney. The grey is a tiny bias grey silk piping in the geometric line. I asked about what kind of interfacing was used - and she said fusible - of a weight that gave the needed body. The insides were always of china silk, and absolutely flawless! All in all we were both amazed at the reasonable pricing on the garments for a designer boutique of this calilbre. If I really loved a garment and it fit - I would have no qualms about actually considering purchasing it. AND, I'm quite 'dutch' with my hard-earned $! Here's the back of that little skirt - I'm showing off the little pleats at the back of the skirt. 
Another picture here - I'm 'embedded' in the display - modeling an intriguing backless silk top that featured VERY big kimono sleeves. Honestly - if it weren't backless, I imagine it would be hanging here in my motel room waiting to go home to wear at holiday parties! 
The rings on this coat - are covered completely in fabric - bias I'm sure. This idea WILL end up on a Creative Sweatshirt Jacket, I'm sure. Then...I'll probably name that pattern Chloe. Snydney's friendliness and generosity in allowing us to take pictures was truly amazing!!! I met Chloe in Michigan last year at the American Sewing Expo at the Designer Challenge. I asked her how they could ever make garments that quickly - and she answered that the insides were SO unfinished, that we would find it hard to believe.
Chloe's line can't be called just 'Chloe' because of the objections of some designer by the same name. So her new line will be named Dao Chloe Dao - at least that's what this brain remembers. Her original garments in the boutique had the label in them "Lot 8" - which stands for the 8 sisters in the family. How cool is that?
The rest of the day found us at Universal Fabrics around the corner - where I started my 'hunt' for important fabrics for the upcoming wedding in our family. I found a luscious printed and beaded silk chiffon for my dress, samples for my daughter for her gown and the bridesmaids. Sew much excitement! At the other store - High Fashion Fabrics - where Chloe's sister told us to go - Glenda made some 'investments' in cottons, while I explored the rows and rows and rows of lovely solid fabrics in every possible color in every wonderful fabric. I have NEVER seen such a selection! Finding the coordinating fabric for my prized silk chiffon print was not hard at all here! And, a few more 1/8 yard cuts of samples to show my daughter. Truly a heavenly day for 2 sewing and fashion enthusiasts!
