bellissimacouturefashions

People have been asking me to make something for Poppy, so today I had a look at my models to see who inspired me.  This is the beauty who appealed to me, and I chose this favorite Liberty of London Tana lawn in Rosa to make her a lovely dress for spring.  The style is a drop-waisted bubble dress with a rolled collar in bright pink silk.  A large pink silk bow decorates the waist.

Although I made this dress with Miss Poppy in mind, it will also fit Silkstones and Victoire.

If you are interested in purchasing this fashion, please email me

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

$75.00

An elegant new suit, with intricate seaming, peplum and contrasting shawl collar.  The fabric is a pale pink silk satin brocade scattered with tiny flowers in black, white and dark pink.  A jaunty black silk bow decorates the waist and an extravagant black floral picture hat finishes the look with style.

If you are interested in purchasing this suit, please email me at

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

$110.00

I have been waiting for months for the new Cocktail Silkstone to arrive.  I knew exactly what I wanted to make for her.  She came on Friday, and I took a quick break from making Swan dresses to make these two fashions, inspired by her sparkling makeup and platinum hair.  The colors are black, silver and lavender, which also happen to suit my other current favorite model; Boater Silkstone.

The suit is made from a striking silk tussah fabric in the black and white color scheme that is so popular this Spring.  A silver thread woven throughout adds sparkle.  Tiny faceted silvered jet buttons lend shine to the front of the jacket and a Swarovski crystal brooch in smoked crystal decorates the collar.  A lavender silk dupioni bow belt accents the waist.  A pillbox hat with point d’esprit veil and lavender bow is a stylish finish to this glamorous suit.

The companion cocktail dress is made from the same lavender silk dupioni, with a black and silver lace overlay.  A large bow accented with an Aurora Borealis Swarovski crystal brooch accents the shoulder.

If you are interested in purchasing either of these fashions, please email me at

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

Suit: $110.00

Cocktail Dress: $75.00

I realized yesterday that it has been a long time since I have shown my Monograms any love, so this suit is for them.  I am using Jubilation Monogram as my model, who visited the spa of Maryann Roy for a new hairstyle.

This stylish little number is made of a vivid chartreuse silk brocade.  The sash is made from a deep purple silk dupioni.  The purple of the sash is picked up in the cluster of purple violets decorating the pillbox hat.  Rhinestone buttons add sparkle to the front of the jacket.

This suit fits the smaller busted dolls such as Monograms, Poppy Parker and  Nu Face.  If you would like one made to order to fit the larger busted dolls, I am happy to do so. 

If you are interested in purchasing this fashion, please email me

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

$110.00 (edition of 3) SOLD OUT

The tale of the beautiful princess Odette who is transformed into a white swan by the curse of an evil sorcerer is drawn from Russian folklore.  Odette is mirrored by her nemesis and alter ego, the black swan Odile.  The two swans are two sides of the same coin; white and black, good and evil.  Both are heartrendingly beautiful.

These special dresses from Bellissima Couture are an homage to this beautiful and haunting folktale.  Each dress is made from pure silk dupioni and feature a close fitting, dropped waist bodice with a halter neckline.  The ruffled skirts are made of silk chiffon roses.  A lavish bow with Swarovski crystal brooch detail decorates the bodice.

If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these fashions, please email me

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

Le Cygne Noir: $75.00 (Edition of 8) SOLD OUT

Le Cygne Blanc: $75.00 (Edition of 8) SOLD OUT

We have been enjoying Spring here in Portland for over a month now and the lilacs are out!  Back in New England, we wouldn’t get lilacs until the middle of of May, so this is a call for celebration!  This silk suit pays tribute to the Lilac, one of Spring’s most fragrant flowers.  The fabric is a lilac silk brocade woven with robin’s egg blue flowers, creating a striking color marriage. 

The slim sheath dress has a cummerbund and bow detail in Robin’s Egg Blue silk dupioni.  The cropped swing coat is fully lined in the same blue silk and sparkles with tiny crystal buttons and a Swarovski crystal brooch on the collar.

An extravagant flower hat tops off the ensemble.

This fashion is created by hand from pure silk fabrics.  Any irregularities in the weave of the fabrics are part of the appearance of natural silk and should not be considered flaws.

If you are interested in purchasing this fashion, please email me at

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

$110.00 (edition of 4) SOLD OUT

Fresh from Paris, this lavishly embroidered silk dupioni is some of the most beautiful (and expensive) fabric I have ever seen.  I have been dreaming about what to do with it ever since it came into my hot little hands.  The color is the palest pink embroidered with elaborate cherry blossoms in shades of mauve, pale pink and coral.  I have hand beaded the center of the blooms with pearls for an added element of decadence.

The jacket is fitted, with a peplum and shawl collar.  This suit has two skirt options;  the slim fitting pencil skirt or a lavish fantasy of tulle.  The tulle skirt has a dropped yoke waist to prevent bulk at the waist line and there are six layers of pale pink and rose tulle.  Each layer is slashed at irregular intervals to give the affect of petals.

A small coral rose fascinator with rose and pale pink tulle completes the ensemble.

NOTE: The fabric from which this fashion is made is hand woven silk dupioni and has the slubs and irregularities that are characteristic of real silk dupioni. 

If you are interested in purchasing this fashion, please email me

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

Suit with either skirt: $115.00 SOLD OUT

Suit with both skirts: $150.00  SOLD OUT

Hello Friends.  Our first Spring here in the Pacific Northwest is a beautiful one indeed and I have been drawn to working with florals and silks in bright colors.  I hope that you enjoy these pretty dresses and find something that appeals to you!

HAPPY SPRING!

If you are interested in purchasing any of these fashions, please email me at

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Paris was a visit to the fabric district in Montmartre.  I went to two shops, Reine and Marche St. Pierre.  There was so much that I wanted to buy that I felt quite light headed!  Reine offered dozens of Liberty of London prints that I had never seen or been able to find before.  I limited myself to only 5, and it was not easy, let me tell you.  I am presenting a bouquet of party dresses in these spring prints below.  Each dress bears the name of the Liberty print from which it was made.

Rosa

$75.00 Edition of 3

SOLD OUT

Claire Aude

$75.00

Watercolor Floral

$75.00 Edition of 3

SOLD OUT

Tatum

$75.00

This next party dress is made from a Burberry plaid silk in rose pink.  Tiny black silk bows decorate the shoulders and a black net petticoat peeks out from the hemline.

Burberry Rose Party Dress

$75.00 SOLD OUT (for the moment)

The sweet silk gingham Spring Bouquet Sheaths that I posted the other day were a big hit, so I am now offering six more colors.

Spring Bouquet: Lamb’s Ear

$65.00

Spring Bouquet: Peony

$65.00

Spring Bouquet: Grass

Spring Bouquet: Cyclamen

Spring Bouquet: Bluebell

$65.00

Spring Bouquet: Buttercup

$65.00

I adore Paris. 

Its fashion, food, architecture and art are a constant inspiration to me.  So I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world since I just spent 10 days there.  After a week of visiting art museums, the Palace of Versailles, drinking the best hot chocolate in Paris at Angelina and numerous visits to Laduree for their divine macarons, the finale was the Paris Doll Festival. I had a table in the salesroom and indulged myself by making some of my favorite styles. 

I have a few fashions left and am offering them here.  I hope you enjoy them!

If you are interested in purchasing any of these fashions, please email me at

hildaewestervelt@gmail.com

Marie

Can we talk about how divine Marie Antoinette is?  The colors I associate with the French Rococo are white, gold and pale blue.  This sheath is a gorgeous gilded eyelet with a blue silk sash and bow at the waist.  A gold and crystal floral brooch picks up the subtle golden sheen of the fabric.

$65.00 SOLD

La Confiserie

A Bellissima Couture favorite, this pale pink silk taffeta party dress is Parisian perfection.  The dropped waist bodice has off the shoulder bows and flows into a full skirt.  Black tulle peeks out from the hemline.

$75.00

Moulin Rouge

So feminine and lovely, this fashion features an off the shoulder peplum top with ruched bust and a tulle ruffle at the hem.  A slim skirt is the perfect complement.  The fabric is a cream figured silk.  A silk bow belt accentuates the waist.  Available in cream with pale pink and cream with pale blue.

$75.00

1 pink and 1 blue still available.

Tender Buttons

A lovely print of cream colored vintage buttons on a rose pink background makes up the swing coat of this ensemble, which is lined in creamy silk satin.  Pink pearl buttons decorate the coat.  An embroidered cream silk sheath decorated with a rose pink silk bow at the bust line completes the ensemble.

$120.00

Spring Bouquet

An adorable sheath dress in silk gingham with a ruched cummerbund in white silk.  A flirty nosegay of vintage spring flowers accented with a bow detail decorates the waist.  Available in purple and turquoise checked silks.

$65.00  SOLD OUT

Rose Medallion

The combination of duck egg blue and pink is very French, as is the motif of a rose medallion.  This divine little sheath dress has a lovely silk sash and bow detail at the waist.

$65.00 SOLD

J’adore Laduree

If you know me at all, you know that I am obsessed with French Macarons, those delightful confections that are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.  The Mecca of the French Macaron is Laduree, which I visited 3 times during my stay in Paris.  This beautiful fabric is imported from Japan and is sprinkled with colorful macarons.

$65.00 SOLD

In the Garden

This springy sheath is in a green tea fabric with a bright pink pattern of flowers and birds and a brilliant pink silk ruched cummerbund.

$65.00 SOLD

Provencal

A vivid floral print of red, black and white accented at the waist with a black and white checked silk sash.

$65.00 SOLD

Strawberry Thief

This Liberty of London Tana Lawn is one of the oldest patterns in the Liberty collection. This colorway is black with a dusky purple and touches of spring green.  A broad sash in purple silk accents the waist and dusky purple tulle peeks out from the hemline.

$75.00

Ellie Ruth

This retro floral dating to 1961 is part of Liberty’s Spring 2012 collection.  The colors are so unusual; red, French blue, turquoise and teal, perfect for a picnic by the Seine!  A dark red silk belt accents the waist.

$75.00 SOLD