The First Sash of 2024
Well the new year is off to an incredible start and with it has stepped out in style with the 2024 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping.
One of our MCD women and my daughter Kerrie Carucci was wrapped in the first sash of 2024 wearing a custom MCD dress.
Well the new year is off to an incredible start and with it has stepped out in style with the 2024 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping.
One of our MCD women and my daughter Kerrie Carucci was wrapped in the first sash of 2024 wearing a custom MCD dress.
2024 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping Fashions on the Field Winners with judges Rebecca Harding & Elliot Garnut
Image credit - Azar Images
The Outfit
Taking inspiration from Pantone Colour of the year - Peach Fuzz, this custom made MCD dress started with the stunning peach coloured fabric sourced from The Fabric Store in Brisbane. With the cottton polyster composition and cross grain detail, this fabric was perfect for a polo approporiate summer dress.
With a collaborative design with Kerrie, this dress formed the perfect proportions of simplistic elegance and on trend.
Kerrie styled the look with a custom Stacey Hemera Roberts hat with a truly contemporary structure and accessories from her wardrobe for this balanced, sash worthy look!
Image credit - The Blachat
Image credit - Azar Images
Are you ready to step out and style in custom, one off and individual garment for 2024?
Behind The Seams: On The Winning QLD Sash
An insight of the progress of creating the winning outfit for 2020 Myer Fashions On Your Front Lawn QLD State Finalist for Kerrie Carucci.
An insight of the progress of creating the winning outfit for 2020 Myer Fashions On Your Front Lawn QLD State Finalist!
My passion for sewing and creativity began in my teenage years and from very humble beginnings. With that it was crafted around problem solving and the challenge of my mum’s treadle sewing machine. Together with my older sister we would create our outfits for school dances and as they were known back then cabarets. We had the most amazing haberdashery store for the small country town of Dimbulah and a supportive mum who allowed us to freely purchase our fabrics for the next creation.
The Bond that Stitched us together
As any mother knows the birth of a child is like no other and your first is certainly a new experience of unconditional love, challenges, countless joyful moments and rewarding milestones created and are treasured forever.
The sewing journey with my daughter Kerrie began the Xmas of the year before she was born, December 1988. My husband Tony and new dad-to-be gifted me with my very first overlocker machine. Surprised and feeling quite overwhelmed with this incredible gesture as I thought ‘when would I have the time with a newborn due in the next 4 months to find the time to sew?’
I used the last few months before I was to embark on my biggest, life changing role of becoming a mother to explore the offering of my new overlocker by creating unique maternity outfits, new born baby clothes and beautiful Nursery décor.
The day my beautiful baby girl was born, I was so captivated and overwhelmed with her beauty, dark full headed hair and outstanding tiny fingers, that my love for creation was sparked to begin sewing pretty dresses and hair accessories.
Kerrie loved dressing up too! She explored her childhood with her own individual and unique outfits and experimented with creating small like outfits for her dolls and scrunchies.
Her passion for fabric shopping was certainly instilled from an early age from our weekly visits to the amazing drapery stores within our small country town in Mareeba and later expanded when bigger department stores came to FNQ region.
The passion and love of individuality, expression of style, fabric and fashion ideas grew with her as she moved through her teenage years and into the woman she is today. With some of my fondest memories as a dressmaker, designer and her mum were many of her incredible fashions on the field outfits.
Kerrie’s innovative creative ideas has certainly had their own challenges, however without these challenges it would not have allowed me to push my boundaries and grow as a designer and seamstress in my own business. Fair to say she is my inspiration, confidant and my right hand woman.
Captured together at 2019 Cairns Amateurs Races. Both wearing Milva Carucci Design dresses.
The Dress That Represented QLD
The dress that won Kerrie the title and sash of 2020 Flemington Myer Fashions on Your Front Lawn QLD Finalist, started like most of Kerrie’s previous ideas. There was a statement feature, with varying aspects of inspiration and ideas. For this dress, there was two key undeniable features; the collar and the amazing fabric. With a few variation of sketches and an extremely short time frame of only approximately 2 weeks and 2000kms between us both, we needed to work on style and we needed to work fast!
A couple of week’s prior, with her keen sourcing eye, Kerrie found the most incredible polyester stretch pique textured fabric. I loved it as it was such a unique shade and I’m very partial to blue personally, though it wasn’t a colour she had worn much of prior. The style of the dress came next. We decided on that a princess line style coming from the side and middle would create both structure and lines to create length on the body. The balance between the collar points, on trend statement sleeve was also balanced with the addition of the front split and added point of difference of the featured doubled pearl buttons.
The collar feature was a design element that she had loved for quite sometime and we had discussed the concept a few times. Kerrie knew how she wanted it to look but was unsure how the design would look, especially getting the proportions and points in the collar balanced with the depth and the entire dress style. This is where my expertise steps in. The collar was challenging to achieve the right proportions to Kerrie’s design and composition of the fabric. As with any final draft the question is it enough, do you add a double collar detail or add in another texture with lace or beading? Both the possibilities and thoughts are endless though ultimately the end decision has to feel right for the wearer.
Having the distance of 2000km between us creates it’s own visible challenges, but thankfully for today’s technology facetime, videos and imessage it aids as an incredible tool. This method of communicating is something I’ve become very accustomed to working virtually as 80% of my clients are from all over Australia and New Zealand. With just enough time to spare, all three self designed outfits of Kerrie’s were mailed off thanks to Australia Post to arrive in Brisbane for Kerrie to have enough time to finish styling the completed looks and submit her photo entries.
The Winning Outfit Details
Together with her self designed dress, Kerrie carried the on trend emphasis of pearl embellishments throughout the outfit. Complementing the dress with a gorgeous custom millinery piece from Allport Millinery which included over 30 handcut white daises made from crystoform and centred with pearl details.
Finishing the look with a statement pearl belt and bag to finish the look. Kerrie’s beautiful imagery was snapped by Grace Elizabeth Images in a gorgeous architectural backdrop, sporting a little Brisbane street style.
Announcement Day
Saturday 24th November was the official day when Kerrie could finally announce this incredibly exciting news! This was a dream come true and I was so incredibly excited and proud to have been part of this journey! She had done it!
Years of fashions on the field, creative ideas, designs, entering and expressing her style, this outfit was a ‘sash winner’ the days following this was a rollercoaster of excitement. I flew down the following weekend to support Kerrie through an amazing opportunity to film with Channel 10 for Melbourne Cup Carnival coverage and also share this beautiful moment together. You can watch the interview segment here.
Kennedy Oaks Day came around and it was time for the live broadcast announcement of the National competition. This year’s Myer Fashions On Your Front Lawn competition was to celebrate is the pinnacle of racing fashion and for the fashions on the field community held so much emphasis in the Melbourne Cup Carnival and a positive reason to get dressed up after such a tough year for so many. Whilst Kerrie unfortunately didn’t take out the National State on Kennedy Oaks Day, this is an experience of a lifetime! To be recognised together with my daughter at this level in racing fashion and achieve this prestigious accolade is truly a dream come true and makes me so proud of how far we have both come from our humble beginnings and how much further we still have left to go! I’m so excited for what’s next!
Milva x
Kerrie Carucci - 2020 Myer Fashions On Your Front Lawn QLD Finalist
image: Tara Croser for The Courier Mail
Winter Is Coming
I had released my Autumn collection 2 weeks prior to social distancing taking effect and cancellation of all social events; including race meets, weddings, formals, debutante ball. With strict social distancing restrictions from seeing clients, I was left feeling uncertain and in a quite the panic. My expectation of how busy these three months were going to be as we moved into Autumn/Winter racing and life moments, soon changed to ‘How am I going to keep the creativity and memento going and really what to do?’
How quickly did that change!
With less than 2 weeks until the end of Autumn and Winter on it’s way, I have being reflecting on the impact COVID has had on my business plan, workload and how I have had to adapt over the past few weeks.
I had released my Autumn collection 2 weeks prior to social distancing taking effect and cancellation of all social events; including race meets, weddings, formals, debutante ball. With strict social distancing restrictions from seeing clients, I was left feeling uncertain and in a quite the panic. My expectation of how busy these three months were going to be as we moved into Autumn/Winter racing and life moments, soon changed to ‘How am I going to keep the creativity and memento going and really what to do?’
How quickly did that change!
I was so grateful through these times that my valued clients were still supporting me and choosing to continue with the creation of their custom piece, putting them on hold rather than cancelling or purchasing from my Autumn Ready To Wear collection. With COVID cases increasing by the hour it was in the first stages that hygiene in all areas was now a high priority. I found myself thinking how do I help my community or more so adapt my sewing skills to able to help other? It was apparent through social media channels and conversations that there was a need for sustainable face masks to assist with these social distancing measures. I decided to take action and completely stepping outside my comfort zone, I put up my first personal video to market face masks. The response was overwhelming and my uncertainty changed quickly to how amazing it felt to be able to help to provide masks to my community which soon extended to people from all over Australia!
It was a busy 2 to 3 weeks whom without my family’s support for which I am so grateful for, stepped up to help handle the influx and it would not have been possible. In addition to the face masks, I also made shopping trolley handle covers and to also serve a purpose of working from home and fuel my creativity, I created the ISO-wrap dress.
It was so rewarding to be able to utilise the skills that I have for a greater purpose. It certainly made me realise that they should never to taken for granted and I heartily thank my local community and MCD client community for their continued support! My creative spirit continued as the isolation gave me extra time to think, sketch ideas, source fabric and utilise my fabric stock I had collected for pieces over the duration of this year.
COVID couldn’t stop my creativity, I had to choose to be creative!
This gorgeous wrap dress below was a project of creativity and passion as I made it as a sample for Kerrie’s birthday, as a versatile piece she could stylishly wear for her new working from home arrangements. The comfortable style of a wrap dress combined with a cotton linen in an Autumn print and colour palette made this dress perfect to wear and stylish for any Zoom meetings or video conferences.
Kerrie Carucci wearing our signature wrap dress style in an autumnal linen print.
Styling it with versatility to take you from Autumn to Winter and from day to night.
And the creativity keep flowing….
My latest design ‘Maia’ dress was inspired from the Hannah dress from our autumn collection with a sleeve variation. The textured brocade fabric and colour palette in the print and with a contrast reversible colour, I knew would be the perfect design to bring it to life! The style is complimentary to all body shapes, the crossover front draws the eye down, the self belt cinching in your waist and the semi flared skirt creates flattering balance to the silhouette and is comfortable to wear. This dress is classic though so versatile and adaptable to wear to many functions eg: formal attire, weddings, race wear or more so your first social function.
We all really want to be looking our best for our first post-isolation event, so this is like a bit of a coming out dress!
If you have been thinking about a custom made piece or want advice on what styles suit you then I would love to chat to you further! Take this opportunity for gather your thoughts and think about how you want to step out for your next event!
Until next time
Milva xx
I Made Your Clothes
Fashion Revolution Week is a campaign to allow consumers to ask #whomademyclothes and also urging brands, creatives and designers to show the transparency of their manufacturing process.
Fashion Revolution Week is a global movement that encourages you as a consumer to get curious about brands and designers that you love, look into your wardrobe and ask the question around ‘who made my clothes’.
Through this movement, Fashion Revolution as an organisation has a vision for the global fashion industry. To conserve and restore the environment and values of people over growth. It is driving the importance of transparency in the industry and bringing awareness around the impacts of fast fashion.
Milva Carucci is the founder and designer/dressmaker of Milva Carucci Designs
As both a small business and Australian designer/dressmaker, I’m so proud to be able to bring my clients a true ‘heart to hand’ manufacturing process. Milva Carucci Designs was built around the purpose of ‘providing every woman the chance to look and feel amazing in a one-off outfit’ and with that we have been able to maintain a positive position in the fashion industry. With each ready to wear piece and exclusive custom made outfit, we can ensure that excess waste from production doesn’t occur.
Made to order custom made garments allow you to have a beautiful piece that will serve purpose in timeless style and allowing you to know that you are purchasing sustainable and support Australian designers. Each piece has the fabric individually sourced either locally or within Australia, that is produced in our head quarters here in Mareeba, Far North Queensland by Milva.
As a consumer you have the power to support get curious about brands you are purchasing from, to support amazing Australian designers and businesses as much as possible and ultimately create an emphasis on the manufacturing that occurs in our country.
You have the buying power to make this global movement a revolution!
Want to find out how you can have your own custom made design?
Find out more here!
Summer 2020 - All Wrapped Up
Milva wraps up Summer 2020 and some of her client’s gorgeous MCD outfits!
Where does the time go!
We're already in March and the start of a new decade and it has been a busy 3 months here at MCD HQ. Wrapping up the summer season and taking a moment to reflect on some of the amazing one-off outfits that have been created for clients and the ever growing community of our MCD women in a few ready to wear pieces.
Kerrie
My first creation for a new decade was for Kerrie who attended the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo on the Gold Coast. Her amazing outfit and styled by her as she so beautifully always does, saw her take home the Magic Millions Polo Runner Up sash. So super proud of her efforts and making her custom made MCD outfit come to life.
The end product of any custom made is admired but so much planning and time is spent beforehand sourcing fabric, finalising style specifics and creating the perfect final look.
Though what is the process for a custom made piece you may ask?
Kerrie’s inspiration from the trending 80’s silhouettes and features was where the style began. Her love for the shirt style dress evolved to incorporate the drop waist skirt that was a feature we had used and drew inspiration from her winning Stradbroke Cup Day outfit. The trending exaggerated sleeve and fitted long cuff was another aspect we incorporated into the design to create balance and also complimented the use of fabric as a point of interest.
The fabric choice on any MCD designs is never taken lightly and one of the most challenging parts of curating a custom made outfit. At times you find the perfect print or colour tone though it may not be the right fabric composite to execute the final look. Having experience and expertise of over 30 years of dressmaking assists in combating this challenge and like in this case with Kerrie's fabric. Kerrie sourced the beautiful Italian linen which worked beautifully for the skirt but didn't have the structure for the bodice. Additional extra fabric was added to give the silhouette and we decided to create a component of illusion dressing by so cleverly utilising the stripe to be cut on the cross to draw the eye down the body in a flattering angled line.
The following weekend saw Kerrie attend The Star Magic Millions Races. A very prestigious summer race event on the Gold Coast that is renowned for it's bright colours and high level of executed fashion.
Kerrie’s outfit was a beautiful style born from making use of an unusual designer brocade fabric in a vibrant pink and white thistle like print. Combining both existing signature styles with a fresh new take, of statement sleeve and a squared low backline. The final look was certainly a standout, with a contrasted emerald green and texture white headpiece by Allport Millinery. Undoubtedly, this fresh new look placed Kerrie in Top 10 at Pacific Fair Fashions on The Field.
Brenda
Brenda attended a local country race meet on the same day as Magic Million’s Raceday! She wore a fresh custom take on our signature style ‘Lilla’ to a local race meet that was also a joint celebration of a blue themed family members 21st birthday.
The fabric was a stand by I had sourced a few months back and perfect colour tones for what Brenda needed. We opted to contrast the print with a white organza for a fresh and summer look! Brenda was so pleased with the end result especially with the stretch in the fabric and feel of the silky satin fabric.
Brenda & her daughter Zoe - Both wearing custom Milva Carucci Designs outfits
Sally
Sally purchased our ‘Rosa’ dress from our summer ready to wear collection. The beautiful shade of pink variegated and green detail brocade fabric had a stunning glitz finish that demands attention! In a classic A-line style and knotted circular flared sleeve was a feature that dress Sally to make this dress her own! With a real art of being able to match her outfits with the perfect matching accessories and winning style led her to win Champion of the Day.
Sally wearing her Ready To Wear ‘Rosa’ Dress
Emma
Ironically on the same weekend my other client Emma also placed in her age group.
Her beautiful fabric was sourced by Emma herself and she engaged with my expertise on choosing a style that would fit and flatter her body shape. I suggested a flare skirt to show off the extent and beauty of the bold print to it fullest! Emma loved Our signature puffy sleeve with an added cuff and the back style of Kerrie Magic Millions bodice.
Emma wearing custom made MCD dress and winning
Thoughts and inspiration become curated ideas that is something that forms and fits every woman's silhouette. By creating a piece that is individual, a style that is uniquely you, a custom made dress is something like no other.
Milva xx