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!

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

THE RACE TO THE FINISHING POST

Where has the this year gone?

It feels like only yesterday that Milva (mum) and I planning were my Magic Millions outfit at the start of January! Though here we are now, at the end of October and the race to the finish post  (that being the pinnacle of Spring Racing Season - Flemington Melbourne Cup Carnival) is on!!! 

What has been a crazy, creative, rewarding yet busy year so far for Milva Carucci Designs it goes without saying it has been an exciting one!

So many wonderful clients, Australia wide being able to partake in the amazing soul, bursting experience of owning their very first custom outfit or simply bringing to life by their visionary of inspiration or requirement!
Spring is the season of weddings, engagements, baby showers, births, school formals and of course spring carnival races across Australia. Here's a bit of a recap on the past two months of a few of the gorgeous client's in their spring custom made outfits in the lead up to Melbourne Cup Carnival!

To kick off the Spring Racing Season Cairns Amateurs was first on the calender. Renowned for bringing together the colour, fun and festivities encompassing the reef to the races it consists of two major days of racing and some fierce FNQ Fashions on the Field Competition. 

Friday 1st of September was Ladies Day which is made up of classic racewear, fun lines and delving into on trend components. 

Chermay looked absolutely amazing in a European summer inspired outfit taking highlight to the ever present off the shoulder trend and incorporating flattering stripes with contract floral components. 

When you have a winning ensemble in your wardrobe why not make the most it! Lucy, so on trend on this black and metallic combo!

▫️▪️NOtNoNothNothing like classic black and white! 
Gorgeous Daleena in her custom white dress
Complemented by Sonlia Millinery
 

The second day of the festivities is Amateur Cup Day. More spring colour and celebrations continue with fashion, races and flowing champagne! 

It's not all hard work and no play though! Milva was able to enjoy a day at the track with her dapper husband. It is always nice to be able to catch up with client's on the day and see their amazing outfits all come together!

Everyone looked so very amazing with Bella's gorgeous grey and cream print classic style dress with a twist made the Finals for the fashion on the field in the Under 30 category. 

When you have just such stylish parents! Milva looking spring and floral 

Complemented by Sonlia Millinery 

Gorgeous Bella in her amazing classic twist dress making the Finals of Fashions on the Field

Complemented by Sonlia Millinery

And everyone loves a bit of dress twirling action !

Lucy looking bright and fun in a gorgeous African inspired skirt with a classic twist 

Catching up with gorgeous clients 

With Spring now in full swing........ the race days were to follow on the Atherton Tablelands & Mareeba.

Below is a snippet of Milva Carucci Design's stunning client's in their custom pieces! 

Meanwhile, down in south east Queensland the southern spring racing carnival kicked off. 
I attended the Pink Ribbon Cup Day down on the Gold Coast. With such a worthy cause with all proceeds going towards the National Breast Cancer Association, it's always a good excuse to frock up in over the top pink and enjoy a day in the sunshine with friends over a few champers!

Keeping the style quite simple to let the vibrant fuschia pink digital floral print fabric shine, we opted for a boat neck fitted bodice with a gusset flared skirt dress. Complete with a vintage boater with a last minute addition of white veiling and pink braiding to pull the whole look together! 

At Pink Ribbon Cup Day 

And back up in FNQ, Innisfail Annuals was held. From what would be quite a wet race day (in true Innisfail style), the ever gorgeous Lucy was absolutely beaming in her bright yellow jacquard off the shoulder dress! Absolutely stunning style on her and with a pop of colour demanded spring attention! She made Top 6 in the Under 30's category and won Best Millinery! 

Lucy at Innisfail Annuals
Photo courtesy of Heather York

Lucy winning Best millinery and also making Top 6 Under 30's category

As the start of Brisbane Racing Club's spring carnival events kicked off on the 15th of October, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to have a bit of a Melbourne Cup Carnival warm up! 

Being the National Breast Cancer Awareness Pink day, the theme was a touch of pink. Rewearing one of my favourite dresses, I had Amy from Pink Lane Hats whip me up this amazing large brim boater. Keeping with on trend metallic rose gold, accessories complimented that. It was a fantastic day at the track catching up with friends and even making it into the finals for the Fashions on the Field. 

National Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Day was themed a touch of pink 

Millinery by Pink Lane Hats

With Melbourne Cup carnival in full swing there was no real time to prepare for last weekend's SUEZ Cox Plate so this was a bit of a throw together outfit! With the fashions on the field themed 'Embellishments & Individuality', this was a skirt I wore over the winter carnival with an off the shoulder flounce sleeve. Complete with a laser cut piece by Danica Erard millinery. 

SUEZ Cox Plate day where the theme was embellishment and individuality 

Millinery by Danica Erard Millinery 

A very brief overview of the wonderful Milva Carucci Designs client's over the start of spring! 

As you can see it has been a very busy few months in preparation though now it's time for mum to have a well deserved holiday as we head off to Melbourne for a week filled with fashion, Flemington, horses, food and the amazing Melbourne culture! Stay tuned for the Spring Carnival Wrap up on our return to give you a full run down on our spring carnival outfit preparations!

So until then follow both myself and Milva Carucci Designs on social media for all the live updates on all things fashion at Flemington, links are below! 

Kerrie xx