There are lots of ways inspiration comes to a designer and one of my favourite dresses I love to make and wear time and again was ultimately inspired by the poem Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe.
I cannot really take full credit however. A few years ago, I worked on making some dresses for the very talented Costume Designer Sinead Skinner for a short film based on the poem, Annabel Lee. Set in the 1930's, I made a a couple of designs for the production but it was the wedding dress that I later developed into what I know today as the Annabel dress.
I have long been a fan of Poe's work, and, as a child, loved all the films based on his work starring Vincent Price but I had never read this poem, which is so beautiful.
So many little sparks of inspiration go into a mood board which eventually inspire design ideas or elements of an idea that continue to influence work even after many years.
Sinead sent me this wonderful image of PJ Harvey at the time of our working together and it has remained on my inspiration board ever since.
I had to make a second version of the dress, a stunt dress if you like, for under water scenes and this still from the film. Watch the trailer here.
Here's Myrtle May wearing the star print version of the Annabel dress. Missy is very unimpressed with all the candle wax melting everywhere!
The Annabel dress is one of the most comfortable and flattering dresses I have. It's one I'm always complimented on which is a lovely thing. At the time of writing this, I have 1 star print Annabel dress available in my shop and it's the only one there is! It's a size Medium which fits a size 12-14 and if you'd like to find out more, please see here.
I feel I need to go back to Edgar Allan Poe again and become more familiar with his work, so the complete works is on the top of my Christmas list this year.
I hope you enjoy this little glimpse at some of my work and feel equally inspired to seek out some of Mr Poe's writing, it really is very beautiful and moving. It's especially perfect by candlelight, with the storms gathering around the house whilst you're curled up under a blanket with a purring companion and Mr Poe's words for company.
I hope you're keeping cosy and well now the night is creeping in,
Tara x