"PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Fashion Memoir, 70 Years..."

 My book is published. It is my legacy to all of you in fashion - of Design, Education, Engineering, Manufacturing & Technology. Remember that the past teaches the present how to redesign the future. Not only is it directed to help you develop and grow, but also the proceeds will go to scholarships in fashion. You can buy it at http://www.pastpresentfuturebook.com

Please come to the next great event of my Boston Fashion Meetup, at WeWork, 625 Mass Ave. Cambridge, Aug. 22, 2018. First I will read and demo my book, then we will have great networking with ten well-known and in diverse aspects of the fashion industry. It is free, but you need an ID to get in to the building. More info. at https://www.meetup.com/BostonFashion/

We look forward to seeing you all there. Best wishes to all, Shirley

                                      

MY FAMOUS BALL COAT IN 1968

As I was searching through some recent folders I came across this ball coat worn by Vogue Italia editor, Franca Sozzani - in a photo of the Boston Globe, March 29, 2012. I certainly beat the timing of her ball coat with my ball coat designed in a collection in 1968. I designed the white mink helmet and the "boottops over shoes" to go with - very 1960s.
Please remember we are still open to more students to learn fashion design patterns online free, and cooperate with us on a book. For more information email

fashionclass@shirleywillett.com

And please comment. 

“Making It “ In Fashion Design

  After responses to our first brochure, we are sending a new brief one with photo explanations.

How Do You “Make It “ In Fashion Design?

Be a part of writing an exciting fashion design book. Designers, consumers, students and beginners (who sew), who would like to learn online free by cooperating with Shirley Willett, www.shirleywillett.com, a well- known industry expert in creative design, pattern engineering, manufacturing, and education. Her unique methods are needed to make it, have been tested over 60 years, and are easy, fun and rewarding. We start with brief and introductory Foundation Design Skills that prepare you for our methods: Inner Visualization, Manual Skills, Creativity in every step, Self-Evaluation techniques, etc. Then we go to in depth lessons: Templates that make perfect first patterns ready for production, simple Pattern manipulation techniques, methods for Draping creative styles, Truing for accuracy, and many special lessons on Bodices, Skirts, Dresses, Sleeves, Collars, Blazer, Pants, etc.

Email fashionclass@shirleywillett.com to request becoming a part of our cooperative book effort, telling us about yourself, and what you want to learn.

How Do You “Make It “ In Fashion design?

How Do You “Make It “ In Fashion design?

        Be a part of writing a special book. You learn fashion design and pattern making free online from Shirley Willett, a well- known industry expert in creative design, pattern engineering and manufacturing. Website: www.shirleywillett.com.

We learn by cooperation and begin with Foundation Design Skills needed in many industries: automobiles, aerospace, architecture, and fashion clothing. They relate to the making of a creative product, are easily achieved, and make learning and designing fun and rewarding. Then we advance to specific fashion skills in depth: Templates, Pattern making, Draping, Truing, Sleeves, Collars, etc.

 

Why a book? Shirley Willett answers:

After selling my high fashion design & manufacturing business in the early 80s, I went back to teaching and wanted to share the knowledge and expertise from experiences. I wrote a book, “Let’s Design A Dress”. It had to be taken off the market after using some of its innovations in three engineering design grant awards from the National Science Foundation.

Throughout these years I mentored many protégés, some of whom have been very successful. I discovered that certain approaches to fashion and technical design are needed to make it, but are not taught in fashion schools and colleges – leading to another book idea.

The book will be cooperation with protégés, designers, consumers, and even beginners (who sew). To those of you especially who would like to become designers, possible protégés, & better consumers, please become a part of producing our exciting, authentic book. 

How do you start?

            First, email fashionclass@shirleywillett.com and subscribe to postings of lessons, to be sure you get each posting as they are created. Each post will be a lesson, with the first five being the FDS (Fundamental Design Skills). You can respond by email to fashionclass@shirleywillett.com with questions and comments, and let us know if there is anything more that could help you with learning on this particular lesson. If you send pictures, it is best by email. If a reply needs pictures and will be good for others as well, it will go into the book with your name (if you choose). If it is more personal and no pictures are needed we will reply to you personally. If personal and requires pictures in the explanation, we will charge a small fee to develop them specifically for you. We look forward to some great teamwork on the book. Eventually we can work together to develop your ideas into beautiful, producible, marketable styles at affordable prices – as the book is written.