San Diego Comic Con isn’t what immediately comes to mind when you think of high end couture. But Her Universe has created a place where designers can make their geek fashion dreams come true! The Her Universe Fashion Show celebrated it’s 5th year at San Diego Comic Con and brought together 24 incredible designs by 24 incredibly talented designers. That is where we saw Carina Langley-Lacy walking down the runway in her Doctor Who inspired gown called “Vincent & The Doctor”. We caught up with Carina to learn a little bit more about her and to talk geek, fashion and fandom!
Tell us a little about you and how you got started designing clothes?
When I was little I read the little house on the Prairie and fell in love with the idea of making clothing and gifts for myself and begged for my family to teach me how to sew. My Grandfather is the one who taught me how to sew, he and I have the same way of thinking we love to pull things apart to figure out how they are made. He and I would create little paper models so we could figure out the best way to build the design I had created. I began by making miniature clothes for my favorite stuffed animals, which then progressed into making my own clothes, my prom dress and costumes for my Theater in high school. It wasn’t until I went to school at FIDM for Fashion and Costume design that I learned how to make a real pattern and really began to hone my craft.
What is Claviole Couturiere?
Claviole Couturiere is my personal brand. The logo is comprised of flowers using the Victorian flower language. Cardinals for Distinction and Pride, Sunflowers for Gratitude and Appreciation, Marigolds for Creativity, Lupine for Imagination and Trumpet flowers for Success. I have created Claviole Couturiere to show off my work and to invite people to be inspired to create. I was inspired to create my own brand to follow my dream of changing the Image of Beauty the Media has created. I believe all bodies are beautiful no matter what shape or size and the only thing that matters is being happy in the body we have. I have designed and built costumes and clothes for people who vary in shapes and sizes.
How many times have you participated in the Her Universe Fashion Show?
This is my second year participating in the Her Universe Fashion Show. 2016 was my first year being a part of the show with my design inspired by the TV show RWBY that was created by Rooster Teeth on YouTube. I was unable to submit or participate in 2017 because I was a little busy planning my dream wedding, which only made me more excited to participate this year for the 2018 show. The design I created this year, “Vincent and the Exploding TARDIS” Dress, is one that I have been thinking about and designing in my head since the weekend after my first fashion show in 2016!
How did you get involved with the Her Universe Fashion Show?
Back when I was interning at J&M costumers, I had a friend who had been chosen to be a designer for the 2015 show. It was the first time I had heard of it, but at that moment I knew I needed to be a part of this amazing experience! I started designing a year in advance so I had time to perfect my designs. After that first year I fell in love with the show. It is an amazing venue to make lasting friendships, chase our dreams, show the world our passion and fandoms and build a welcoming community centered around geek fashion.
Can you tell us the story behind the pieces you designed for the Her Universe Fashion Show?
For the 2016 Fashion show I designed “Yang Xiao Long, From Ballroom to Battle” which was inspired by Yang in the show RWBY. Her semblance (or magic power) is to get stronger each time she is struck. She then uses that strength to fight back and win. It inspired me to be strong and to always get back up and fight for what I love. The dress design included layers of organza draped to create a full skirt and a suede corset with leather strapping.
For the 2018 Fashion show I designed “Vincent and the Exploding TARDIS” which was the fruit of 2 years of tweaking and designing. Every part of this dress can be traced back to Doctor Who. The shoes were TARDIS blue with red bow ties because, as the 11th Doctor says, “Bow ties are cool!” The dress was hand painted in the impressionist style inspired by the episode “Vincent and the Doctor”. The godets are painted to look like the Sunflowers Amy gave to Vincent. To really make these flowers come to life, I made flower petals and hand shaped them using a millinery flower making tool, and hand beaded the centers using sead beads along with 3 different light reflecting beads. The bottom of the dress is painted to look like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and the middle of the skirt is inspired by the painting Van Gogh makes in the show to Warn the Doctor of the “Exploding Tardis”. Under the Bust is the “Crack in the Wall” that is caused by the TARDIS exploding. The bodice is jagged pieces of the broken TARDIS that stand away from the body. Throughout the skirt are lights that mimic the stars in the sky, and the crack in the wall also lights up. I also included pockets in my design because you always need a place to keep your sonic screw driver! I loved creating this dress, there were so many techniques I had to use to accomplish the design I had envisioned and I am so proud of how it turned out!
What has the reaction to your designs been like?
This year so many people have expressed their love of my dress! I am so happy to have been able to share my love of Doctor who and my passion for creating with so many people. It is a humbling experience to be surrounded by so many talented people in the show and have fellow fans come up after the show asking for pictures and telling me how much they loved my dress and that I inspired them. It has been overwhelming but very heartwarming! The best reaction has to be when I got to meet the 13th Doctor backstage. They called me over saying Jodie had asked to see me, after I excitedly ran over to meet her she took one look at my dress and said “Well you’re Bloody Brilliant aren’t you?!” it was so much fun geeking out together about my dress and our sonic screwdrivers!
How long does it take you to prepare for an event like this? What is the process like for you?
We find out we are in the show at the end of April, so we have roughly 2 and a half months to build everything. I like to start immediately with draping and mock ups in the first few weeks, test dyeing or painting. Then it takes time finding the perfect fabrics and supplies, which is one of my favorite parts because I love doing research and shopping for fabric! Next its construction which takes the longest because you have to take your time and plan everything out to the minute details. There are a lot of test samples that are a part of this step but it is the most fulfilling, as you can see your design taking shape and becoming the image you have in your mind. I love the whole process. Even if you have to problem solve when things don’t work how you expected, or sometimes you wonder what you got yourself into, it is all worth it because in the end you have something beautiful that you poured hours of time and energy and love into.
What are some of your favorite Her Universe Fashion Show memories?
Some of my favorite memories of being in this show happened in the months leading up to the show, or backstage. We have a Facebook group where we can all get to know each other and ask for advice and connect. Sometimes we will get together for a designer meet up to meet in person before the show and really get to know each other. We become a family, close knit and helpful. While it is a competition, you still will find people helping each other backstage. Whether it’s sitting down and helping someone who is still sewing if you have the time, or coming together to fix something that breaks last minute, you will find the designers supporting each other as much as possible to ensure that everyone does their best on that runway. We all want to win, but if it’s your friend who wins you are just as happy and proud and it is a wonderful feeling.
What can we expect from you in the future? What are your hopes for your brand?
I plan to keep designing and creating, whether that be costumes, clothes, accessories, etc. My husband loves to joke that I don’t know how to relax…and he may be right. I always have at least 1 project in progress if not more. In fact, I have already started designing new ideas for my next Her Universe Fashion Show submission as well as ideas for some larger projects that I hope to start in the next month or so. You will definitely see more costumes from me in forums like Her Universe Fashion Show as well as at LA Opera where I work making all the costumes come to life for each production. I hope to grow my brand, by adding new designs all the time and branching out to make more garments for people all over who love my designs. Most of all, through all of my projects and my brand, I know I will meet many more talented and amazing people that share my love of all things fashion-geek or otherwise-and shape the future of the fashion world one design.
Just for fun, we know you are a huge Doctor Who fan, who is your favorite Doctor and why?
Oh man, this is a difficult question. I love different things about each of the Doctors but I would have to say my favorite it is Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. I love that he is an angry Scot, but determined and strong. He tells it like it is, but will still do whatever he can to save the people he loves and the people who need help. Matt Smith’s Doctor will always have a special place in my heart though, with one of my favorite lessons from “Vincent and the Doctor” that you can’t always change the future, but you can add to someone’s pile of good things, by being kind and showing support. This is how I live my life, by being kind.
Who is your favorite companion and why?
Another hard question! I think I have to say Amy Pond. She is stubborn, determined, strong and yet still a child at heart. She believes in her imaginary friend no matter what anyone else says. And steadfastly believes in the Doctor’s goodness and that he will always win and she refuses to give up hope even when things look bleak. My favorite side of Amy though, is that while she trusts the Doctor to save the day, she isn’t afraid to charge into the fray herself and fight for the happy ending. Even when she is left alone for decades she doesn’t despair, she gets stronger and saves herself.
What are your favorite fandoms for fashion?
My favorite fandoms include all things Studio Ghibli, Doctor Who, Sailor Moon, Game of Thrones, Sherlock, and Marvel. I believe all fandom can relate to fashion if you have a vivid enough imagination and are determined enough.
To find out more or to follow Carina on her adventures, check out the following links:
http://www.Facebook.com/claviolecouturiere
Http://www.instagram.com/carinaterra8787
https://www.claviolecouturiere.com/
