Loralee's 2014 Resort Collection

So after much, much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth and many, many more hours than I would have liked to spend, the Blue Bayou collection is finished. Well, my Blue Bayou portfolio pages are finished. (No actual clothing made up.)

For this assignment we had to illustrate a five-piece line of resort (summer) wear. I chose Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou as the inspiration for this collection. So I tried to think of things you might do on a visit to New Orleans—a relaxed, do-whatever-you-feel-like-at-the-moment vacation.  You could go to the beach (about an hour away), you could tour plantations, you could visit museums, you could shop (you fashionista, you!), and of course you would want to listen to awesome jazz music and go dancing.

After the illustrations were finished I had to draw technical flats. These are, basically, line-drawings—front and back views—of the garment which show where all the seam-lines are, and zippers, buttons, etc. so that if I sent the flats overseas someone could just look at them and then produce the clothes—and they would turn out just like I want them.

I also had to include a color page or fabric swatches, and then lay out the whole thing so it looks just fabulous in my portfolio.  In an ideal world I'd also have photos of people modeling the clothes.

Well, anyway, here are my Blue Bayou pages in the order they will appear in my portfolio:

First we set the mood with pictures—a lot of them are images conjured up from the song ("that familiar sunrise, fishing boats with their sails afloat, silver moon and evening tide . . .") 

Here's the little number you want to wear to that jazz restaurant, where you can dance with that guy of yours.

This outfit and the one below are for shopping,
going to museums, plantation tours, or even out on that sailboat.

A vintage-y swimsuit for your trip to the beach.

And one more go-anywhere, comfortable little dress. (Although I'm not sure how comfy those shoes would be. ;-) )

So there it is. Maybe one day I'll actually produce some of those things. In the meantime, they really do look pretty awesome in my portfolio. :-)