We are friends on Facebook, we meet at social events in Bucharest, so why not create a real community to better discuss fashion, exchange ideas, plan events, attend parties and so on! Right?? It should be something positive, with members interested in fashion who are willing to share ideas and thoughts on common things they like. I know everything I learned was, of course, from my own mistakes, but also from constructive critique coming from people who knew what they were talking about. And I am sure there are so many out there in Romania, who dream of someday being a fashion designer/photographer/stylist/editor but have no idea what it actually really means.

I see this ‘Romanian Bloggers Association’ as a platform to learn, socialize, have fun with people who might share you passion and dreams. And trust me, sharing makes work that much easier. Mila knows what I’m talking about! :)

If you are a Romanian fashion blogger (if you write about anything related to fashion) and if you want to be part of something that I’m sure is going to be big in the near future [if we make it, of course], then just leave a comment here, or on Roxana’s blog, stating your interest, full name and blog-link.

Let’s create the online fashion community that Romania certainly is missing!

Pulp/’Palp/n.

1. A soft, moist, shapeless mass of matter
2. A magazine or booklet containing lurid subject matter and being characteristically printed on rough unfinished paper.
3. A new way to party, initiated by Ramayana Café in Bucharest, on the 28th of November 2008.

This means I can add ‘pin-up girl‘ to my resume, right? When Nona asked me to appear on the poster for the ‘Pulp Fiction’ party I instantly said yes, I was sure it was going to be fun to shoot. And it was totally exciting. First, and in a total hurry, Alex Hreniuc helped me out with a set of photos, however because the decor was missing (we shot in a studio, with a black background; promise to post those pics too) and because the party got delayed a couple of weeks, there was more time to re-do the photograph and really add the much needed depth and lightning of the background. Catalin Olteanu certainly did a great job with the photograph and made me laugh way to much that day, which of course made it that much difficult for me to concentrate on having that ’say-a-thing-and-I’ll-kill-you’ kind of death stare.

If you don’t know the original Pulp Fiction movie print, see it here.

Hope to see you at the party. Yes, that means I’ll be back in Bucharest next weekend. For a milkshake or rather a whiskey on the rocks?

These latest DBD dresses (and a couple more long evening gowns) got to the Ummagumma store this weekend. I am actually working on another small set of dresses made from a baroque-printed, plum-colored fabric with golden chain details and bronze spray-paint. Are you excited already? I certainly am, and can’t wait to finish them. Those and the whole bunch of orders that I got while being away these couple of days. Lately I had to travel to Bucharest about twice a month for different events/meetings and it’s funny because they are theoretically business trips, however the only moments when I don’t ‘really’ have to work (meaning: no actual cutting, sewing, ironing, packaging and so on), so I see them as bits of vacation. Everything depends on the point of view, right?

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The December issue of Bolero magazine is out and I am so glad to see two of my dresses in the main fashion spread called ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’. Big ‘Thank You’ to Ailin Ibraim and Andreea Jivcovici, as they did a fab job with the styling. All I wanna do now is party! As if I would have time for that. At least my dresses do. :)

Irina Marinescu spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear collection. These are just some snaps that I took from the show. Loved everything about it: the music, the feeling, the effortless coolness and apparent easy-to-wear feeling of the designs, the fact that it actually made me think of my mom, even without reading the press-release and knowing the source of inspiration. See more catwalk pictures here.

Funny and very true story: I was randomly walking on the streets in Bucharest (had to somehow spend an hour in-between meetings) and luckily met with Alex Conu, who headed to a few fun events that evening: the Extins jewelery exhibition (see video from the opening here) and the Irina Marinescu ss09 fashion show. After finding the location of the fashion show, I had to meet with a client really quick, so I returned a bit later to the show. While desperately searching for the very few familiar faces who I knew were already there, in the big Romanian fashion crowd, a nice guy told me that there were a few free seats next to some editors in the front rows. After I made myself comfortable, the show started right away and I loved the fact that i could take pictures and film the ending from my seat. I felt like one of the Fashionistas at any of the NY-fash-week shows. Socializing in Bucharest was actually a lot of fun; I met with clients and collaborators, editors and stylists, saw important people from the industry, familiar faces that you know but don’t always have the privilege to actually meet. The best experiences happen when you don’t plan them and this certainly was one of them!

Irina Marinescu at the finale of her show; Maurice Munteanu and Domnica Margescu, two of my favorite fashion editors [who worked or still work]for Elle Romania (next time I will run after Domnica and just introduce myself; it can’t be that difficult, right? this time, I missed the opportunity); Alex Conu, Claudiu from Mauvert, Roxana Radu and me in a funny after-show snapshot.

Here is a short video of the show finale:

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Update: Dan just posted this pictures of me chatting with Alex at the Extins jewelery exhibition opening. Thank you very much! See more photos here.

The dress for the auction was the one on the right: the short corset dress with the silk flower pleats/appliques. I took this picture before leaving for Bucharest. The unfinished dress on the left is for another fun project; more on that later!

Roro, my friend and fave model, accompanied me to the event in one of my spring 2009 designs: the white strapless mini with pleats (photo right). She modeled the dress for the auction at the event (photo left) and did a great job looking fab as always.

I finally got home after a fun 5-day trip to Bucharest. Sure, I am tired. But right now, even if it’s 3 a.m., I’d rather post pictures from the Edelweiss Charity Ball I attended this weekend, than sleep. It was so exciting to be there, the Athenee Palace Hilton Hotel in Bucharest is very fancy and elegant and certainly helped establish the high profile of the event. Lots of business men, uptight ladies, a dress which I am 100% positive it was Chanel (the black&white mini shift dress that Cameron Diaz famously wore a while ago), a delicious three course meal, an important sum of money raised for a good cause: all in all it was such a great and positive experience! I can’t wait for next year to come, I’ll certainly participate again and besides donating a dress, I also plan on giving away one of my paintings. Too bad I didn’t think of it sooner.

Here are some snaps I took that night. Am waiting for the professional photos, will post when I get them.

Mihaela Radulescu (photo top left) was the host of the charity event. I know and admire her from TV, so it was exciting to see her in person. She has such a great charisma, no wonder she got to be the Romanian celebrity she really is (ps: LOVED her high-heels). Me and Roro (photo top right) before going to the ball; she is wearing one of my spring 2009 designs; of course I am wearing one of my designs too: a long empire-waist black silk dress with a tight chocolate bust.

Bottom row: Oana was also wearing a strapless, green DBD dress that I made and she wore is so well, it made me feel proud of my work. It was one of those moments which made me forget about all ‘the sweat and tears’. Last two photos from bottom row: me getting Roro dressed in the white strapless dress and her posing with the adorable Coca Zaboloteanu, who also donated a pair of elegant sandals designed by her.

It takes place on Saturday, at the Athenee Palace Hilton Hotel in Bucharest, for the eight year consecutively and Mihaela Radulescu will be the host this year too. Would totally love to dress her, who knows, maybe she’ll like my work. :)

Can’t wait to post pictures and write notes about it. Hopefully the economic crisis doesn’t affect the auctions too much.

Have a great weekend!

I am so glad to finally tell you about the launch of the Ummagumma website. I mention the store a lot on So Fash’on just because we sort of started out together: from the beginning Oana, the lovely and adorable owner of Ummagumma, supported me and my work. She really helped me a lot and watched me develop during these last crazy couple of months, both creatively and business-wise. And she, herself, has done quite an amazing job with creating the online identity of her uniquely chic boutique. It also gives you the opportunity to order dresses and tops and skirts and accessories online, which can mean a lot of comfort, mostly for the fashionistas who don’t live in Bucharest.

Also, her blog is up and running with a few amusing stories already written, I can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve, as she seems to have such a strong vision and to really stick to it (one of the keys to success). I actually can’t wait for the weekly updates of the merchandise, as I have about 20 new dresses to send to Ummagumma. That means some of the older ones will go on sale! Stay tuned for more on that and also, have fun browsing through all the clothes available in the ONLINE UMMAGUMMA STORE, as I have the great opportunity and honor to share store-space with very talented Romanian fashion and accessories designers such as Florentina Giol, Zasha, Claudia Castrase, Ancient Future by Alexandra Silvestru, Tricks Box, Mihaela Zvinca.

Once again, Ummagumma, congratulations for this important step. I am so glad we are taking it together! That is why I could not help myself and had to make this collage with some of the Diana Bobar Designs still available in the store. As I said, there are so many more to come!!!

I CAN NOT WAIT!

I made this Little Black Dress for Florina from Josephine. Loved to work with this fabric and I like the fact that it looks so structured!

So, I got no sleep last night and still got a dress to finish this morning. But I missed blogging and had to update the website a bit, right? These are a few of my latest clients, still have to get a lot of pics from other fab girls wearing my work. Motivating myself to start work right now. Today I’ll go visit an old man who makes leather gloves here in Timisoara. Want to order a pair or long, black, leather gloves. CAN NOT WAIT to get and wear them!

Next weekend I’ll be in Bucharest for the Edelweiss Charity Ball. But more on that a bit later!

InteresART Store, Str. George Georgescu nro.45 (more info here).

A new store opens in Bucharest, called InteresART, it features mostly hand-made, unique, limited edition pieces of clothing, accessories, home decorations and greeting cards. The opening of the store is on 13 November, and the location is Str. George Georgescu no. 45, Bucharest, Romania.

You will find 10 DBD dresses there, most of them being from the spring/summer 2009 collection and a couple of new designs, like the ones photographed in the collage up, before I painted them and added golden chains to the neckline. Sound interesting, right? So, just go and check it out for yourself. I am sure the charm of the store will make you a go back in no time!

Does this mean I should celebrate because a second store is carrying my work in Bucharest? :) Champagne for everyone, and now back to work for me!