Jill Danyelle, Umbrella Dress

Jill Danyelle, Umbrella Dress

Jill Danyelle
Umbrella Dress

'The umbrella dress has a lot of meaning for me. It was the first piece of the collection and is the first garment I ever created fully from drafting the pattern all the way through construction. The dichotomy of the dress really interests me. It is an elegant cocktail dress, but yet made from what people considered garbage, broken umbrellas that I reclaimed from the streets of NYC. Therefore, it provokes thought on life cycles in design while also taking a stab at the fashion industry and the importance that is frequently placed on what we wear.'

Shirt dress and recycled umbrella jacket and bag, Jill Danyelle

Shirt dress and recycled umbrella jacket and bag, Jill Danyelle

Shirt dress and recycled umbrella jacket and bag
Jill Danyelle

'The image on the left is an extra large men's organic cotton shirt made into a dress, the bag is made from one recycled umbrella. The image on the right is a dress made out of t-shirts i received in a 
swag bag and the jacket is made from one recycled umbrella. The shoes are vintage.'

Vintage clothes and ring necklace, Jill Danyelle

Vintage clothes and ring necklace, Jill Danyelle

Vintage clothes and ring necklace
Jill Danyelle

'A vintage grey slip under a vintage linen slip, vintage shoes, the necklace is a ring of my father's on an old chain, the shoes are vintage, the bag and sweater were purchased new.'

Dress, Jill Danyelle

Dress, Jill Danyelle

Dress
Jill Danyelle

'I made this after taking a three week intensive pattern making class. I'd had enough. I draped the bodice and did the skirt with a lot of free form cutting and sewing.'

Convertable cashmere dress, Jill Danyelle

Convertable cashmere dress, Jill Danyelle

Convertable cashmere dress
Jill Danyelle

'I converted this old cashmere dress using just scissors and no sewing right before I wore it out the door.  It had a cowl neck, long sleeves and an unflattering length. Now it can be worn two ways, depending on where you put your arms, but I almost always put them through the lower holes and create a folded, draped neckline.'

Photograph of Jill Danyelle

Photograph of Jill Danyelle

Photograph of Jill Danyelle

'This one has four layers. Organic cotton t-shirt under a light weight silk dress I've owned for 20 years under a dress I made by recycling cashmere sweaters under a vintage sueded jacket.  The necklace is made from clay beads that I made by hand and strips of old silver fabric bought at a thrift shop. I found the bag, which I absolutely love, at a flea market. I bought the shoes at the Jaime Mascaro factory in menorca when I was sailing around the island years ago.

'The actual fiftyRX3 collection probably could have been more premeditated and done better.  Committing to a daily online activity,  e.g. blogging, is a lot of work. In many ways that commitment kept  the project on track, but it also took a lot of time away from creating things. In the end, the daily photos, getting dressed every  day, became the creative constant in the project.'