moved to: https://shorturl.at/DMTZ5A Vague Fashion Memory

A Vague Fashion Memory

The Story of Jennifer Tzar TZ

A Vague Fashion Memory

By

Seth Shapiro's AmericanManufacturing

I moved to New York City in 1991 with high hopes and big dreams. Got my first job in the design studio at Calvin Klein on 7th Avenue.

Stefano Castronovo, known for his fresco paintings on the sides of buildings, convinced me to quit and make art instead.

One evening, wandering through the streets, I saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her face was painted a cool white subduing all of her features. She had corn­colored gold hair that rose behind her head accentuating her ears that were pointed like an elf. And she wore a dress that was fitted on the waist with panels resembling architectural shapes and sizes that flowed outward like a like a burst of energy.

And she wore moroccan slippers...

I ran home to tell the Maestro, but he was unmoved. A few days later, we were discussing art at a cafe on Broadway when she appeared again for the second time. "That's her!" I shouted and ran. But before I could reach her, she had almost already disappeared

...as if it were a dream.

This time, she wore a big black ball gown with handkerchief ruffles, a cowbell tied low on her waist with a red rope, and tapdancing shoes. The sound of her footsteps—

Konk­

Konk­

TapTap­

—left a distinct trail for me to follow.

The Maestro gave me a corner of his art studio piled with leftover theater fabrics from days working with Andy Warhol. There were rolls of scrim, gauze, and muslin, a pedal­powered Singer sewing machine, and an old dress form labeled "American Manufacturing."

The fabrics were worn and tattered and there were many holes that needed mending to bring them back to life.

I draped the materials on the mannequin and used masking tape to mark the sewing lines. The masking tape became permanently attached to the silhouette due to my sewing~ Snaps and zippers were stitched while the garments were still on the dress form, allowing the garments to be removed.

One dress was made of gauze and was so delicate it had to be reinforced at the seams with black fusing and cotton twill, which gave it shape Brown ribbon and clear plastic tape provided more structure as needed around mid section.

Another outfit was a dinner suit made with muslin and duct tape It was paired with a sheath made from cotton velvet, normally used as theater backdrop. Shoes were made with wooden dowels taped directly to the heels with gauze and duct tape.

In those days the streets were more like a playground. Absolutely anything and everything was possible.

On several occasions, I took my mannequin and sewing machine outside and set up shop on the sidewalk, much to the amusement of the neighbors.

After a long hot summer, the maestro and I were invited to Joey Arias' birthday party at Tavern on the Green. Joey was a singer known for performing songs by Billy Holiday, and the party was sure to be lively.

That's when I saw her for a third time!!! She wore a silk kimono gown draped to the ground with platform shoes that made her 6 inches taller.

I was nervous to approach her. But before the evening ending, she stood in the archway between the dining hall and the stage and signaled me to come over. She said, "why have you been looking at me all night?" I respoded by saying, "I made you clothes after seeing you in the street three months ago. Although I never thought I would see you again, I made a collection of clothes inspired by you."

"I want to give them to you."

On the same day afternoon, she came to my studio and knocked on the door. When the door opened she said, "Hey" with a deep and confident voice and, "Where are they?"

After trying on the garments, she said "I'll take them" and left without saying anything about them.

Two weeks passed without hearing anything from her. Suddenly, out of the blue, she called and said, "Everyone loves your clothes." "Can you show them during fashion week in ten days??"

Two of her amazing stylist friends, Edward Jowdy and Michael Delfino helped to organize and promote the show.

They brought Bob Recine who did hair and makeup, 12 model friends including some that i saw in magazines and a team of makeup and hair assistants to my loft on Water Street in the South Side Seaport.

When the ladies were ready, we drove them to Al's Bar in the back of my white Ford pickup truck.

I had a little to drink and crashed into the bar upon arrival, and they walked directly onto the bar top and showed­off the clothes. And within just a minute everyone disbanded uptown to other shows with what they wore in the show as payment.

The following day, I got a call from Richard Padiscio of Interview Magazine. I told him the story how the clothes were made. The show was called "A Vague Fashion Memory" and it was inspired by my love for her.

The End.

The rest is history....

InterviewMagazine: Seth..isonetowatch!

NewYorkPost, Page6: AATruckfullofmodelscrashedinto lsBarandontothescene..

Purple Magazine: ...A fresh approach to American design without reproducing stereotypes

PaperMagazine: 50mostbeautifulpeopleissue

WWD: Sexy,Innovative,Talentedand Visionary

WWD: What's a designer to do when a model is MIA? Pluck them from the audience...

Amy Spindler, New York Times: Downtown became a stage orchestrated in part by Seth Shapiro (shows)

VANITYFAIR: capitvatedhisaudience withhisstorytelling..

Bernadette(BC)MadeinUSA: Inacrowdedspace,Sethstandsout as 1inmaybe4avantgardedesigners

SurfaceMagazine: oIthankmyluckystars...Im aneofluckyonestorecieve ninvitationtoSethshow

John Kelsey Reena Spaulding Fine Art: The American revolution never really ended. This time it resurfaces in a line of dresses by S..

Andrea Rosen Gallery, Isnt afraid to take risks, he is classic when needed and daring when needed.

FashionTV: It is obvious that this designer loves women.

CarolGreeneGallery: Therewasacertainjoy that permeatedtheairthjedayofSethshow..

Fairytales do exist, if we wanted them to.

A Vague

Fashion Memory

The story of Jennifer Tzar

(Or how I became a fashion designer)