FIGHT Cancer ROCK the CURE.

The Spring Academy Collection for Columbus Rocks the Cure rock & roll fashion show. This amazing event was made possible by breast cancer survivor, Amee Bell Wanzo, who organized everything and created a team of talented people who donated their time and resources to raise money for breast cancer patients, a cause that is near and dear to me as I've lost my grandmothers on both sides of my family to breast cancer.

I chose a military inspired theme to Fight Cancer and Rock the Cure. Introducing army green was a great addition to my usual color palette of black, white, grey and aqua. The collection features structured bustiers, pencil skirts, peplums, draped garments, and tutus with metal studs and chain jewelry.  Items are custom order only. Please contact me to discuss pricing and lead time. Please expect pricing to be much higher than your average retail brand. Materials alone carry a large cost, and items can take me days to create. My final look for the evening was a black studded and spiked bra and neon pink tutu.

Rock & Royalty has always been inspired by indie rock and pop styled music, and to kick off the show my friend and former co-worker's band, Kid Runner, played their set and inspired the crowd as my fashion hit the runway at Ace of Cups.

Special thanks to: Amee Bell Wanzo, Lauren Edmond, Stephanie Stein, Jeff Steele, Melanie Guzzo and Virtue Vegan Salon, Kelli Martin, Aaron James, Kid Runner, Amanda Zerby, Kaci Webb, Sarah Markeson, Annie O'Roark, Christina MacDonald, Anita Mwiruki, Lauren Hoffman, Ifeoma Ngene-Igwe, Vivian Von Brokenhymen, Ace of Cups and everyone who attended.

How it began:
The last three months have been...well, pretty much like every month for many years. This time I spent it teaching myself how to sew and construct my own clothing designs. I've only had a few lessons from friends on pattern making and draping and sewing, but this time I relied only on what little skills I had developed from Highball, or the few weeks I attempted to prepare myself for the reality TV show, Styled to Rock, hosted by Rhianna, that casting directors asked me to audition for. I made the decision in January just before the deadline, that I wasn't ready to audition. I've also turned down over a dozen other events or fashion shows I've been asked to apply or partake in from Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis and even Miami. One of my customers asked me to be a part of this year's Columbus Rocks the Cure rock & roll fashion show and I thought for sure I could create a full collection in 6 months. Well the burnout from Highball left me with the need to take a break for 3 months, so it only left me 3 months to pull it all together. I wasn't able to create as large of a collection in time, but for my first true clothing collection, I'm really impressed by what I managed to create.

Now that it's over, what am I going to do next?

Step one: Clean my house. About 3 weeks ago my husband and I hired a contractor to build a studio in my basement so I can get out of my cramped office with a black hole of carpet that swallows my straight pins and makes it a danger zone.

Step two: Change my daily lifestyle. I decided it was finally time to quit my day job to make a little more time for my dream. The cost of materials to create my line is very expensive so I will still be working full time as a design consultant for some clients, however I will be working from home and eliminating the long daily commute across town during rush hour. My hours will be flexible and it will make it easier for me to schedule my own time as needed.

Step three: Deal with the legal issue with my name, Rock & Royalty. It will be changing soon, hopefully only slightly, once I have time to work through the issue.

Step four: Make up lost time with my husband, friends and family. I can't promise things aren't going to get crazy again, but I think a little break this summer is within sight.

Step five: Start lining up the next show.

Step six: Vacation.

Step seven: Repeat

Staley Designs Book Builder - Preview

Staley Cook of Staley Designs invited me to attend her Fall Book Builder with a few other designers from HighBall to showcase our work. She took our pieces from runway costume to high fashion couture with these beautifully styled photos. She is still editing from 10 amazing photo sets but I am excited to share a few preview photos, including a few I captured from my iPhone.

HighBall Halloween 2012 - Royal Entrance

The show is over, but it's only just begun. Through all the blood, sweat, and tears (I was missing the tears part until the morning of the show when I ruined one of my 4 looks) I can walk away from this experience, relieved that it is over and excited about what it can start.

Myself, Annie Weihrauch for Rock & Royalty opened the show. Here are some videos and photos from the show!

HighBall Halloween // Annie from Little Tree Studios on Vimeo.

Highball Halloween 2012 from Little Tree Studios on Vimeo.

LONG LIVE THE ROCK & ROLL QUEEN.

My Couture Costume, myself & Nina West

Costume Couture, Designer Annie Weihrauch, Collection Model

ROCK & ROYALTY COLLECTION (right to left) - Look 1: Military dress & necklace. Look 2: Cage harness over T-Shirt, ruffle skirt. Look 3: Graphic Tank w/ stripe crop cami, harness necklace, studded tutu Look 4: Moto Miltary Jacket, embellished stripe studded skinny jeans

Designer, Annie Weihrauch w/ Rock & Royalty mini collection

HighBall 2012 Costume Couture - Behind the Scenes

I've been keeping a photo journal along the way...This post is still a work in progress. I will update it very soon.....

My original concept sketch for my application. The biggest concern from the show producers where that it didn't have enough stage presence. I promised I would make sure it would be dramatic, even though I have never done anything like this in my life...but I knew I could embellish the heck out of it.

My revised costume couture sketch. Only a few details changed as I created this.

Cleaned up my studio for the production video shoot with Little Tree Studios and Staley Cook.

A pair of shorts from a Sample sale that never fit, but I knew would come in handy on a project!

I first started by gathering some embellished pieces I didn't use anymore...A brand new pair of Kelsey Dagger shoes that I couldn't return anymore.

Some of my most used tools...wire cutter, lighter, screw driver, needles, and studded embellishments. Lighter you say? No, not for a smoke break, for sealing the ends of frayed ribbon and fabric.

More handy tools, scissors, embellishment bins and a cup for straight pins, although most end up on my floor anyway. You don't even want to know how many times I lost my needle. I'm not sure I recovered all of them, and I hope I never do.

I bought a heavy duty bustier that could handle all of the hand sewn embellishments including leather, chain, rhinestones, buttons and screw back spikes.

Starting to see it coming together!

Somehow I decided to embellish the Union Jack flag here. One of the most time consuming parts of the costume that sat unfinished until the last week.

Once I got to this point I decided I would move on to something else and finish up the embellishments later.

After the rest of the costume was finished I decided to change the black area to aqua studs to add a little color. This was the hardest part because I had to use a hand held heat tool instead of an iron.

Beginning work of my embellished moto military jacket.

The hot new trend is cage jewelry, so I created this bustier framed accessory piece, which I ended up ruining when I decided to sew it onto a garment, then begged Jess to help me Saturday morning before the show. It ended up looking better than this piece anyway!

Through out the 3 months there were several meetings with production, designers, models, hair and makeup, including this kick off meeting with the sponsors.

MORE IMAGES TO COME SOON!

Highball Halloween Promo Videos

Here are some links to the videos that the Highball team has put together. Little Tree Studios did an amazing job with the Designer spotlight videos.

My feature:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/50718833

All Designers:

http://highballhalloween.com/designers.html

2012 Promo Video:

Countdown to Highball Halloween

Only a few more days till Highball! Just wanted to share a few more photos of my progress. I'm saving some details for the runway reveal, but I wanted to share enough to generate excitement, and hopefully entice you to come out for the show!

HIGHBALL HALLOWEEN

This fall I've been spending most of my free time getting ready for the runway for Columbus's Highball Halloween which will be shutting down High Street in the heart of Columbus, OH on Saturday, October 27th. I am very excited to be one of the designers selected to show my collection and create a couture costume for this year's fashion designer competition. With just under 3 months (now only 3 weeks) and a generous stipend award, I have been challenged in ways I had never imagined and sparking even more imagination.

If you are in the area please come out and enjoy the show and Halloween celebration! 

www.highballhalloween.com

Welcome to my studio...while it's still clean and organized.

Costume Couture Concept Sketch, which is now evolving.

Gathering materials...shoes that didn't fit.

Gathering materials...shorts from a sample sale.

Embellishment supplies.

Sewing and studding.

Hand sewn Union Jack embellished flag.

Creating ruffles.

Sewing on the structured ruffles.

Starting to come together, but still a long way to go.

Spring Rejuvenation

Spring is here and it feels like summer in Ohio. Only 3 months until ComFest! Time to start kicking it back in gear.

I took a bit of a hiatus with developing and promoting the brand over the past few months. In the fall I took another full time design job back at Bath & Body Works, where I first started my career. With the stress and transition period I needed a break. It's still going to be a challenge to find time, but I'm determined not to give up on Rock & Royalty. Over the past few weeks we've been working on the web store and I've been working on marketing ideas. My number one goal is to build up my online presence again. Something I haven't done in years.

I'm starting to use my Pinterest account to market the brand and run weekly promotions. It's an amazing thing if you haven't discovered it. It's inspiring while at the same time promoting the brand. I intend to run weekly coupons and special product promotions so don't miss out! They will not be available directly from the web store. I may repin a lot of my own brand images so I can keep them above the surface for other people to discover but if you follow me, you will see a bunch of other things that inspire the line.

You will notice a lot of costume ideas on my pinboards. I am starting to work on a collection called Costume Couture which I will hopefully have ready for ComFest and other summer and fall festivals before Halloween. Some of my current pieces are more costume and couture than ready to wear pieces and I would love to expand into a full collection.

I also will be launching a rewards incentive program very soon. Help promote Rock & Royalty and earn points and free stuff! Basically if you get anyone to shop with us, you will get credit for their purchase. More details to come soon.

So with all of these ideas generating I'm feeling rejuvenated and dedicated once again. Any ideas you have please feel free to send my way!

The fall collection will be coming soon! Until then, please check out the Gallery from the amazing photo shoot we did last month! It has taken weeks to get the website updated, and we still have a long way to go until we can add them to the store. Until then, I am taking special order requests on any items featured in the gallery shots, including the adorable ruffle trimmed button dresses and tutus!

http://www.shoprockandroyalty.com/gallery/photo206.htm

This weekend Rock & Royalty will be selling products and taking custom orders on the new collection at Christmas in October at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Findlay, OH. This is near my hometown, Bluffton, so I hope to see some familiar faces!

The Indie Rock Collection 2 promotion is now available as a gift with purchase. Please check out these amazing bands!

http://www.shoprockandroyalty.com/newmusic.asp

I would like to thank everyone who has volunteered their services to help build this brand. I will provide a full list of credits on the web site as soon as we can update it further!

Thanks - Annie

A Rock & Royalty Fairytale Romance

Here is the story of how Rock met Royalty and lived happily ever after....

 New web design coming soon...


A ROCK & ROYALTY Fairytale

In a land of beauty and privilege, there once lived a young woman who was heir to the Royal throne. Miss Alexandria Kensington had everything she ever wanted yet felt her life was missing it’s true meaning. She was expected to marry a young man, chosen by her Royal family, and carry on the legacy to one day be queen.

The Grande Masquerade Ball was quickly approaching, as was the night she would be engaged to Sir Jameson. Dozens of couture runway gowns were presented to Miss Kensington and she didn’t spot a single one that sparked her fancy. Alexandria rushed to her wardrobe and pulled out a black Vivienne Westwood gown and began cutting it to shreds. Embellishments of ruffled lace, ribbon and crystals were carefully added with fine detail, making an exquisite piece of her own. The clock struck midnight and Alexandria felt as if Tim Gunn were going to walk through the doorway and announce “Designers, time’s up.” Luckily she made it work, and was ready for her night on the runway, or rather her procession on the Royal Court.

The evening would seem magical to almost any girl, but Alexandria wanted something more. Happiness wasn't about wealth, power or privilege. It was love and freedom to live the life that eluded her. Alexandria found herself fixated on grandiose sounds from across the ballroom. She slipped away for a closer look and felt the music and lyrics resonate in her. The band was playing Coldplay's Viva La Vida, which somehow reminded her that the monarchy was ruling her life. Rock chords and classical strings blended a magical potion of love, romance, and inspiration to live life. Alexandria disappeared into the darkness, hoping to find a way to avoid the inevitable engagement. She found herself in peril among the deep forest until a light shined upon her. Up rode Ashton Kingsdale, the rock star and now her knight in shining armor, to rescue her from a kingdom of high society. He whisked her away on his white motorcycle through the streets of London. Like a rebel without a cause, Alex felt like Cinderella had just tossed her glass slippers into the Thames river, trading in prince charming for rock's own royalty.

The encounter with Ashton swept Alex away on a journey that would forever alter her life. She had to disguise herself when she would sneak way to catch the band's gigs in London. It was time to trade elegance for edge. As she entered the dark and noisy underground music scene, Alex felt out of place but enjoyed the freedom she never had. Ashton was already on stage rocking the night away. It was a romance that would be forbidden. Like the battle between Montague and Capulet, Alexandria knew her Romeo would never be accepted by her Royal family.

The secret rock & royalty romance continued for some time, then one day Ashton proposed to Alexandria. Love was in the air. She finally decided it was time to wear her heart on her sleeve, even if her family banished her from the Royal throne. After she returned home, her mother noticed the key, belonging to her heart, was no longer worn around her neck. At first her mother was astonished by her confession. Then a smile and tear appeared, for she only wished she had been strong enough to follow her own heart a long time ago.

It was then soon announced to all of the land, that a union of Rock & Royalty would one day reign with style and beauty.  It was time to live. A time to love. And a time to rock. Long Live the Rock & Roll Queen.

Rock & Royalty at ComFest 2011!

I hope everyone is having a great summer! ComFest gave me a renewed interest in continuing forward with Rock & Royalty. I took a break from my little side business since last summer, but the excitement around it at ComFest has given me the motivation to get back to business.

I've done a total of 3 large festivals over the last 3 years. I had applied to ComFest the previous 2 years and never had any luck getting in. With over 200 booths each year in the festival, and maybe 1000 applications, the odds  were stacked against new businesses wanting to get in. Then luck would have it that last year at Gahanna's Creekside the director of ComFest visited my booth and was impressed at the set up and product and personally requested my participation at ComFest and other local festivals. It was a pleasure to be a part of the festivities this year. We had a very successful weekend and seeing and hearing everyone's reaction was an amazing thing for me as a designer. It proves that there is a huge interest in the brand and that it is worth investing in again. People were telling me I had the best booth at the festival, posing for pictures with my dress form wearing the Alison Wonderland Couture Tee and Royal Ball TuTu. I also had people telling me that it was the talk around the festival and their friends that they had to come check out the booth. 3 long days of this type of reaction was nothing short of wonderful.

I originally had a larger retail brand in mind when I first started this business. After all, my professional career has been submerged in designing for large retail brands over the past 8 years. But what I've learned that I love most is designing unique product with attention to detail that you just aren't going to get from any mass produced product. This means I spend hours upon hours with a thread and needle, or pliers and jewelry supplies to hand craft each product that I design along the way. I try to buy enough supplies to make multiples between 3 and 6 for each design so if something is successful I can create more. A lot of what I made for the festivals were one-offs, and once I sold it it's gone. I do still have several pieces left that are not on the web. I working on updating the website with the new items and replenishing some items that sold through. I've told people to contact me through email if they remember an item that they would like to custom order. Until then, I'm just posting a few photos of items to give a little newness for the brand.

Long Live Rock.
annie