I remember the first time I saw pre-pleated fabric on bolts. I was in Algeciras across the bay from Gibraltar, living with a family there while attending school. We went fabric shopping and went into a fabric store that was made for film with shelves up to the ceiling overflowing with fabrics, a rail with a sliding ladder like in old book stores and that aura of having existed in one place for over a hundred years. The store was dim and the bright sun of the Costa del Sol was kept out by thick velvet curtains – guardians against fading and sun damage. My friend was making herself a skirt and we looked at dozens of shades of cream in fabrics with sharp, narrow pleats. I had never seen such variety and abundance in fabric choices nor had I ever been in such an atmospheric and magical store.  Back home, the fabric store was a back room at the florist shop and cream was cream was cream and the idea of a dozen shades of cream was unimaginable.  I think that store was where I caught the fashion bug.

Ivalde’s Neferia Abel probably has been to more fabric stores that have multiple shades of cream than those who offer only one – you can see that in the subtlety with which she approaches color in this dress, Benedicte.

Benedicte is a classic shirt waist with a wide belt and a fabulous knife-pleated skirt.  It’s elegant and classic and timeless. I am wearing the new Stiletto Moody Bare Audrey shoes. Such a classic dress demands a classic hair style, so I chose Gillian from Truth – simple, clean and classic.

The jewelry is Chloe’s Pear Diamond set with a fabulous color-change script whose options would take days to explore. I chose a rosy brown shade for the large central diamond – one that is echoed in the soft mushroom silvers of the dress.

The makeup is the lovely Natalie – a group gift of her new skin from Tuli Asturias of Tuli.

****STYLE NOTES******
Promotional Copies are denoted by a Bold R

• Poses: Reel Expression
• Skin: Tuli Natalie Sunkissed 07 *group gift
• Eyes: Poetic Color Night Forest
• Lashes: CyberNetic
• Hair: Truth Gilllian
• Dress: Ivalde Benedicte Silver
• Shoes: Stiletto Moody Bare Audrey R
• Jewelry: Chloe Pear Diamond Set R