Project Runway, Madison GA. Chris Hudson Couture.
I don’t have much experience with the couture fashion world.
Honestly, I’m astounded I just spelled “couture” and it didn’t register the need to spellcheck.
Today I had the very fun occasion to interview fashion designer Chris Hudson.
While there I asked if she would mind if I posted something on my blog about our visit. She graciously agreed.
Now I knew her as the striking woman I cross paths with on our morning exercise. And I walk by her studio all the time, but today — I got to knock on the door and go inside.
Hurrah!
Her studio and upstairs living loft are in a restored hardware store downtown.
Everywhere I looked there was beauty and lush color pressed into long languid bolts of fabric.
You can have your Christian Grey fantasies. This is mine.
Or at least when I was little — I dreamed of growing up to be a world famous fashion designer.
These days the best I do is knock out a Halloween costume or two.
Chris said that she started sewing at age eight. Bet her Barbies’ wardrobes were the envy of all her friends.
Then she studied art in college and concentrated on sculpture.
After schooling she started sewing again. Her first husband was a sculptor and she wore her creations to lots of gallery openings.
“People would say where did you get that?”
So by age 22, she was selling her creations to department stores in New York.
Now in the business for over 34 years, she has this amazing designing haven.
I always notice beautiful women with impeccable carriage — they inevitably were dancers, you know.
I confessed my admiration of her posture and said, “You must have been a dancer.”
Of course she was. See.
Darned all those years of ballet didn’t have the same effect on me.
This stunning number’s main purpose is to showcase her fabric making ability.
She takes fabric and does wonderful, magical things to cloth.
I’ve lighten this photo up so you can see all the wonderful treatments she added.
I met doggie Rogie (think Roger with an “ie”) up close and personal.
I can’t pet him in the road him because my Tebow goes berserk to greet him.
And Rogie isn’t the least bit interested in a 80 pound lab sniffing his body parts.
As we ended our talk, I asked Chris if she had ever thought about trying out for Project Runway.
She said her friends had encouraged her but at the time her husband Gary Hudson, famed Lyrical Abstractionist painter, was having health issues and she wanted to stay close to him.
Unfortunately Gary passed on in 2009, but his larger-than-life art lines the walls of the upstairs living quarters.
So cool — people.
Yes, there are wonderful creative spirits in our midst.
I had the most wonderful time today getting to know a very talented lady.
And I wasn’t the least bit jealous. Even if she does have the bestest job in the world.
What would be your fantasy career?
What an incredible opportunity! You may not have been jealous of her but I am of you. Also, you can tell I never studied ballet.
Yes Gina, I showed up to talk with her — my hair wet from swimming and cowboy boots. I need a fashion intervention.
Wow! That is so awesome! I love to sew but I do not have the talent to create as she does.
My fantasy career would be writing for National Geographic! I grew up reading the children’s version and have loved the original as an adult. I got a degree in journalism and wrote for the school and for a small paper in my area, but I would absolutely love to write about nature, or social issues, or other interesting topics in the NG.
Maybe someday…
Other secret fantasy job Bethany, would have been photographer. Either sidelines of Super Bowl or Serengeti. Oh well, I’ve got my blog.
When I win the “Redneck Retirement Fund”, I will have her make all my fancy clothes. Granted, most of the time, I will still be in jeans and t’s from Coldwater Creek and my cowboy boots, but a girl can DREAM about fancy clothes and places to wear them!
Dona. I saw the perfect dress there for you. Will have to tell Military Man. 🙂
Chris is fabulous, and I am absolutely coveting that red gown.
The Barbie wardrobe reminded me of my mom, who made my sister a beautiful couture collection for her dolls. There were fur coats and hats and even a Barbie wedding dress — made from my mom’s own dress.
I am in awe of artists like Chris and their vision. I’m with you: not jealous, just blown away by her talent.
I would love to be paid to dance (not in stripper way, more like in a lyrical/hip hop/latin/bellydance/swing way). If I had been given dance lessons as a child, I might have taken a completely different career path. Then again, who grows up thinking “My ultimate passion is to be a chartered accountant!”?
That red gown is gorgeous. Love it.
Jamie: have to be honest when I saw Project Runway and Jamie Miles in the same sentence, my first thought was she is heading an improvement to Madison’s airport.
What a delightful surprise.
Dick
Dick — if that was true. I wouldn’t want to be around on the annual Kindergarten Airport Day. It wouldn’t be pretty.