5 Hours with Julie Danforth at Metropolitan Fashion Week

 

I love photographing other artists and in 2012-2013 had the chance to work with fashion designer Julie Danforth on five separate occasions.

Before even meeting Julie in person, however, I had photographed some of her gowns for another one of my clients, Marta Kappl of House of Fashion.  Ms. Kappl had teamed up with executive chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas to co-host a fashion show event , “Haute Cuisine meets Haute Fashion” at the Palace Ballroom in Seattle, and Julie’s designs were was the main highlight of the grand evening.

The second time I got to work with her, this time in person, was to create a series of self promotion and branding images for her website and social networks. I had asked her to bring a car-full of textiles she was working with for her upcoming show at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 and created a custom backdrop for an environmental portrait and headshot series. You can see that entire feature right over HERE.

Skipping #3 and moving ahead to our fourth meeting together, I had the honor of photographing her wedding on a beautiful autumn evening, followed by our fifth successful shoot, a post-wedding bridal portrait series. That shoot was an homage to the famous designer Charles James who’s elegant gowns were originally photographed by Cecil Beaton in a 1948 Vogue cover. You can see my beautiful stylized shoot that captures the essence and tone she used as a palette for her wedding HERE.

Now visiting our third assignment together, and the main highlight of this particular feature, Julie’s designs as the main highlight at the closing gala fashion show for Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013.

On this particular dark and rainy night in the Emerald City, the highest of fashion royalty in the Pacific Northwest came together at the Chihuly Garden and Glass to be mesmerized by color, design, and art in one of the most beautiful special exhibit spaces in all of the city.

Enjoy.

The exterior of Chihuly Garden and Glass in the rain. The glasshouse hosted Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 in Seattle, Washington, April 13th, 2013.
The exterior of Chihuly Garden and Glass in the rain. The glasshouse hosted Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 in Seattle, Washington, April 13th, 2013.
The Space Needle from the glasshouse of Chihuly Garden and Glass . The glasshouse hosted Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 in Seattle, Washington, April 13th, 2013.
The Space Needle from the glasshouse of Chihuly Garden and Glass . The glasshouse hosted Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 in Seattle, Washington, April 13th, 2013.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Models in glass-like wraps and head dresses stand by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Servers and models by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Servers and models by the glass art exhibits created by Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Moments before her models go on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week, designer Julie Danforth pairs vintage rhinestone jewelry with her couture dresses.
Moments before her models go on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week, designer Julie Danforth pairs vintage rhinestone jewelry with her couture dresses.
Julie Danforth gets ready before her models go on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week.
Julie Danforth gets ready before her models go on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Julie Danforth couture gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Designer Julie Danforth highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Designer Julie Danforth highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.

 

Now I’d like to take a pause from the runway show to share with you the portrait I created of Julie two months before this fashion event. There were textiles in this backdrop on the (viewer’s) left during the shoot.  Keep reading below to see what she created…

Couture fashion designer Julie Danforth, Seattle WA, February 10th, 2013.
Couture fashion designer Julie Danforth, Seattle WA, February 10th, 2013. I fell in love with the feather-like shimmery textile on the (viewer’s) left.

 

The dress that was created:

I'm thrilled that I am the very proud owner of this one-of-a-kind gown, designed by Julie Danforth and gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
I’m thrilled that I am the very proud owner of this one-of-a-kind gown, designed by Julie Danforth and highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.

 

AND now I own it! Thank you, Julie!

I'm thrilled that I am the very proud owner of this one-of-a-kind gown, designed by Julie Danforth and gowns highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
I’m thrilled that I am the very proud owner of this one-of-a-kind gown, designed by Julie Danforth and highlighted on the runway at Metropolitan Fashion Week 2013 at Chihuly Garden and Glass, and wore it at my exhibit gala opening in June of 2013.
© John Cornicello.

 

 

 

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