St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas is hosting their second annual fashion show, featuring the one-of-a-kind fashions from Catherine Stephenson.
Stephenson is a life-long designer who has offered this opportunity to St. Andrew’s for the second year in a row. She is a dressmaker and for 34 years she had a couture dressmaking business in Portland, Oregon.
“I designed and created evening wear, bridal gowns, tailored suits and custom dresses,” she says. “Each piece was individual and there was no production sewing.”
In addition to her couture career, Stephenson taught draping at the Art Institute of Portland, as an adjunct faculty member for 17 years. I had the great fortune to see her do a draping presentation at an Ajijic Society of the Arts monthly membership meeting. It was before Covid, but I have mentioned it several times since, as being one of my favorite ASA presentations. She gracefully floated around a mannequin, pinning and folding and creating pleats with just the greatest of ease. It was fascinating to watch.
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