l o c a l f a s h i o n
Design with the Tides b y L i e s e l S c h m i d t
T o scroll through the design images posted on Mary Ellen DiMauro’s Instagram account, it’s clear that her aesthetic runs to pieces that are easy, breezy, casual, and beachy. They seem to breathe a liveliness that almost opposes the lack of color, their freely flowing forms in no way constricting or confining, but rather forgiving and freeing the body to move. There’s no hint of body- con lines, no resemblance to bondage or bandage- wrap or “skinny” anything. Instead, the pieces are draped in such a way that they celebrate the female form without so closely following its contours. “Most of my work is inspired by the female form, S curves, and the way a particular fabric drapes on the body — especially on the bias cut,” says the young designer, who originally hailed from Athens, Georgia, and studied design at University of Georgia. “My typical aesthetic is soft, comfortable designs that flow and have some sort of raw trimming details that show the beauty of imperfection.” As someone who got her best training by getting hands-on with thrift store finds that she would take apart to study their construction and then use to create new pieces, DiMauro’s appreciation for imperfection is, perhaps, one of her differentiators, as it translates into the way she can visualize a piece where others might not. It also gives rise to the uniqueness in each design and each garment, something that her customers certainly value. “People love most that my clothing is unique — they’re not going to see anyone else wearing the same thing, and they can feel that it was made with love.” She became an aspiring designer at the age of ten, when she got her first sewing machine from her grandmother as a Christmas present. But DiMauro didn’t really get serious about creating her own designs until college, when she completed an internship where she learned garment construction, sustainable fashion, and redesign. “It was a really educational time for me because I was able to deepen my knowledge of how clothes are made. I also created my own patterns and had my first fashion show,” she recalls. The fashions she creates are undeniably pieces with a “beachy” feel. The garments are made of fabrics whose weight, texture, and tonal neutrality exude ease and a carefree effortlessness that one associates with days spent along the shoreline, with toes sunken into soft sand and sea-salted air ruffling one’s hair. Little wonder that she
classic in a way that does not restrict them to a particular time or trend. They seem inspired by something just outside of the conscious mind, giving them an appeal that won’t soon be washed away by the tides, and that’s been one of the greatest secrets of her success—especially now that she’s set up shop in 30-A. “My typical buyer is
Mary Ellen DiMauro
here to relax at the beach and wants some- thing she can be comfortable lounging in while she’s at home, by the pool, or at the beach; but also, something that she can dress up and wear out to dinner with her friends,” DiMauro says. Obviously that versatility is one that has served her well. And as she continues creating her designs, no doubt DiMauro will gain an even greater following that will sweep her into a current far beyond her
finds inspiration from her surroundings, now having staked her claim at 30-A, where she has a new shop at Watersound that sells her line. It can be said that she almost goes with the flow, as she doesn’t confine herself to one specific process when it comes to creating her designs, but rather lets the materials speak to her. “My creative process varies,” she says. “In some cases, I’ll take a new fabric and drape it right over a dress form and let the drape of the material dictate the design; this is often how I make one-of-a-kind custom dresses. More of my staple items have started from a sketch, which I use to draft a flat pattern and create a mock up. Once I have that, I tweak the mock up to end up with a final garment.” Whatever method she uses, DiMauro seems to have no shortage of creativity waiting to be unleashed. The pieces she makes feel fresh and different, yet somehow
greatest imaginings, where her pieces become inspiration for other young designers with a dream, much the way that she has been inspired by others. For any designer, that is one of the greatest achievements; and DiMauro is well on her way.
To see Mary Ellen DiMauro’s collection, visit her shop at 27 Hub Lane, Inlet Beach, FL 32461 or online at www.maryellendimauro.com.
2 4 | T H E T H I R T Y- A R E V I E W | NO V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator