Mentionables: An Interview

Let me introduce you to the lady who made my beautiful wedding dress possible (and also the person who oversaw my stitchery when I was a student worker at the costume shop at Baldwin-Wallace). I watched Diana Sidley create all sorts of lovely theatrical apparel and was so happy when she agreed to make my dress and veil for me. Now she’s bravely ventured away from BW with her own corset and dress making business, Mentionables.

Tell me briefly about Mentionables and what all you do.
Mentionables specializes in period corsetry, particularly for theatrical use.  I build corsets from various periods throughout history, going all the way back to the 1500′s.  My corsets are historically researched to be as accurate as possible; however, I make adjustments to accomodate for modern materials and the modern woman’s body shapes and needs.  I also make some corsets that I refer to as modern – these are still based on historical shapes and lines, but they have more modern flair and are built with current fashion fabrics for women who are looking to make a fashion statement.
 
What inspires you when you’re sewing?
I’m inspired by just about anything that is visually or tactilely interesting.  Visually, I draw inspiration from artwork and period research of historical clothing and costumes.  I’m also a very tactile person – I enjoy the feel of fine fabrics.  Like many seamstresses, I tend to collect fabric without knowing what I’ll do with it right away!  Sometimes I just go through my piles of fabric and let them lead me to my next project.

How did you decide to start a business on your own? Is there any good advice that you received that has helped you or something you wished you had known before you started?
As a kid, I dreamed of running my own dress shop.  Throughout my career in costuming, I discovered my love for building corsets – I find it fascinating how a few pieces of fabric and boning put together in different ways can so dramatically change a person’s shape.  I just put the two together and started Mentionables.  I guess the best advice I can give is that new businesses are not an instant ticket to becoming a millionaire – if you are really doing what you love, you’d probably be doing it whether you got paid or not. 

What other hobbies/activities, etc. do you enjoy? If I remember correctly, you’ve traveled a good bit, play an instrument, and have a gorgeous apartment (basically, I’m jealous).
I play flute with the contemporary music group at my church.  I also head the Cleveland Chapter of Head Huggers (www.headhuggers.org) – a national organization that makes and donates hand made caps to cancer and burn patients.  I have enjoyed some traveling, but now that I’m starting Mentionables I can’t really afford to take off to Europe – so I’m content in my lake-view apartment with my cat Wylie and boyfriend Christian.

Cleveland tends to have a bad reputation for, well, a lot of things. Do you feel like the Cleveland area has been good for your business and do you plan to stay?
The corset portion of my business is going to be a national internet based business.  The main down-side of being in Cleveland has been shopping for supplies and fabric – I do a lot of ordering from companies in New York and California.

      What was your favorite piece to build/sew?          

One of my favorite pieces is a blue sequin gown I built for Margaret Colin in “Sweet Bird of Youth” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in MA.  Building the gown wasn’t necessarily all that fun – when working with beads or sequins you have to remove everything from the inner seam allowances to avoid bumps or irritating the skin.  I had about 6 firsthands and interns huddled over my table for days removing the sequins.  It was a very simple shape, but had to fit like a glove.  The best part was just the reaction it got from the audience every time Margaret stepped on stage – I got chills every time I saw those sequins glitter under the stage lights.  Days after the show opened, it was reviewed in the NY Times and the article featured a photo of Margaret shimmering in my blue gown.

What was the worst thing you ever had to make?

I had to build a set of 4 raincoats for a production of “Anything Goes” at Williamstown Theatre Festival.  The designer bought some gorgeous (and expensive) Marc Jacobs art deco print see-through vinyl.  It was a pain from start to finish!  The only way to cut the pattern pieces was to first draw them out with stinky dry erase makers, which left ink all over your hands and had to be completely washed off when the coats were done (some of the actresses tried them on before we had a chance to clean them and got ink all over themselves!)  I had to stitch them on a machine with a special foot made of teflon (yes, like the frying pans) so the vinyl would move through – I nearly ran over my finger with the industrial sewing machine.  Then, of course, the raincoats needed to be ripped off in a matter of seconds onstage.  The vinyl couldn’t withstand all that force and ripped constantly.  Sewing the rips just perforated the vinyl more, so the wardrobe crew had to resort to repairing them with clear packing tape!  It’s not easy for a seamstress to see her work being taped back together.

What types of materials do you like to work with best?
100% Silk.  100% Favorite.

I know you teach yoga too. Has the practice of yoga affected how you live and work?
During my teacher training I spent a month living at an ashram on a farm in the Catskill mountains of upstate New York.  It was a very intensive study and really inspired me to make changes in my life.  Owning my own business gives me the time and control over things in my life that I felt I needed.

Did you make any resolutions for the New Year?
I’ve actually never made a New Year’s Resolution.  I’m very list-oriented – I always have to-do lists for everything from “go to the grocery store” to “launch your own website”. 

Thank you, Diana, for a great interview! If you want to see this talented lady’s work close up, Diana will be showcasing some of her lovely pieces in a bridal show at the Emerald Necklace Inn on Feb. 22 from 12:30 to 5:30 pm.  You can also indulge in one of Diana’s corsets at her Etsy shop. Now go be inspired!