Helping others look good and feel good is in nationally-known dress designer, image consultant and now author, Ellen York’s job description.
“There are clothes out there for everyone,” York said. “But people get disappointed and don’t know where to look.”
She hopes her special workshop, “Dressing Your Body Type” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on June 3 at Jo-Ann Fabrics, 15236 Aurora Ave. N. in Shoreline will help more people find, choose and make clothes that are best suited for them. And that people will discover her book, “Dressing the Petite Woman,” answers more questions about what clothes are right for specific body types, especially for women five feet four inches and shorter.
York was asked by Jo-Ann Fabrics employee Cathy Cook to host a workshop after the two met one day in the store. York said she was picking out fabric samples for a client when Cook asked why she needed so many different types of fabric. York described her work and showed Cook a copy of her book.
“It’s a very unique thing to have an author at our store,” Cook said. “She will be showing us a slide show and giving us commentary on how to use dress forms, colors and types of fabric. It will hopefully get people thinking more about apparel fabric and sewing for themselves.”
When it comes to picking out the right fabric for clothes, York said people don’t always know what’s best. She remembers asking a woman what she was going to do with fabric designed to upholster furniture only to discover she was planning to use it to make a skirt.
“Those kinds of mistakes cost money,” York said. “People can get as frustrated picking out fabric as they can in Nordstrom’s picking out clothes.”
York began writing her book after she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in late April 2004. She decided she did not want to go through treatment without something positive to focus her attention on. Soon, a plan for a 48-page booklet turned into a 272-page book that uses true to life models and body flaws.
“I’m dealing with real people,” she said. “I took up everything in the book because I knew if I treated my book the way I dress my clients, (the book) was going to work.”
Although the after-hours event on June 3 is complimentary, space is limited and can be reserved by calling Jo-Ann Fabrics at 206-362-8072. Copies of “Dressing the Petite Woman” will be available for 15 percent off of the cover price at the event.
York said her next book is “about dressing the big and beautiful woman.” It includes a section on tall women and is due to be published in the first part of 2008.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
