About Anne Marie.

From a family tradition of dressmaking I began being trained at five years old to construct designs for my dolls and to contribute to the designing of clothing that my mother made.

My mother was trained by her mother, a woman of irish decent who supported her children by dressmaking after the death of her husband as the result of a mining accident. All of her daughters learnt to sew and my mother was no exception, she excelled and passed on her skills to me and my sisters. I was the one who became enthralled by the fabric and how it could be dropped and draped around the body to form something unique and original.

At six years of age I was chosen by the drama teacher at school to act in a play, this led to many years of elocution lessons and theater training, by 15 I was an award winning actress. To pay for theater lessons my mother made costumes for the school shows and I assisted. Through those years, from junior to high school, I spent many fun and enjoyable hours in the drama room, reciting poetry, learning plays and tidying the costumes. A Thespian school meant many full scale productions each year.

Situated in a wealthy area, the drama room was gifted many trunks and suitcases of vintage dresses, from 1920’s – 1970’s and I got to look through these clothes with longing. Many were English and French couture with matching gloves and hats, fabrics, silk tule skirts, paper taffeta, silk saterns, embroided and totally delectable. “My biggest trauma” was that they had to be cut up to make costumes and so, they were remodeled by my mother and the other mums. Meanwhile, through those years I wrote poetry and prose and sang in the school choir and at church.

I have served to use my talents through one off designs in fashion, accessories, costuming, soft furnishings and public installations. My performance history includes everything from private parties through to audiences of thousands at the Perth International Arts Festival. Through my love of design I have been blessed to work with some of the most exciting performers of the last 40 years, including Lindsay Kemp, Kylie Minogue, Jason Gilkinson and the list goes on…

This website is a showcase of what has been and what is to come. A moving collection of a life lived in the Arts and Design. Driven by the beast of creativity to showcase people at their best doing the things they love, always believing everybody can look good and feel fabulous.