Back And Better Than Ever!

Hello!
We are back. As you can see we have a fabulous new website. I hope you take a gander around and see what you like. The store has been morphing and changing to reflect what you the client wants.  So we have more one of a kind, bridal, and our fabulous cocktail dresses. We've changed how and what we make so it reflects Octavio's personal desire to have beautiful dresses for the one of a kind woman.
We can not recommend more, Molly Madfis who designed our website. Her eye is impeccable. She is multi talented, check her out here www.mollymadfis.com. That's all for now!
Have a great summer day everybody!

Great Changes Are Coming

Change is in the air. In the next few days our old website will be a thing of the past and in its place a new one will rise. Only this time we will have an estore with unique RTW for sale along with beautiful new images. So we ask one thing from you, to please continue our conversation via social networks. I will keep you guys posted for all the updates! We are having a photo shoot next week so stay tuned for all the behind the scenes fun on facebook and twitter @octavionews.

The Long and Little Black Dress

The Long Black Dress

                     The Little Black Dress
There is nothing a woman needs more than a LBD.

Becoming a bride

Octavio Carlin bridal began as question. A client came into the store and was admiring all of the gowns that were hanging on the racks and discussing her difficulty in finding a bridal gown that was as modern and chic as an Octavio Carlin gown. She then asked, can you make any of these in white? Why yes we told her and Octavio made her a custom bridal gown that wouldn't look out of place at the Oscars. And the Octavio Carlin Bridal line was born, so call or come by the store if you are ready to be a unique, glamorous bride.
Have a great week!

I'm No Angel

Mae West was a force of nature. On screen and off. She was funny, smart, glamorous and unapologetically man crazed. Which made her seem rebellious and before her time, but really she was just being herself. If you don't know anything about her definitely check out her most famous film, I'm No Angel, where you can see her at the top of her game. In thinking about Mae West, I wonder is there anyone who compares today? Let me know you think...

Spring is near

Even though you may be shivering in your boots and only dreaming of owning an octavio carlin original, know that change is upon us and spring is right around the corner, which means it's pretty dress time!
Now you may have noticed I sound nothing like Octavio and that's because I'm not. My name is Romey and I am the co-owner of this amazing label. I'm going to be the HBIC (Head Blogger In Charge) from here on out. Octavio quite simply is too busy. Doing what you ask? Well for one making beautiful wedding gowns like the one above and also designing the exclusive RTW that is in the store. So if you are in LA come by and if not stay tuned for all of our exciting changes to come.
Have a great week everybody!
Romey

Our Newest Spread at Regard Magazine with Alyssa Diaz

We are ecstatic to share our newest spread on Regard Magazine that features Alyssa Diaz of Army Wives, looking beautiful in an array of Octavio Carlin pieces. Check out the photos and tell us which ones are your favorites. Every piece is available at the Octavio Carlin Atelier: 309 N. Kings Rd. LA CA 90048. 

Teal Column Gown - $1300

Electric Blue Silk Gown - $1200

Houndstooth Coat - $500; LBD Jersey - $195

Laser Cut Suede Gown - $2000

Gold Cowl Gown - $250

Laser Cut Suede Gown - $2000

Black Triangle Gown - $500

Gold Cowl Gown - $250

Our Favorite Fashion From The Grammy's

The fashion at this year's grammy's was a little disappointing. They guys were looking incredible, especially Maroon 5 with their all black get-up and John Mayer with his velvet jacket & matching bow tie. But the women, the women who usually leave us in awe with their choices of beautiful gowns were just not doing it for us this year. The only note-worthy mention was Rhianna's captivating red dress, custom made by Azzedine Alaia. There have been a number of red dresses from other recent award shows, but none of them looked as amazing as Ri-Ri's. 

Dress Talk: Vintage Florals

Octavio Carlin is notorious for one-of-a-kind dresses, dresses that he'll make out of exquisite fabric that may only be enough for one piece. Why bother making something out of limited fabric? Well, why let that gorgeous fabric go to waste when he can make a beautiful dress for a woman to enjoy? To Octavio, it's not about quantity, but quality! That is exactly the story behind that floral creation you see above. It is made from vintage silk chiffon that Octavio found during one of his sourcing trips. Everything about this dress is simply divine, the print, the pleats, the colors, and the sharp neckline that balances the softness of the fabric. This and other one-of-a-kind pieces are available at the Octavio Carlin Atelier located at 309 N. Kings Rd, LA, CA 90048. 

Happy Black History Month!

It's no question that the many of the benefits we enjoy in our daily lives would be non-existent without the intellectual, artistic, creative, courageous, and innovative contributions of countless African-Americans. Sadly, many of us are unaware of these contributions, for whatever reason that may be. So, in honor of Black History Month, we thought it would be fun, educational, and apropos to share and highlight some of the gifts that our African-American brothers and sisters have bestowed upon us. 

Madame CJ Walker - widowed at 20, Louisiana-born Sarah Breedlove Walker supported herself and her daughter as a washerwoman. In the early 1900s she developed a hair care system and other beauty products, that women will be forever grateful for. 

George Crum - A chef who invented the potato chips. Without him, we'd never know the joy of indulging in these tasty snacks nor would we have a multi billion dollar potato chip industry.

Dr. Charles Richard Drew - a medical doctor and surgeon who created the idea of a blood bank and a system for the long-term preservation of blood plasma. This man will continue to save lives.

Frederick McKinley Jones - without this man, many of us would not be able to enjoy fresh produce and many other perishable foods. He invented the automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks in 1935 (a roof-mounted cooling device).   

George Washington Carver - best known for developing crop rotation methods, that led to the discovery of 100 uses for sweet potatoes and about 75 for pecans, including synthetic rubber and material for paving highways. He also discovered 300 different uses for peanuts, including peanut butter, an American favorite. Where would Skippy and Jif be without this man and more importantly, what would we eat with our bread & jelly?

Dress Talk: Black & Gold

Black and gold has got to be one of the most glamorous color combinations, especially when it comes to evening gowns. This particular Octavio Carlin piece is centered around that color scheme, shades of colors that flatter any skin tone. But what makes this special occasion dress even more spectacular is the novelty fabric that adds texture and dimension. The entire evening gown is literally made up of swirls of fabric, creating a much richer and more luxurious finish to the dress. These are the details that Octavio Carlin is known for. He uses simple silhouettes but he gives you that WOW factor with his use of exquisite fabrics and subtle yet intricate details. This designer evening gown can be purchased at the Octavio Carlin Atelier located at 309 N. Kings Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Our Favorite Fashions from The SAG Awards

Justin Timberlake in Tom Ford

Rose Byrne in Valentino

Jayma Mays in Georges Hobeika Atelier

Julia Stiles in Amen Couture

Katrina Boden Badgley Mishcka

Maria Menuonos in Randi Rahm

Nina Dobrev in Elie Saab

The Golden Globes just passed and we still have a few weeks to go until the Oscars. That can only mean one thing, the SAG awards! The Red Carpet was filled with a few prominent trends: Black was the color of the night, as worn by Tina Fey, Claire Danes, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Dockery and more. Neon shades also made a strong statement, as worn by Nina Dobrev, Alfre Woodard, and Lea Michele. And of course, no award show can escape the presence of sequins, as worn by Julia Stiles, Katrina Boden, & Nicole Kidman. We, of course, had to pick out our favorite fashions from some very notable celebrities, starting with Justin Timberlake in Tom Ford. Enjoy! 

Expect Some Good Changes!

We hope everyone had a great weekend honoring & celebrating the life and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr! We've got some exciting projects and changes that will be happening at the Octavio Carlin headquarters so before you encounter them, we just wanted to give you a little heads up!

1. We've been planning to add an online store to the website, which I know all of you have been waiting for. That is no longer the case. Instead, we are revamping our entire site so, the online store will be built into the new platform, not added! That means everyone in the country can now take advantage of the Octavio Carlin brand. 
2. Our beloved designer, Octavio Carlin, is busily finishing up his Fall Winter collection. Expect a lot of glamour, per pleasant usual, and a lot more focus on evening & special occasion. 
3. Expect some in-store events in the horizon where our loyal clients can preview new collections & exclusive pieces. 

That is it! We look forward to sharing what's to come with all of you! Have a great week!

Favorite Golden Globe Looks

We always look forward to the fashions at the Golden Globes, and there were definitely dresses that stood out amongst the rest. We saw a lot of plunging necklines, sweetheart silhouettes, lace, and sequins. Here are our favorites starting with Jessica Alba's peach gown from Oscar de la Renta. The color is what did for this gown-it's absolutely perfect for her skin tone. Lea Michele with her Elie Saab gown & Amy Adams with her Reem Acra number exemplified the beauty of sequin beading, while Nicole Richie showed off her eclectic boho-glam style on the red carpet. Jennifer Garner looked classic in her lace Vivienne Westwood gown and Kate Hudson was the star of the show with her fabulous dress from Alexander McQueen. What were your favorite looks?

Jessica Alba in Oscar de la Renta

Lea Michele in Eli Saab 

Amy Adams in Reem Acra

Nicole Richie in Naeem Khan

Jennifer Garner in Vivienne Westwood Couture

Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen

Our Favorite Fashions From Last Year's Golden Globes

Salma Hayek in Art Deco inspired Gucci

Michelle Williams in quirky Jason Wu

Lea Michele in sexy Marchesa

Evan Rachel Wood in a plunging Gucci number

Emma Stone looking ravishing in two-toned maroon

Kristen Wigg in a plunging jumpsuit

One of our favorite parts of the Golden Globes is seeing the fabulous fashion that walks the red carpet. Let's recap some of the top looks starting with Salma Hayek. Here we see the homage to Art Deco, with the geometric shapes and patterns. Michelle Williams always manages to grace us with her quirky style, and she does it so tastefully with this Jason Wu all-over velvet embroidered gown. Lea Michele is definitely turning heads with her glamorously seductive slinky dress by Marchesa. Just marvel at the bead work on that gown! Feathers are the main attraction for Evan Rachel Wood with her all-over feather dress by Gucci. Emma Stone steals the show with her plunging 2-tone maroon silk charmeuse gown. That belt and strong-shoulder detail add the perfect balance of hard & soft. And finally Kristen Wigg looks effortlessly chic in a nude jumpsuit. Who do you think will be best dressed this year?

Boardwalk Empire Does Fashion Right

If you thought 1920's fashion was just about beaded flapper dresses and feather headdresses, you are in for a surprise! Since the premiere of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, we cannot get enough of the array of glamour and fabulousness that this era has bestowed on the fashion world. Just look at some of the pieces the actresses wore that are adorned with feminine ruffles, delicate pleats, gorgeous Italian lace, luxurious silks, romantic silk charmeuse, & the ever luxurious fur trims! No wonder Octavio tends to get inspired by this era...its fashion is just timeless chic!