Stitches and Witches Time Spell Fashion

Time Spell

By T. A. Foster

 

Synopsis:

Ivy Grace is learning that magic--and love--are all about the right timing.

Follow the adventures of this spirited young Southern woman as she embarks upon a successful new career writing novels and movies that explore romantic mysteries of the past.

Ivy, a witch who spends her days practicing her brand of good magic in a sleepy little city, often travels back in time to observe events of yesteryear and turn them into compelling stories for her modern-day fans. But as her uncanny ability to weave enthralling historic tales lands her in the limelight, she quickly finds that fame sometimes comes with a price.

Evil forces now know who she is and threaten to reveal her family’s most sacred magical secrets.

With the help of her ruggedly handsome editor and a sexy supernatural ex-boyfriend, Ivy must unravel history while fighting to keep these ominous forces at bay.

Will Ivy be able to make the ultimate sacrifice for the people she loves the most?

Stitches and Witches

Time Spell Fashion

One of the most fun aspects of writing Time Spell was getting to dress all of the characters. It was especially enjoyable to weave in trends from 1968. Here’s a little catwalk preview of some of the book’s more memorable outfits.

Helen VonRue Chadsworth & Simone Davis

 

Helen in one of her perfectly choreographed ensembles.

 

In order to capture the glamour of 1968, I needed Helen’s and Simone’s fashion choices to help showcase the time period. The 1960s was a decade of vast style changes. I love the earlier look of sophistication and elegance that Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn represented, but for 1968 Las Vegas, the characters needed more glitz.

Metallics, beaded trim, feathers, and large jewelry accessories were extremely popular. Hats, gloves, matching purses, and shoes were still trendy and a part of the transitional phase. Skirts were both short and long—a-line and fitted. Some women even started wearing pants for cocktail events. Fashion was all over the map.

This scenario set up a great palette for me to differentiate the type of women Helen and Simone were. I combed through hundreds of fashion photos from the late 60s to give me the right tone and style for crafting particular scenes.

Helen’s aristocratic background lended itself to classier and more refined fabrics and colors. Whereas, Simone chose more form-fitting, skin-showing, seductive dresses with brighter, deeper colors. These women couldn’t have been more different, and the clothes said it all.

How could Holden resist Simone in this low V-cut dress?

Ivy saw lots of gold lame and sequins at the Starlight in 1968.

 

A typical hotel guest at the Starlight

Ivy Grace

 

Even though Ivy struggles to live a normal, non-witchy life, she has no problem deciding what to wear. One of the more real aspects of her, is her fashion sense and attention to it. She’s a girl who knows what clothes make her look and feel good. She plans, with great detail, the perfect outfits for each occasion—whether that’s squashing evil, attending a red carpet event, or flirting with her hot boss. Ivy’s present day is 2013, so readers will recognize current trends and accessories in Ivy’s closet. 

You might recognize this skirt from the Time Spell cover

 

Ivy’s shoes from her New York night at the movie premiere. Her heels can never be too high.

Ivy’s gown from her first red carpet—it was a deep blue.

 

The matching clutch to complete the look

The Guys: Jack Coleman & Finn Delano

  

When it’s time to get to work, Jack rolls up his sleeves

Like champagne and bourbon, the fashion for the men in Time Spell helps set them apart. Finn is slightly more fashion conscious and interested in his appearance. Readers first meet him in a tailored tux that shows off his fit body and plays up his charming side.

Throughout the book Jack takes more of a classic approach to what he wears. He rolls up long sleeve shirts and dons long sleeve Henleys. Their styles say a lot about who they are.

Being the fashionista she is, Ivy notices every last button on these two.

Finn has more than one custom tux in his wardrobe

 

Time Spell revolves around more than just clothes and fashion trends, but the duds these characters wear help round out their personalities, and in a lot of cases, define the scene. Like stepping into the perfect pair of shoes, finding the right outfit for the character can tie everything together. 

T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos. 

Her long love affair with books started at an early age and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper. Time Spell is T.A.’s debut novel, and the first in a series about a very adventurous, clever, and magical girl named Ivy.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University.  When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.