Greenbrier County fashion designer helps make inauguration day memorable
First Lady Denise Morrisey’s custom-designed ball gown to be unveiled today
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
LEWISBURG, W.Va. – Today is the day that Patrick Morrisey becomes the 37th Governor of West Virginia. His wife, Denise Morrisey, is set to become the state’s First Lady.
Although the day’s events, which include the swearing-in ceremony, a parade, musical performances by Shenandoah and The Marshall Tucker Band, and an inaugural ball, may look seamless, a lot of planning went into making today memorable.
Part of that planning, at least for the First Lady, was deciding what to wear. Fortunately, her decision was made a bit easier thanks to a Greenbrier County artist and fashion designer.
Thomas Ruggiero, a graduate of West Virginia University’s fashion design program, is an artist in residence at Lee Street Studios in Lewisburg. Through his guidance, Morrisey is ready for the ball with a custom-designed gown.
In an interview with RealWV, Ruggiero explained the process behind creating Morrisey’s inauguration day ball gown, and the incredible amount of work and artistry that went into every stitch.
According to Ruggiero, when Morrisey first approached him to see if he would be interested in designing a custom dress for a special occasion, he wasn’t quite sure what the special occasion would be.
“But, I could guess considering that her husband was running for governor,” Ruggiero laughed, adding that he is now aware one of his dresses will be worn by Morrisey during the inaugural ball this evening.
As for the design process, Ruggiero stated that Morrisey’s only requirement was that the dress be celebratory.
Ruggiero said he had met Morrisey several years prior to designing the ball gown, and he was excited to get started.
Each year, Ruggiero creates a collection of winter coats made out of vintage wool blankets from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and sells them at various markets throughout the state. One of those markets is located in Greenbrier County.
“That’s how I met Denise,” Ruggiero said. “She bought a coat from me probably three or four years ago and she has purchased coats from me every year since then.”
“I love giving a second life to older textiles that have been forgotten,” Ruggiero added, speaking of his approach to American Contemporary fashion. “I try to always incorporate the use of older textiles because there is such a good quality to them, and a uniqueness to them.”
From beginning to end, Ruggiero creates every piece by hand.
“I make everything – the patterns, I take all the measurements, I cut everything out, I sew everything myself,” Ruggiero said.
The inaugural ball gown
Because Morrisey had asked for the dress to be celebratory, Ruggiero said that he decided to create a midnight blue dress called “Fireworks.”
“The dress has glass beading that I did by hand,” Ruggiero said. “Some of the beads are antique glass beads, and the other beading is beading that I got from a fabric store in Baltimore that sells a lot of French-made fabrics.”
In Ruggiero’s artist’s description of the dress he writes: “KA-BOOM ! POW! Celebrate! The Fireworks dress is a glimmering triumph set to be the awe-inspiring center of any grand celebration. Crafted in a unique midnight blue silk voile the dress carries over 1,500 handsewn glass bugle beads, and over 300 hours of appliqué work. Layers upon layers of French crystals and sequins adorn the billowing skirt while two great bursts of meticulously applied silver beads sparkle in bursting motions. This dress is as much a celebration of dazzling beauty as it honors the craftsmanship of traditional dressmaking. A beautiful homage of novel ideas marrying the glamour of bygone eras.”
“This dress blends together my upcycling and repurposing of older things and blending them into new materials that are available to us,” Ruggiero said.
The ball gown took Ruggiero over 350 hours to create.
“Since the end of August until just last weekend, we have been working on it,” Ruggiero stated. “When people come to me for special occasions, it’s such an intimate process because we have to do 5-10 fittings. We are making little changes and brainstorming, so it’s a totally different process than just going into a store and just picking something off the rack and buying it. I always try to make people feel really good and really happy.”
As for Morrisey, she says she is looking forward to showcasing the ball gown, and the work of a West Virginia artist, on inauguration day.
“Thomas is an incredibly talented Greenbrier County designer and deserves all the praise and glory for my ball gown,” Morrisey told RealWV on Saturday.
Following the inauguration, Morrisey said the ball gown will be donated to the Culture Center museum in Charleston as part of the First Ladies of West Virginia exhibit.
