Vida Craddock
Costume Designer
Vida Craddock interview with Copa Style Magazine
You designed the costumes for the movie "Sex Cocktails and Politics." How did you get involved in this project? My roommate’s brother was, and still is a producer in the Industry. My most enjoyable was working with the actor Ed Begley Jr. as costume wardrobe design, for his History making onstage play Cesar Chavez. And my most exciting as far as the Movie industry is being hired to fill the spot of Lead Designer in the up and coming Ian Glover Production, “False Affairs” This is a project is still in the works, but coming soon.. My most recent news was the invite in the fashion world is from one of Two, of the largest fashion arenas out there, Style Fashion Week. 350 Million Impressions per 5 day event. Shows are in Miami, N.Y. LA, Palm Springs, Hamptons, Dubai.
What did you find most rewarding? The most rewarding thing to me first and for most, it was being asked to be a part of someone’s journey, using the visions from my journey. It means that all the hard work paid off, when someone see’s your vision. I also found meeting my comrades, whom I was honored to work with, is also very rewarding. Pack full of memories, and experiences.
Do you plan on designing more costumes for films? YES, lol. I pretty much, if the time permits, stay in the mix, as often as I can, or when asked.
Can you briefly describe your career?
My name is Vida. I'm Vida of Designs by Vida, KiVi Phase Thing, Vida’s T’s, KiVi Essentials, and KiVi Moments In Time Art Gallery. KiVi Moments In Time was an amazing journey, I was located in AZ. In the heart of the Art District, (I am still part of Scottsdale AZ, Art Community and Registry). It was there that I fell in love with the aspect of Art infused into fashion, and the every growing direction of creating my own textile.
In my time I have worked with some of best in one way or another. From Snoop, Macy Grey, Dr. Dre, just to name a few, to designing for Grammy’s runway 2015, Bet runway 2010/2016, . One of my most rewarding experience’s was working as second in assist on the stage as costume design for Ed Bagley Jr ’s play on Cesar Chavez, (We Made history), not to mention the movie Sex Politics and Cocktails, which I worked as wardrobe design I was in the movie too. So as you can see the life and times of Vida is pretty much all over the place, and very diverse in many arenas in the Fashion, Movie, and Music Industry. I have been offered the opportunity of being on the main stage of Style Fashion Week, 350 million Impressions per event, yes I am excited and honored.
I graduated 2015 getting my Bachelors Degree in Business. I was selected, Social Media Brand Marketing Ambassador of Starting a Clothing Line. Being free lance for a life time, I decided to go to school for enhancement in all areas of fashion, Draping, Pattern Making, History of Fashion, and The History of Custom Design. Even with 25 years in the entertainment, and the corporate arena I went on further to involve myself on occasion with Commodities, sometimes dealing with clients owning Commodities worth BILLIONS, what a rush waiting for a deal to manifest. I also dibble and dabble in the Import, Exporting.
All Websites have been shut down to prepare for the Designs by Vida’s Fashion App “Style
How did you get involved in fashion design? I was a boutique owner on Melrose. (Vida’s Unique Boutique & Gallery), and someone from the past walked in and offered me $10,000 to create a gown for a client of theirs. I remember playing with the paper dolls and clothes at a young, young age back in the day, combined with the love of creating something from nothing or redesigning, “well has just become a passion”…What’s rewarding about that is thinking outside the box and knowing others are right there with you. I like being different, edgy, sassy, but classy and haute. What I really love about Fashion now is that we are now able to be eclectic and do multiply collections, without being questioned about it.
How long have you been a fashion designer? Wow, since the early 90’s however I didn’t go to the Fashion Schools until 2012-2016.
Can you describe your collection? Eclectic, lol, if you want one work. Out of the box, If you want a few more descriptive words. Riskaaaa, if I may say so, lol, black lace, silks, anything see thru, lol.
Which celebrities have you worked with? As mentioned in my bio, being a designer at the time of Snoop, Dre, Macy Grey, and having kids, lol, they did video’s and would always submit something to have my designs or jewelry in their Music Videos. I grew up with my mom telling a store that she had documents, that made her Eartha Kitt’s sister, which makes me her niece. Only met her once. My mother was one of the first Raylett’s behind Ray Charles, and yes he was a womanizer, and, let my mom tell it she told him to buzz off, in and R rated way. Lol.
You design for men and women. Where do you find your inspiration? GOD, first and for most. Betsy Johnson is one of my fav’s on so many levels. First to me she is a fun, designer, to me that keeps your ideas young. She knows her team in her design center by name, as I must do. I started out design Crystal jewelry, until I thought someone else designed better and I got stopped creating, “yes I hate that I did” and will be doing a new collection soon. 2018
How many shows do you participate in a year? Well, I am asked to do at least 12 shows yearly, the big questions is how many do I actually except.
When is your next show? A charity show with American Cancer Society ,and St Jude Hospital are among the Charities of the October 15th Fashion event I have been invited to. Also, Designs by Vida’s Fashion event 24th of October is my Launch party and the Expo fashion show November 4th, I have been invited to do.
Which show have you found the most rewarding? All of them, anytime you have been asked to platform your passion, that is reward within itself. When you start out you are the one doing the calling, lol.
How do you choose your models? Carefully,well, in my case as I think many designers we don’t really have to look. In my case I was Blessed to do photo shots with one or two international models heavy in the circuit, that are America’s Next Top Model, or America’s got Talent Stars, lol, so when you tell or show your portfolio the following just sorta stays there. Word of mouth is always good.
We see that you are also a jewelry designer. Can you tell us more? Jewelry came first, until I felt no one would buy the jewelry I put together In my single apartment. I am a great big fan of Crystal, gem stones, all things shinning and sparkly, lol.
What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer? For me it’s the smile on the face of someone who really enjoys your designer vision, or for someone to ask me to be the designer in a show, or the fact I can create something from something or from the ground up, that excites me to see the end results as well.
Which celebrity would you most be interested in working with? If I could I’d love to work on the celebrity designer side would be Betsy Johnson. Historically Celebrity would be Angel Davis, and Angela Basset & Janet Jackson, would be a celebrity I would love to me to design something for.
What are your plans for fashion design this year? Well, I am in the process of a lot of major, massive promotion and brand marketing for my designs, I am going by-costal journey, West Coast, East Coast, and eventually, international , Dubai, and China Magic, yep, not Las Vegas “Magic” China “Magic”..I am excited.
Here are a few of my videos:
https://youtu.be/lPXkRzuZwHg
https://youtu.be/OA493v0qiuA
https://youtu.be/8Pe-fNLWS4Q
https://youtu.be/ZyJp2IfHT-g
You designed the costumes for the movie "Sex Cocktails and Politics." How did you get involved in this project? My roommate’s brother was, and still is a producer in the Industry. My most enjoyable was working with the actor Ed Begley Jr. as costume wardrobe design, for his History making onstage play Cesar Chavez. And my most exciting as far as the Movie industry is being hired to fill the spot of Lead Designer in the up and coming Ian Glover Production, “False Affairs” This is a project is still in the works, but coming soon.. My most recent news was the invite in the fashion world is from one of Two, of the largest fashion arenas out there, Style Fashion Week. 350 Million Impressions per 5 day event. Shows are in Miami, N.Y. LA, Palm Springs, Hamptons, Dubai.
What did you find most rewarding? The most rewarding thing to me first and for most, it was being asked to be a part of someone’s journey, using the visions from my journey. It means that all the hard work paid off, when someone see’s your vision. I also found meeting my comrades, whom I was honored to work with, is also very rewarding. Pack full of memories, and experiences.
Do you plan on designing more costumes for films? YES, lol. I pretty much, if the time permits, stay in the mix, as often as I can, or when asked.
Can you briefly describe your career?
My name is Vida. I'm Vida of Designs by Vida, KiVi Phase Thing, Vida’s T’s, KiVi Essentials, and KiVi Moments In Time Art Gallery. KiVi Moments In Time was an amazing journey, I was located in AZ. In the heart of the Art District, (I am still part of Scottsdale AZ, Art Community and Registry). It was there that I fell in love with the aspect of Art infused into fashion, and the every growing direction of creating my own textile.
In my time I have worked with some of best in one way or another. From Snoop, Macy Grey, Dr. Dre, just to name a few, to designing for Grammy’s runway 2015, Bet runway 2010/2016, . One of my most rewarding experience’s was working as second in assist on the stage as costume design for Ed Bagley Jr ’s play on Cesar Chavez, (We Made history), not to mention the movie Sex Politics and Cocktails, which I worked as wardrobe design I was in the movie too. So as you can see the life and times of Vida is pretty much all over the place, and very diverse in many arenas in the Fashion, Movie, and Music Industry. I have been offered the opportunity of being on the main stage of Style Fashion Week, 350 million Impressions per event, yes I am excited and honored.
I graduated 2015 getting my Bachelors Degree in Business. I was selected, Social Media Brand Marketing Ambassador of Starting a Clothing Line. Being free lance for a life time, I decided to go to school for enhancement in all areas of fashion, Draping, Pattern Making, History of Fashion, and The History of Custom Design. Even with 25 years in the entertainment, and the corporate arena I went on further to involve myself on occasion with Commodities, sometimes dealing with clients owning Commodities worth BILLIONS, what a rush waiting for a deal to manifest. I also dibble and dabble in the Import, Exporting.
All Websites have been shut down to prepare for the Designs by Vida’s Fashion App “Style
How did you get involved in fashion design? I was a boutique owner on Melrose. (Vida’s Unique Boutique & Gallery), and someone from the past walked in and offered me $10,000 to create a gown for a client of theirs. I remember playing with the paper dolls and clothes at a young, young age back in the day, combined with the love of creating something from nothing or redesigning, “well has just become a passion”…What’s rewarding about that is thinking outside the box and knowing others are right there with you. I like being different, edgy, sassy, but classy and haute. What I really love about Fashion now is that we are now able to be eclectic and do multiply collections, without being questioned about it.
How long have you been a fashion designer? Wow, since the early 90’s however I didn’t go to the Fashion Schools until 2012-2016.
Can you describe your collection? Eclectic, lol, if you want one work. Out of the box, If you want a few more descriptive words. Riskaaaa, if I may say so, lol, black lace, silks, anything see thru, lol.
Which celebrities have you worked with? As mentioned in my bio, being a designer at the time of Snoop, Dre, Macy Grey, and having kids, lol, they did video’s and would always submit something to have my designs or jewelry in their Music Videos. I grew up with my mom telling a store that she had documents, that made her Eartha Kitt’s sister, which makes me her niece. Only met her once. My mother was one of the first Raylett’s behind Ray Charles, and yes he was a womanizer, and, let my mom tell it she told him to buzz off, in and R rated way. Lol.
You design for men and women. Where do you find your inspiration? GOD, first and for most. Betsy Johnson is one of my fav’s on so many levels. First to me she is a fun, designer, to me that keeps your ideas young. She knows her team in her design center by name, as I must do. I started out design Crystal jewelry, until I thought someone else designed better and I got stopped creating, “yes I hate that I did” and will be doing a new collection soon. 2018
How many shows do you participate in a year? Well, I am asked to do at least 12 shows yearly, the big questions is how many do I actually except.
When is your next show? A charity show with American Cancer Society ,and St Jude Hospital are among the Charities of the October 15th Fashion event I have been invited to. Also, Designs by Vida’s Fashion event 24th of October is my Launch party and the Expo fashion show November 4th, I have been invited to do.
Which show have you found the most rewarding? All of them, anytime you have been asked to platform your passion, that is reward within itself. When you start out you are the one doing the calling, lol.
How do you choose your models? Carefully,well, in my case as I think many designers we don’t really have to look. In my case I was Blessed to do photo shots with one or two international models heavy in the circuit, that are America’s Next Top Model, or America’s got Talent Stars, lol, so when you tell or show your portfolio the following just sorta stays there. Word of mouth is always good.
We see that you are also a jewelry designer. Can you tell us more? Jewelry came first, until I felt no one would buy the jewelry I put together In my single apartment. I am a great big fan of Crystal, gem stones, all things shinning and sparkly, lol.
What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer? For me it’s the smile on the face of someone who really enjoys your designer vision, or for someone to ask me to be the designer in a show, or the fact I can create something from something or from the ground up, that excites me to see the end results as well.
Which celebrity would you most be interested in working with? If I could I’d love to work on the celebrity designer side would be Betsy Johnson. Historically Celebrity would be Angel Davis, and Angela Basset & Janet Jackson, would be a celebrity I would love to me to design something for.
What are your plans for fashion design this year? Well, I am in the process of a lot of major, massive promotion and brand marketing for my designs, I am going by-costal journey, West Coast, East Coast, and eventually, international , Dubai, and China Magic, yep, not Las Vegas “Magic” China “Magic”..I am excited.
Here are a few of my videos:
https://youtu.be/lPXkRzuZwHg
https://youtu.be/OA493v0qiuA
https://youtu.be/8Pe-fNLWS4Q
https://youtu.be/ZyJp2IfHT-g