Quirk · Bespoke vintage reproductions
Vintage inspiration.
Made for your proportions.
Love the silhouette. Make room for the person wearing it.
Explore a bespoke reproduction or vintage-inspired commission with Melynda Choothesa. We welcome inquiries from plus-size women and big-and-tall men who want period-inspired clothing shaped around their individual proportions.
Explore a commission ↗Start with the details you love.
Choose the reference
Bring a silhouette, an era, a photograph or a garment you admire. Identify what matters most: the shoulder line, waist, drape, trouser shape or a particular detail.
Consider the whole fit
Discuss length, balance, ease, movement and how you prefer clothing to sit on your body. Plus-size and big-and-tall needs are part of the design conversation from the beginning.
Make it wearable for you
We’ll discuss suitable fabrics, construction and the details to preserve or adapt. Each inquiry is reviewed for feasibility, scope, fitting needs and timing.
Inspired by vintage. Newly made.
A reproduction is a new piece
These commissions are newly made garments. They are separate from Quirk’s original vintage inventory and are not presented as original designer pieces.
Your references, your priorities
Some projects may closely follow a period silhouette; others may reinterpret it for comfort, a particular event or everyday wear. The direction is agreed before work begins.
Founder & Creative Director
Meet your designer
Hi, I’m Melynda.
I’m Melynda Choothesa, Founder and Creative Director of Quirk and Couture Zen. Based in Los Angeles, I’m also a fashion designer, costume designer and stylist. My work moves between music-video costumes, personal styling and bespoke pieces for individual clients.
My costume work includes Bad Bunny’s “Volví” in Puerto Rico. I also designed and constructed a Satine-inspired costume for model Kelsey Merritt, reworking a vintage showgirl corset with hand-draped details. For Kaiser Permanente’s Rose Parade float, my work brought costume design and styling to a very different setting.
Across those projects and private commissions, I think about the person, the setting and what the clothes need to do. For your bespoke piece, that starts with your ideas, how you move and how you want to feel—from the silhouette to the fabric and finishing details.
More about Melynda & Couture Zen ↗Wherever you are
Let’s work your way.
Connect over Zoom
Start the conversation remotely. The Orlando wedding commission was completed entirely over Zoom, without an in-person meeting.
Meet in person
Prefer an in-person conversation? Ask about appointments or having us fly to meet you. Travel is available by arrangement.
A few things to know
Do I need to fit a standard vintage size?
The conversation starts with your proportions and fit preferences. Share what is difficult to find or fit, and we’ll discuss the measurements and fitting approach your project needs.
Can you reproduce any garment exactly?
Send your reference first. Materials, construction, available information and the design itself affect what is possible. We’ll discuss what can be reproduced or reinterpreted before confirming the scope.
Let’s make it personal
Show us the silhouette you love.
Tell us the era or reference, what you like about it, your fit priorities, location, date and approximate budget.