We should not only celebrate the ultimate geek goddess and warrior Princess Leia, but the strong and honest woman who played her. Carrie Fisher was a true feminist, as much for what she wanted in her life, as how she got it and for talking about that which people usually saw as stigmatizing.
Introduced via the Harlem “House Ball” community fashion competitions, Jose Guitierez Xtravaganza and Louis Xtravaganza showed Madonna what the style was all about and the rest is history.
Seeing beyond the New Year, you might want to lube up your catsuit or latex hakama pants for T.G,’s first event of 2017, their Valentines Ball to be held at the 9-room Coronet on 2/11. And a bit further afield from London, TG will roll into Edinburgh at the Caves on 2/25 for Torture Garden Edinburgh. The organization is also planning to roll out events for Rome and Japan later in the year.
Not simply the denizens of a Justin Bieber or Drake starting a tour and offering ‘exclusives’ of their merchandise, the pop-up was the gorilla brick-and-mortar de jour of this past year. Google opened temporary locations, as did plenty of other retailers (some not even couture related). The attraction here is that the buyer is able to purchase items they can’t get anywhere else, or items soon to be sold out, and in the pop/fashion world that speaks volumes. And also one’s cool cred increases being part of what is exactly happening now, at locations that often are only revealed to those who scour Instagram or a retailer’s site on a regular basis.
Jess Merriman of MomoCon claims that “Our Cosplayers on Ice event goes beyond cosplay.” And one could certainly say that the cosplayers coming out for the new Star Wars adventure go beyond the usual need to dress in fantastical garb. It’s not that this science fiction movie franchise started this need for dress up, but certainly the stark black and white outfits we see in the Star Wars universe (where the evil Storm Troopers are dressed in white, which is typically the color for good guys) all those delicious aliens or super feminist Jyn Ersa dressing in hooded robes to her full flight suit slick black gear give serious cosplayers lots to work with.
Here at Dawnamatrix we live for the unlimited possibility of textile art and how it relates to alternative couture. Zara doesn’t sport anything as naughty as a velvet catsuit, one probably wouldn’t be combing the site for a cosplay outfit or fetish gear specifically (although who can say how someone might come to use velvet?). But it is important to note, that just as we have seen with latex, there is a strong market for materials slightly to the left of what is commonly used in everyday couture, and not just for video stars or for Lady Gaga checking out her local deli counter.
We are all well aware of where we might see latex fashion design, rubber clothing, those outfits and accessories we all crave to wear. From fashion events, to specific magazines, possibly on Lady Gaga on a semi-regular basis, that couture that makes such an impression in our lives, certainly makes a showing from time to time. And when it comes to latex, PVC, rubber, alternate wardrobes, a picture really is worth a thousand words, and a few new publications are speaking volumes with their pics featuring the stuff we love.
Indie folk duo Builder of the House don’t exactly sport rubber clothing or latex thighs highs on stage, but Rob Cimitile and Elliot Heeschen are well aware of how clothes can make a wardrobe…no matter if a guy or girl is wearing that wardrobe. The band’s brutally honest “Look at the Man” video (see here) features Conor Leigh Tubbs morphing into his/her Cherry Lemonade drag persona. Issues of gender certainly rate high on the country’s current concerns, and knowing how our own work often makes folks feel better about whatever gender they identify with, we wanted to get to know Builder of the House better.
Creating latex outfits, some would say fetish clothing, certainly ‘alternate’ pieces, we come across a great variety of people wearing what they wear, as much for play as for work. From models cavorted across music videos to a super villain bending the comic world to her will, to even a stripper, we are as much interested in what someone might wear when it comes to their wardrobe (whether we have made that wardrobe or not) as what that person might do that shows off or employs that wardrobe. In the case of Giles Walker’s computer-controlled stripper robot, the lady in question isn’t wearing so very much, but what she is doing is interesting…as well as it might just be making quite the comment on society.
Not that we’d ever expect latex accessories or any other kind of fetish gear, but the infamous Pirelli calendar promises something else they won’t show for 2017 (other than little wardrobe on their models as usual). The calendar’s photos will not be digitally enhanced in any way, a true alternative to what Pirelli has managed in the past, to be sure.
As you may remember, just recently participated in Seattle Fashion Week, for the first time there showing off our latex clothing. Furthering our connection with that wonderful organization Dawnamatrix is participating in a giveaway campaign with SFW, where we award a prize of a $100.00 gift certificate to Dawnamatrix.com plus a pair of fingerless opera gloves in the winner’s choice of color and size.
Dawnamatrix will have our yearly sale from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. 20% off all catalog items with code THANKS2016 from November 25th to 28th.
Fashion question more than statement, seemingly Turkey Hats fall into the same satirical sartorial couture as the obligatory ‘ugly’ Christmas sweater. In the TMZ piece, notables like Cara Delevingne, Doutzen Kroes, and Ozzy Osbourne wear what seem to be the common Turkey Hat, a brown knit beanie-shaped hat, made of plushy material fashioned to resemble brown turkey skin-in the shape of the Thanksgiving bird-often with little white ‘feeties’ capping the edge of each leg. It’s as if the Tukey sat right down on one’s head in this style of hat.
The two things we can be assured of with new the Ashley Graham Barbie: the doll is not wearing a latex kimono and she does not have a thigh gap.
The lady in question is Binta Dibba. She is originally from Gambia and now lives in Seattle, represented by SMG Models. In the picture you see here of Binta, she is modeling our custom Hello Kitty Mermaid Gown. She is a great lady, consummate pro, and an obviously talented model as this picture attests (and you can see her at her SMG profile here: https://www.smgmodels.com/talent/98240/ ) and it was our absolute pleasure to work with her.
As fans of the series, as well as so many of us lovers of fantasy costume design will attest, the possibility of just what Johansson is, or is not, wearing when she steps into the duds that render her character invisible, we know we can’t trust our eyes to what we see in a clip, or our ears to the rumors we hear. As the expansive popular Ghost series has had turns as T.V. shows, anime, comic and video games Kusanagi has come to have been drawn by different artists. And though there is no true accounting of the character ever stepping nude into her thermos suit (instead she seems to be wearing a skin tight leotard at the least), when a series becomes westernized, and with a huge Hollywood star, people do tend to wonder.
What Cuoco has and hasn’t been wearing has made quite a bit of news of late. She infamously bared her breast (with a heart emoji discreetly covering most of it) in a Snapchat pic that just went viral. This latest sexy turn on the super popular sitcom certainly adds to the fascination fans of all stripes have for Kaley Cuoco (a few years back the net went wild when she decided to change her hair’s length and style for the show).
This year we pretty much got Heidi Klum as Heidi Klum, just that there were a lot of them (her). Wearing identical costume design of nude thigh-high boots, body suits and gold, the same long wavy locks, make-up, hair and nails done all together to look alike…and prosthetics, Heidi and five of her clones went as Heidi Klum to the party.
In high cut-off shorts (which she has been seen in lots lately), to fetish clothing and that infamous meat dress (which late night host James Corden actually wore for his “Carpool Karaoke” with Gaga recently) to all manner of neat and quite revealing stuff she wore in her vampiric turn on the “American Horror Story” series, Lady Gaga has made style as well as music. Sporting what seems to be her latest fashion statement, Gaga has been seen in her pink western Gladys Tamez in Central Park as much as during her recent “SNL” turns and even when she was interviewed on “Good Morning America.”
What is painted across clothing or even how latex might be textured certainly and often influences our product and the people who buy it. In our daily rendering, the ‘brush’ of a certain texture we employ, certain colors we use, will come to set one piece or even a whole collection apart. Lots of fetish clothing employs illusions of color and cut to make things appear more revealing than they might be, or in some instances show something both wearer and viewer might not be so sure they are seeing. From custom made wear to right-of-the-rack stuff, we see our customers availing themselves of what color and texture can bring to their look time and again
And as always happens some costumes have been pulled for retailors for the 2016 Halloween Season. Disney’s “Moana” costume, from the upcoming film of the same name set off too much controversy over “costume caricaturing” of Polynesian culture. And what many sites are calling the most offense costume of the year (quite a distinction) the “Tranny Granny” has been taken off the shelves of many retailers.
From Copenhagen back to Seattle (with a stop in Iceland too), premiering both our laser cut latex catsuit and latest full latex collection, “Waterproof,” enjoying the company of so many encouraging people, from fashionistas, models, designers, photographers and fans, and seeing some amazing spots, the past few weeks of the Dawnamatrix schedule has been wondrously busy.
Mrs. Obama made news this week-and certainly this will be the last time she does so in just this way-when wearing a rose gold Versace ‘chain mail’ gown at the Obama’s last White House State Dinner. Entertaining Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (who wore Giorgio Armani) and his wife Agnese Landini (who wore Ermanno Scervino), the President and First Lady held this last historic event of its kind with Michelle Obama causing quite the stir days later because of her custom made tight dress…and how wonderful she looked in it.
Robbie Williams has released his seeming first single “Party Like a Russian” from his new Heavy Entertainment Show album, mining a wonderfully fetish dress-up look for the song’s video. Obviously taking a cue from the iconic Robert Palmer “Addicted To Love” video (as well as Shania Twain’s all-male beefy backing band on “”Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” ) Williams has his ‘band’ of ladies in high-knee, pinpoint heel, lace-up ballet boots and it is quite the sight.
“I think cosplay has been one of the driving forces behind that (comic popularity). There are so many more women participating in not just the comic book fandom but the Con culture as well, at San Diego and other cons and that allows us to support a wider diversity of books.”
As much participating in the fashion exhibition, we are also thrilled to be part of what will prove to be an interesting interaction of so many talented people, from the textile art field, as well as so many others that the city of Seattle has invited. Sponsors such as City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture–King Street Station, Sound Transit-Union Station, City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, City of Seattle Office of Film & Music, SDOT and Vann.Edge Salon (on-hand for the models as well as just sponsoring) assures a lot of diversity of who will be on hand…for designers and attendees bot
Sarah Jessica Parker as “Carrie Bradshaw” might not have worn so much (or any at all) latex outfits in Sex In The City. She was considered a fashion icon though from starring in that hit show of years ago, influencing culture with Cosmos as with her shoes, well-placed “material” flowers and clutches. “Did you see …
Also on the list for us interested in alternative wardrobe (as well as alternative life-styling), you should grab up your tickets for another event happening in Amsterdam, the Dominatrix weekend, before they sell-out. The main party starts 11/2 and presently there is a host of what are called “Combi Tickets” packages available. Those planning to go, or right now just thinking about it, can take advantage of the two days in any combination they like.
For pure science fiction, we saw the most popular science fiction movie franchise return this year with Star Wars: The Force Awakens; get ready for more Stormtroopers as the very least of the S.W. cinema wardrobe you will see. And with Star Trek’s 50th celebrated in 2016, we might just see lots of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock coming to our parties.
Alongside gloves from Balenciaga, Tiffany & Co. necklace and bracelets, and top by Tome, all on model Sarah Brannon we are once again thrilled to be part of Interview magazine. See the magazine page here https://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/full-throttle/
Australian audiences fell hard for this movie last fall. The Dressmaker hit the #1 spot at the ‘down under’ box office, earning $14.4 million in total and grabbed five wins at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. One of these awards went to Winslet winning for best lead actress.
VFiles models walked down the runway in umbrella hats and plastic bag dresses.
Chromat revealed a look of black straps over a high-waisted panty two-piece.
Namilia did us all proud with two latex-hooded models, one a see-thru hood matching a latex top of the same thin vanilla and a second model in a thicker white hood (sporting a shocking braid out the top). Another model wore an open shirt, chains across her bared breasts attached to a collar with the ubiquitous black X’s in tape across her nipples.
Jeremy Scott went all sequined color, with asymmetrical 80’s-influenced lines as much in tops as eyewear and wigs.
In 2013 Preaching To The Perverted enjoyed a revival three years ago when a Kickstarter campaign produced a high def version of the movie, so Urban knows the power of kickstarter for sure. He also knows to offer Tortured In The Orchard in all forms, digital, paperback and hardcover contingent upon a kickstarter contributor’s monetary commitment.
Just this week in New York City Kim was seen stepping around town in a see-thru bra, a PABLO denim jacket-coming from her husband’s current tour/album swag- and transparent plastic high heel boots from his just revealed “Yeezy 4” collection. (Kanye just gave a big show at Roosevelt Park in New York City during New York Fashion Week to launch that collection.)
The Creator of Star Ttrek Gene Roddenberry said he envisioned his show as “Wagon Train To The Stars.” But the enduring quality of this visionary television serious that spawned movies, many other Trek series, product tie-ins, cosplay and conventions became so much more than the adventure yarn its creator wanted it to be
Dawnamatrix has been nominated as a 2016 finalist for “Red Carpet Designer of the Year” in the 3rd Annual Northwest Fashion Awards presented by Ville Magazine and Vann.Edge Salon Spa benefiting the Pink Gene Foundation. The Northwest Fashion Awards are part of Seattle Style Night, which will also include the Northwest Hairstyling Awards.