Beyoncé broke her new ‘visual album on HBO this past Saturday, and though there wasn’t a latex outfit to be seen, it was a musical treat as well as a fashion bonanza. The hour-long 12 video program “Lemonade” featured designers like Air and Yeezy, Phelan, Saint Laurent as well as virtually unknowns like Yousef al-Jasmi, all dressing Miss Bey swimmingly indeed.
Prince though did not seem to embody a character like Bowie did, as much as he was a character. Enigmatic, private to a seemingly reclusive degrees, champion of music as a pure art form, battler of record company greed, enjoying an ever- changing roster of musicians coming to play with him, studio mogul and a man who had a color all his own, really what can you say about men and woman so talented and unique their like shall never pass our way again?
The ex Captain of the Enterprise, dressed-up in a pink dress, black heels and jewels (even sporting the glittery accessory of a diamond clutch) to promote the 2nd season of his Starz show “Blunt Talk.” Nails to match the dress, eyelashes, purple eyeshadow and a striking white wig completed the 75 year old actor’s transformation for an “Emmy for Your Consideration” event. On a show where Stewart says he often repeats to himself: “I’ve never done that before” about his character’s actions, coming out in drag to speak about the show seemed apropos, he felt.
As we have all seen, W Magazine often features an alternate wardrobe scene (or two) in their photos, many a time right-in-your-face sexy latex outfit styling (hell, Dawnamatrix wares have been involved in a few of these), and a goodly amount of celebs in both. Presently we collaborated in the magazine’s ‘Shot Competition,’ a chock-full submission line-up surely showing a unique merging of talents, no matter the winner.
The UK’s Victoria and Albert Museum seems to think lingerie is important just as we do. They are devoting their new Undressed: A Brief History Of Underwear exhibit to a semi-chronological, heavily-themed display of unmentionables for the next year. In sections titled “Health and Hygiene” “Performance Underwear; and Support: Bras and Girdles” and many others, this very famous London museum’s attendees get to enjoy a multi-floor exploration of undergarment fashions and body image concerns of the past (and really, nothing reveals how we feel about our bodies then what we make to wear so very close to them). Dress designers and ‘reformers’ are highlighted as well as the inventors and innovators who played a role in the furthering of designs that increased our comfort and the durability of our undergarments through the decades.
In How To Make Latex Clothes, by Goldust (aka Latex Jim), a man who has worked as much for latex houses as he has given workshops on the art of latex working for nearly a decade, the reader gets a very positive ‘course’ on how to work with that material we all love so much. Easy to follow instructions (plus some good photos) are presented for methods in gluing, prepping, and cleaning latex even. In conjunction with his online Youtube tutorials, Jim lays out lots of his knowledge in this unique book that approaches the art of latex outfit making in the very best of ways.
Khadija Uzhakhovs married Said Gutseriev-he heir to a Russian oil fortune-Saturday just past. Instagram pictures from what has been called the “the most expensive wedding ever” (priced at a reported $1 billion) reveal performances from Jennifer Lopez and Sting (to name but a few) and created a viral buzz. But it was Khadija’s custom Elie Saab gown that really got people talking, and not just fashionista’s tongues a’wagging.
Loath that we are to admit it, it sometimes takes a bit more than just buying from a reputable designer making killer alternate couture (we can recommend one of course) to get your latex outfit looking smashing. We as much get customers coming to us ordering custom made wardrobes, as others who want to just grab a pair of leggings right off our site. In all instances we are here to help as much as we can, forever hoping our customers go away happy and come back time and again. But there are also a few suggestions we try to impart at conventions, backstage at runway shows, as much in emails and just in every day gossiping to potential clients and friends that we feel make a latex look look even better.
Considering that we are bombarded with daily Instagram pics of naked women and men (A, B and even no-list celebrities); far and away from those years when Madonna was making waves with fetish clothing styling; Kardashians threatening to break the net almost every week and Rihanna herself having exposed herself plenty in sexy costume designs already, one wonders if the actual video here will have staying power beyond all the talk about it…before we even get to see it
You know how much we love when considerations of latex styling slip into the haute couture mainstream. All humbleness aside, we love it even more when we are involved with that ‘slipping in.’ In U.S. Vogue’s April 2016 issue, model Grace Hartzel poses in the Mexico jungle of Los Pazos in a ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ spread…wearing Dawnamatrix Wrist Length Gloves.
As humbly as we dare declare, Dawnamatrix made quite an impact on the men and women at Seattle Fashion Week (and they on us) many of whom told us that they were seeing latex clothing for the first time. It’s always nice to show-off our wardrobe pieces, talk fetish/fantasy designs, but it’s as equally thrilling to open eyes as well as tickle sensibilities to what can be done with the material we love so much.
Furthermore our connection to the fashionistas at the SFW is fully illustrated by the great write-up Hector Diaz gave us on his “Geek Q” website. Here is the snippet from Hector’s blog, a blog no fashionista should do without:
Though criticism has already been leveled at Delevingne’s bikini (where do we ever see Enchantress really ever show so much skin?) and Jared Leto’s Joker’s tats have been blogged about incessantly, we’ve already seen plenty of Suicide Squad cosplay…with so many baddies on screen, this is a film just bursting with possibilities really. Can we even count how many young women wore hot short pink shorts and pony tails at last year’s Comic-Con?; this year’s Comic Cons and Halloween 2016 will certainly see even more men, women and kids dressing-up as the Squad. Supporting a costume design/wardrobe department that IMDB lists as forty three person strong, we alt. cinema wardrobe lovers are salivating over Suicide Squad…and all the news we get about it.
The theme of this particular issue of CR is “Made in America,” which Dawnamatrix clothing certainly is. Yes, we enjoy a global reputation we work very hard to maintain, but we have always been proud that our latex production comes from the U.S. Selling our latex clothing around the world, participating in runway shows and fetish events across many continents, culling fans and friends from the four corners and enjoying a good relationship with many other latex designers world wide, even living and studying in Japan as we have, we have always considered ourselves citizens of the world. But born in American, working here, certainly identifying as an American designer, we are as proud to be recognized for what we make, as from where we make it.
The ‘streetwear’ aesthetic is nothing new of course. But with the much acclaimed Kanye “Yeezy Season 3” show at Madison Square Garden at the just past New York Fashion week, the French label Vetements pieces being seen across runways in France’s capital, Rihanna creating oversized hoodies and “deconstructed” sweats for her Fenty x Puma collection, and fashionista audiences sitting at shows in ripped jeans and tee’s, the time is now for a decided non-haute couture look.
From costume fashionistas, to rabid Home Box Office viewers, to just those that like to see actors like Lena Headley, Jason Momoa and so many others strut their stuff in headdresses, leather jerkins, masks and quite often no clothes at all, the popular GoT has been the very best show to enjoy. Gold armor, leather accessories, various tunics, pants…we’ve been on about the show before and how it tickles fans of cosplay and fetish costuming. And being a latex designer, it’s hard not to as much watch the proceedings as a fan as salivating over just what new design might be turned out from costume designer Michele Clapton or what of our favorites will be seen again.
Certainly a way for Seattle Fashion Week to support, celebrate, and showcase the tremendous work their designers put in for their spring show collection pieces, this free public event welcomes a very casual exchange of interest and retail. Cameras are encouraged, as is a talking with designers as much as truly looking over their couture fashion. Attending a fashion show, one doesn’t usually get the chance to get so close to the clothes, let alone talk with a designer, or even get to buy what they see right at the moment. This Designer Exposé is unique in this way as it encourages a real connection between designer and fashionista, fan and just the curious.
Yes, once again we saw no latex bodysuits or accessories walking the red carpet, but there was one true alternative wardrobe moment at this year’s Oscars. Worn by none other than 2016 Academy Award winner for Best Costume Design, Jenny Beavan-winning for her work “Mad Max: Fury Road”-Beavan paid homage to her film by wearing a leather jacket sporting the film’s skull logo on its back. Claiming to press backstage at the broadcast that she absolutely” does not wear heels and “I look ridiculous in a beautiful gown.” Beavan certainly represented the rebel in us all, if only ultimtaley for her comfort, and didn’t look anything like the “bag lady,” Stephen Fry claimed she did.
Though none are wearing latex clothing to better their causes, Pam Anderson, Caitlyn Jenner and Christian Siriano seem to be marrying a message with their latest fashion work. Jenner has partnered with a major makeup company helping to fight AIDS and further transgender causes. Anderson showed lots of herself (not that that’s unusual in and of itself) for vegan shoes and famed fashion designer Siriano is looking to bring awareness to global water problems at this year’s Oscars.
We told you to look out for the book Objects Of Desire, with our latex clothing appearing across a few of its pages (see here): the book has just been published, and we are here to report it is wonderful. Writer Rita Catinella Orrell and visual artist Jason Scuderi, created the over 200-page hard cover showcasing the modern design of adult products, jewelry and clothing (this is where Dawnamatrix haute couture fits in) as well as interviewing notables in the field of sex. Their book is a stunning achievement, as every bit a feast for eye as it is intellect.
Supatex is the fashion division of 4D Rubber. Based in Derbyshire England, 4D has been a leader in rubber sheeting and rubber clothing for over half a century. Their unique manufacturing processes has created for both companies the consistent possibility of a wide color range, more secure bonding and the very best in shine, tear strength and stretch. And as we all well know, these are particular factors those of us who wear/make/enjoy latex and rubber find very important indeed.
Ok, we didn’t exactly make it to the stage, nor were any of our latex outfits dripping off any of the divas of the day. Yes, we would have loved to have accessorized Z LaLa’s whip dress or added some David Bowie-inspired latex bling for Lady Gaga’s tribute. But where our couture was seen Monday night is probably just as important as being on the actual Grammy broadcast, at least when it comes to advertising dollars. It seems a newer Covergirl “Plumpify Mascara” 60 second spot, starring Katy Perry wearing our Skater Dress and inflatable skirt, was shown during Monday night’s music celebration commercials.
New York Fashion Week, as is true of Mila, London, Paris, is not about presenting the latest in latex corsets, challenging the status quo with a fetish model strutting down the runway, and certainly pushes celebrity sightings now more than high couture. An though we can’t expect to find our next bespoke naughty outfit in any of these fashion weeks, still each year we do dream that just maybe a old school designer, or maybe even a Kanye or a RiRi might try something slightly daring…and of course affordable.
The sponsors of these European parties read like a Who’s Who of alt. design makers and shakers, with Marquis Magazine, DeMasK Amsterdam, INSOMNIA-Nightclub and Pleasurements just some of the names on a long list of UNLEASHED sponsors. And as always spectacular star D,J.’s will pump music throughout the venue, the crowd is sure to get close, heated and twirl with abandon and UNLEASHED promises their usual mix of international performing talent and even a rubber clothing fashion show sometime during the night.
Whether this year Coldplay and Beyoncé will recreate their seemingly controversially cliché India homage when playing “Hymn For the Weekend,” many of us alternative fashion wearers are hoping for even a hint of fun at Super Bowl 50’s half time.
We all know Victorian-era clothing is just perfect for dress-up possibilities and seeing as Seth Grahame-Smith’s 2009 parody story mashed-up Jane Austin with flesh eaters, we get comely lasses in lace and petticoats dispatching monsters across a blood-soaked English countryside. But what the ladies of the time wear under their outfits is what most interests Hot Topic here, as they have managed to produce a new line of unmentionables for fans of the movie…or just ladies who wish some extra special dressing-up under their everyday wardrobes.
She’s still not sporting any latex accessories, but the 2016 Barbie, as just announced from its maker Mattel, certainly is seeing some interesting modernizing. And it’s not so much the cars, planes or even the fantasy wardrobe the doll is getting anew, as it is options in body types that makes this year’s plastic lady so interesting.
James has traveled widely to undisclosed and out-of-bounds locales capturing the decay of often stunning locations for nearly 3 years now. On one of these ‘typical’ outings recently James went out to shoot a series of images for designers in abandoned locations across Europe. In October 2015 this adventurous/adventuring photographer approached us to shoot our latex fashion design in some of these deserted locations. The stunning pictures you see here are the results from a weekend of image making, climbing and driving for James and his two models Jade Stacy Maria & Sadie Ann.
Very much how the infamous documentary Paris Is Burning did a quarter of a century ago, the KIKI story takes off now twenty five years later, revealing a group of young adults trying their best to develop a ‘safe space’ at their fashion and dance balls. The men who appeared in “Paris” were self-proclaimed drag queens, showing as much of their homemade frocks as they did their ability to vogue in ways Madonna could never have imaged (in fact Voguing house dancing began in the 80’s Harlem ballroom scene well before Madonna appropriated it for her 1990 hit and “Paris” featured it with such aplomb the same year); KIKI as much shows the evolution of voguing as it does delve deep into LGBT gender identity in the modern age.
Authors Rita Catinella Orrell and designer Jason Scuderi have created a luscious hard cover here of items one could certainly seriously desire. Scuderi and Orrell contacted us about a year ago and with photographer Paul Allan shooting the pictures (we have worked plenty with the super talented Mr. Allan before) we brought to life the Dawnamatrix style of latex fashion for the book’s Fashion and Jewelry section.
From the flaxen haired folk troubadour, to pushing past the boundaries of androgyny (and more or less inventing glam rock) with his spaceman alter ego Ziggy Stardust (certainly influencing some of own ‘space oddity’ styles https://dawnamatrix.com/shop/new-items/plugsuit-style-catsuit/ & https://dawnamatrix.com/shop/collections/classics/spiked-bodysuit/ . to pursuing Orwellian soundscapes as a Diamond Dog, then mining “Philly Soul” as the emaciated Thin White Duke (a period in his life where Bowie himself said he was scared by what he was becoming), to celebrating the synth laden dark tonalities of “Krautrock,” to all his acting, producing, writing songs for others, laying down the price of “Fame” with John Lennon, to selling stock in his songwriting royalties seeing well into the digital age and then releasing brilliant albums this century, up to his last Blackstar, released just last week on the man’s 69th birthday, containing all too prophetic songs like “Lazarus” (see the video embedded here…and Bowie just broke Vevo’s music video record) really is there anybody better then David Bowie?
The continued championing of alternative wardrobe pieces and avant-garde style accessories keeps brands like Dawnamatrix to the forefront of modern fashion. Celebs wearing our wares, even just a mention from a Kim Kardashian, is some of the very best advertising we could ever hope for. These moments for us specifically, married with the upward trajectory general mainstreaming of latex in the past few years-from reported cosplay wear to celebs like Kim strutting in bodysuits across red carpets, to styles seen in “American Horror Story”-has truly made latex so popular.
A latex catsuit, rubber clothing, fantasy costuming is damn sexy and is used often for characterizations of naughtiness that can range from coy expressions of sexuality, to outright kink and fetishes. It all works for us, from the high couture to the tie-me-up-for-a-spanking scene (in real life or film); like you all, we are just tickled when the latex is brought out, in any way it can be!
The sexiness of an ‘alternative’ wardrobe, non mainstream fashion is seen time and again (so much so in fact that many a layman fashionista-if there can be such a person-often comes to link latex/rubber/PVC clothing as being always about something sexual) as we have reported often and is seen in stark example on the new Showtime offering Billions.
The Kardashian/Jenner corporation made plenty of waves in print, as well as on the net (or one because/feeding the other): there was Caitlyn Jenner’s debut on the cover of and in Vanity Fair and Kylie Jenner posing for those controversial wheelchair “Interview” mag pics…in a photoshoot that saw her posed as the famous Hatstand/Table and Chair sculpture, as much as wearing some Dawnamatrix fantasy outfit accessories.
Our excitement over Katy Perry wearing out latex couture in the new Covergirl “Plumpify” Mascara commercial continues. We have just learned that a print add from the commercial-showing Dawnamatrix couture-has appeared in a two-page spread in the January 2016 issue of U.S. Vogue.