The Nike Premier Slam Dress is the signature outfit for female players on the circuit endorsing the sportswear brand. But this year a group of players paid to endorse Nike (and wear the dress) asked for alternations to the outfit, over concerns over the dress’s length (or lack of it). Simply put, a goodly amount of vocal lady players feel the dress exposes way too much flesh when they run, jump, manage splits and bend during pl
We have seen celebrities and models like Lauren Hutten or a Helen Mirren fight ageism with recent fashion and accessory modeling campaigns. And certainly body image paradigms are being fought all the time (just this past year Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue featured not only featured its first plus size model on a cover-Ashley Graha-and another curvy lady, Nicola Griffin, who is 56 years old.)
At least Chopra has some humor about this all, and after all any news is good news, right? Tweeting about the armtroversy herself with an untouched picture of the armpit in question, Chopra added the hashtags: “#WillTheRealArmpitPleaseStandUp#nofilter#armpitdiaries.”
We have been hearing only great things though about the upcoming Seattle Fashion Week. By all accounts and our sixth sense things are going to be a smashing success between October 13th and 19th this year. We have great confidence in the people organizing the event. Experience tells us that this will certainly prove to be the premier fashion happening for the north western part of the country. And we are tickled by all the other talent on the roster.
Heldt, who died this week at the age of 98, opened her own salon and had the Cosmetologists Chicago organization name a scholarship for her, created the towering conical woman’s hair style for a hair styling magazine in 1960, called her invention “the beehive” and quickly saw starlets and politician’s wives sport the do well into the decade…and beyond. Supposedly inspired by a black velvet hat the lady stylist found one night when working late as her family slept, Heldt built the hair in a wrap-around conical style creating what the magazine at the time called, “a circular silhouette with high-rise accents.”
It’s going to be a long hard slog until November. Whomever runs against whom there’s sure to come lots of back and forth battling in the press, across debates stages, on the net. Surely we all have a lot more to worry about in our upcoming Presidential elections then who is wearing what, but sartorial concerns are part of any modern day political campaign, and there is no denying this fact.
We’ll be making our west coast debut at Vancouver Fetish Weekend, 7/21-7/24. Hundreds of local and global fetish enthusiasts from all over the world will come to the long weekend and celebrate with an international community of fetish partiers, performers, models, designers, artists and photographers. Opening with the Scarlet Harlots Fetish Ball at the newly renovated The Imperial, followed by the Fetish and Fantasy Ball the very next night then both The Extreme Players Fetish Cruise and the Sleaze and Tease Player’s Ball after the cruise as the ending party, there will be plenty happening here for anyone’s tastes.
Not that any of us would have any doubt how popular cosplay is to both the mainstream world, as to us latex clothes lovers. But Sexpo Australia’s first cosplay competition was such a smashing success the event’s organizers plan to add the event to the winter Sexpo.
Not that we ever had any doubt we wouldn’t get to show-off our latex designs while celebrating Seattle, but we just learned that Seattle Fashion Week has been rescheduled for October 13th-19th. The actual fashion shows will be the 13th, 14th and 15th, with the city giving permission for a week-long proclamation of celebration of fashion and designers from/for such a fashion-rich pocket of the U.S.
Now for the alternative clothing market, latex couture specifically, Amazon has only dipped their toe in the water thus far. It would seem niche styles, material, textile art clothing might just be left to us all to figure out, as least for now. The fans, friends and customers we have seem to be more about meeting at fetish fashion events, posting over Instagram, keeping-up relationships via Facebook and Twitter, ordering custom made items or picking tasty morsel from our online store, more than they are for shopping for a latex bra on Amazon (this is not to say people aren’t buying their latex couture through Amazon, it’s just that so far in our experience we have seen our customers come to us in other ways.) But forward thinking as Dawnamatrix has always tried to be, we welcome any new way of selling and honest and fair competition. It would be foolhardy to keep blind to progress, or not recognize a giant like Amazon making the strides that it is.
A little clutch might make more of the statement you are looking for then a big purse (plus be easier to carry). Yes, that hood might just be perfect for that outfit, but do you need the tail as well (surely, we will sell you both!) Or have you the tail, do you need the goggles, or if you have the goggles need you the…you get the point. Don’t overburden your wardrobe with too many extras, or if you do have the sensibilities to overdo the accessories, then pile them on as tastefully as you can so they don’t clash…unless you are looking for a bold statement of clashing that no one is soon to forget.
Featuring latex models Kay Morgan & Ophelia Overdose, the story here covers action in a new world where men and women are chasing after an electronic device to gain global domination. Along the way comely models in wildly alternate wardrobes, some riding super cool cars like Citroen’s new prototype (the German car company also lent Gloger two 1971 cars as well as a ’77 GS for his shot) run round the Shadow Vegas character who pulls strings behind the scenes.
Nicola Thorp started this all after coming to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers in December wearing flats, only to be told she had wear heels to work, heels with at least a two-inch heel. Thorp refused, indicating fellow male employees not having to heel to such seemingly gender-biased requirements. She was subsequently told to go home…and not paid. Thus was created the: “Make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work,” petition.
The names here read like a who’s who of male-burlesque and are sure to showcase some wild costume design…stuff surely be slipped out of, peeled off, ripped asunder in no time. Performers across both nights include Broody Valentino, James and the Giant Pasty Lucky Charming, and The GlaMonster, Boys’ Night: An All-Male Cirquelesque Revue, The Great Dubini, UmAShaAdow and Ray Valenz.
So it is with sadness that we learned of House of Harlot’s closing; Robin Archer made it official last week that his famous UK latex brand and rubber clothing line is ending a twenty five year run. It was also announced that former HoH employee Iris Trika bought the company’s ‘stuff’ with an eye to relaunch the business. Trika currently owns the IrisTheSpider line and she will maintain the HoH main site as well as their Etsy presence once her full restructuring is complete.
ABC-TV news announcers wondered over Beyoncé latex gown and how she kept cool in it, as Miss Bey topped the dressers at the Met Gala at the beginning of the week. With co-host Taylor Swift “Goin’ Goth” in mostly black thigh-high strappy sandals and a silver mini and Zayn Malik sporting silvery faux robot arms, lots of celebs were attempting dress to the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology,” theme of the night. While others, notably Beyoncé, went her own way…in a stunning latex fashion design.
As to be expected presently lots of folks are mythologizing, worshipping even, our dearly departed Prince’s wardrobe; stage wear, everyday wear and his cinema wardrobe. For the next few weeks-at least-lots will be said, done and considered about the purple one’s music, mystique and surely his fashion sense and his bespoke costume design. Just recently it was announced Prince’s V-neck motorcycle jacket from his hit movie “Purple Rain” (he wore this jacket through the woods on his bike with Apollonia) will be put up for action at the well-known Profiles in History house between June 29 and July 1 in Calabasas, California.
Yes, when it comes to fashion statements, we sexy costume, cosplay, latex outfit wearers have known the power of a corset (for both men and women) for a very long time. You know how it goes, they eventually catch-on to what we have been doing for decades. They suddenly realize that you might just turn heads by wearing specific pieces of lingerie on the outside of your clothes…or just the lingerie with a little jacket over it. Or they start taking to a specific material-latex maybe-and call because one or two big time celebs get seen out and about it a latex catsuit once in a while, or somebody sports a pair of leather gloves to the elbow. We can’t be haters for the John·ny (or Jill)-come-late·lies though, they are just getting hip to what we have already known and have to be patient enough to lead by example.
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.