As to be expected, we love it when some latex outfit, or a cool piece of wardrobe makes a cultural statement. Whether being introduced in a new haute couture collection or worn on some performer’s body, almost daily we see, read and are delighted by some news about another alternative or sexy outfit sparking the zeitgeist worn by one of our brightest, best and most popular.
Serofonte called Dawnamatrix and ordered 68 garments in total for the Beyoncé’s VMA outing, including garter belts and stockings, vintage bra and panty girdle sets, all made of high grade latex. Having previously been commissioned by Covergirl to make pieces for Pink and Katy Perry, Dawnamatrix is no stranger to working with pop stars or supplying outfitsand accessories to award shows. This order for Beyoncé’s performance was the culmination of five years of hard work the Boston-based alternate fashion company has been putting into their brand.
It’s just neat to read about and get to know the people who truly are artisans behind the camera making these fantastic films. I know from my own POV I am jazzed anytime I see an actor or actress don a mask, slip on a pair of boots, tickle their behind into some latex. But I also know someone is there to render those costumes as well as fit the performer in them. And one of those people is the wonderfully talented American costume designer Judianna Makovksy.
The flyer image here was taken by photographer/magazine CEO Erik Von Gutenberg (see his site, magazine, couture here. This model in this show-Kerri Taylor- is just one of the women we have hired to show-off our new line and we’ve announced all of the ladies this week over on our Facebook page:
The ladies we are thrilled to be working with this year are Nea Dune, Holy Scar, Kerri Taylor, who we have worked with before and Véronique Marcoux, Ramsessa Eros, Paisley Lauren, Carl-André Girard, Crimson Heavens Mira LaFleur and July August.
I liked how more than a few designers-Baci comes instantly to mind-were showcasing ‘alternative’ couture in lingerie. Designing what we do we often find that lots of designers appropriate the label ‘alternative’ simply because they may have incorporated a bit of latex here, created a overtly naughty piece of lingerie there. But as we all know it is a matter of perspective really what is and is not alternative. It’s the old one’s man’s meat is another man’s latex jodhpur quandary.
Paul Allan is currently shooting model Tina Mari (with HMUA being done by Ashley Novak) for our new line. Tina Mari is a Playboy Miss Social Contest Winner and a pro of the highest order who we have used before (see her CCG page here). Here all her appearances previously in our catalog.
There was Daniel Radcliffe dressed as Spider-Man, not hiding from Voldemort but more from fans. Peter Jackson was a scary black-and-white jester (he posted some Facebook pics of himself following someone wearing “The Hobbit” T-shirt) and Jack Black went as a storm trooper claiming he simply wanted to be left alone to buy action figures. Game of Thrones Maisie Williams sported a Guy Fawkes mask on the floor then later at a party wore a Ryan Jude Novelline dress made of graphic novel pages. She’s worn this dress before, but it was no less impressive her second time out.
Hedwig, with his East German vibe and suffering a botched sex change is an altogether alternative animal of a totally different stripe and one that can’t be caged in any true category. Even if all you court is a smidgen of alternate theatre/fashion sensibility you are going to love this show…no matter if Rannells or Patrick Harris is starring. There is a true feeling of audience immersion in the main character’s story and a grab-you-and-never-let-go immediacy to this play that one can’t ignore.
Thomas “Doc” Kaminski was hired to ‘document’ the making of “The Misfits” movie (his black and whites are stunning against a desert landscape). Make-up artist Allan “Whitey” Snyder became close friends with Monroe and many of his stunning candid shots were on display. The “Color Photographer’s Wonder Boy” Milton Greenehad big posed shots here. Sound engineer and ‘guerrilla’ photographer Lani Carlson had a celebrated picture of Monroe standing in front of a double-her-size top sheet of sheet music bearing her name (and other shots) and photographer Mischa Pelz’s contribution was truly ‘unearthed’ after an earthquake hit Southern California when Pelz’s assistant discovered them in a shoe box!
We’ve covered Maleficent previously-don’t worry nobody is that scatterbrained round the Dawnamatrix offices that we forget what we write about-but the film’s early popularity seems to be about more than just some cool costuming and effects. Sure Angelina Jolie is a certified superstar and literally inhabits the role of the pure-hearted young lady who grows into an evil forest queen but beyond the $70 million opening it seems the world at large is getting Maleficent-fied.
Beyond the action figures that get launched on the public with a movie of this sort, Este
There are just certain instances where we connect with the right photographer, a well seasoned model or two and get to show off a piece that is truly fantasy inspired or specifically designed for event/costume wear.
Yes, summer is coming and with it another round of big blockbusters. There will be comedies and romances for sure, but the alternate wardrobe designer’s heart beats over the spate of superhero movies we know are coming. Captain America: The Winter Soldier has just been released, a second Spiderman movie will swing on in May …