The Anachronism Steampunk: Visit to Edo in NYC

Legendary NYC nightclub, Webster Hall (it used to host the original Surrealist balls with Salvador Dali) hosted the Anachronism’s Steampunk: Visit to Edo event. 

The event had a fashion show, several music acts, dance, art demonstrations and even a cosplay burlesque showcase.   Vendors offered handcrafted Steampunk jewelry and fashion. 

Thirsty?  The cocktail menu was appropriately themed, ranging from the "Tesla Coil" and "Clockwork Lotus" and an entire section devoted to Absinthe.

Of course, the ensembles were the real stars of the venue.  Outfits of guests ranged from courtly Renaissance, to studious spectacled gentlemen.  Corseted kimonos were popular, with many ensembles made by hand by artists and crafters themselves.  My favorite of the day had to belong to Genevieve of the Goth/Steampunk band, Psyche Corporation, who co-sponsored the event.  She had a fantastic outfit crafted from vintage spindles and spools. 

The cosplay burlesque show was truly original, though the performances were definitely uneven.  Acts were inspired by everything from Cowboy Bebop, Bioshock’s Little Sister, Dr. Van Helsing, and disturbingly (on many counts) Freddy Krueger and Hannibal Lecter.  The definite favorite was the woman who based her act on the famous Japanese painting, “Fisherman’s Daughter” and ended the show with a provocative entanglement with a giant octopus…(Hentai fans anyone?)

Gareth Pugh - Summer Rooftop Goth

NYC has been hit with record high temperatures and unbearable sun.  Those are not exactly the ideal conditions for Gothic fashionistas, but it didn't stop them from supporting Gareth Pugh's launch of his M.A.C. cosmetics collaboration.

The season-defying black-clad guests at the New Museum's patio enjoyed having their nails in done in various wicked shades of off-black.  Many wore the designer's label.  Pugh's nails himself were a witchy iridescent green and purple. Vampire-worthy crimson lips kissed cheeks while clueless pastel-clad tourists passed by below.

Gareth Pugh had previously collaborated with M.A.C. for his "Goddesses from the Grave" runway show in 2010.  One of the reasons the designer created this line was to that there would be a product with his aesthetic that was accessible to everyone (pricewise, style-wise, etc.)  The cosmetics packaging will be a special edition in his signature palette of black and grey and will hit stores in November.

Photos By Steve Eichner

Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2011 Natives

How often do Belgians go Native?  As in Native American?  While the Fall 2011 shows in New York showed collection after collection of Americana with tribal influences.  Avant-garde designer Ann Demeulemeester put a dark twist on what was going on overseas.  The jet black feathered hairpieces were a shadow version of the ones seen at the Byron Lars show.  The corset styling gave a Gothic fetish edge. Leather and tinted fur gave some wild luxury.  A few dresses had ruffled details for a softer feminine edge.  As usual, black was the dominant color of the collection.  

Photos courtesy of Imaxtree

Zombie Boy, Lady Gaga Haunt Mugler Fall 2011

Lady Gaga’s longtime fashion collaborator Nicholas Formichetti was appointed creative director to the Mugler brand and brought it back to the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week.

The show was a mix of Gothic fetish evolved from the slick spirit of classic Mugler.  The backdrop was a stage of pointed cathedral arches.  Formichetti showed alien-like exaggerated shoulders, a signature look of Lady Gaga’s.  Latex-shiny fabrics, dramatic cut-outs and transparent garments that left nothing to the imagination somehow managed to look chic (over trashy).  The muse, Gaga, brought much of the paparazzi with her as she debuted new singles and strutted her body down the runway.  Also haunting the runway was performance artist “Zombie Boy”, famous for corpse-like tattoos added to the other-worldly theme…

  

Gareth Pugh's Haunting Fashion Video for Pitti Immagine

Gareth Pugh is one of my favorite edgy fashion designers.  He presented in Italy for the the first time at Pitti Immagine #79 by showing a haunting fashion film he created with Ruth Hogben.

The images draw from religious iconography and Florentine opulence, and the film was projected onto the ceiling of a 14th century church.  The music was a spooky mix of deep piano horror riffs, searing violin, or  epic religious themes.   The clothes ranged from body-conscious and erotic, to flowing, avant-garde silhouettes.  Oversized feathers were involved, though I'm not sure if they were more accessory or prop.

Here are some stills from the film above, you can watch the full video here at showstudio.com .

Images from Gareth Pugh

Rodarte's Black Swan Costume Fantasy

Black Swan, the dark, ballet thriller by Darren Aronofsky opened Friday.  In fashion, all of the buzz has been going to the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte.  They designed the edgy, Goth-chic costumes for the stylish movie.  The theme of "duality" played out on stage and off.  

For Prince Siegfried's character, the designers were inspired by mechanical birds.  The costume is vividly detailed with floral embroidered cheesecloth and distressed velvet.  Odette's costume is a constructed pancake shaped tutu.  It was embellished with white angora wool to emulate branches growing up the skirt.  

This may be the first film for Kate and Laura Mulleavy, but the designers have previous found horror and ballet to be muses for their collection.  

Photos Fox Searchlight, Sketches by Kate Mulleavy

Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2011 Bondage

 

The Belgian designer created a chic collection appropriate for the craziest among us.  The black, white and print presentation had many pieces with straitjacket-like straps and a sculpted bondage feeling.  There were many one-legged looks that may be too avant-garde for most wearers.  However, many of the leather, jersey and crepe jackets and  pants were accessible to most.
The hair was severe and slicked back with harshly marked eyebrows.  An intimidating mesh veil was used as a mask or accessory in some looks as well.

Goths at Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival

The Medieval Festival and Renaissance Faire at Fort Tryon Park draws huge crowds to this northern tip of Manhattan.  While few New Yorkers usually get to this neck of the woods, the gorgeous castle (Cloisters Museum) lures those who wish to dress of another time.

There are several distinct groups who attend this annual party.  There are the fully garbed knights, casual cotton peasant outfits, the pirates, the fairies and most fashionable, the Goths.  I found the most stylish attendees walking around Fort Tryon Park.  A very pretty tribute to Harry Potter's Bellatrix LeStrange, prim and elegant witches and my favorite, the fabulous Lady Zombie.  She cavorted with a crew of lavishly attired gentlemen in dark vampiric garb.

Check out the fashion slideshow below:

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2011

Gotta love that certain fashion designers don't conform to the expected rules of Spring fashion.  Avant-garde Yohji Yamamoto presented a mostly black collection mixing textures and irregular silhouettes.  He added a few pop neon colors in wildly printed tights and underpinnings.  

Mr. Yamamoto, a guitarist on the side, wanted to mesh the psychedelic with the couture.  There were rubber corsets for a rock and roll touch with chiffons and layered handkerchief hems.

Photos by Gianni Giannoni

Masked Ball for French Vogue

It's not Halloween yet, but extravagance with a mask has come to Paris...

French Vogue celebrated its 90th birthday with an elaborate masked ball.  Designers Jean-Paul Gaultier and Jeremy Scott mingled with models Gisele Bundchen and Tyra Banks.  Other celebrities included Lenny Kravitz and Dita Von Teese.  

The black couture gowns were elegant of course, but those with true style expressed it with their facial accessories... Gisele wore a spiraling sculpture of a mask that covered only one eye.  Bianca Jagger and Gaultier went for flamboyant feathers.  Tyra Banks was one of the most photographed of the evening with her last-minute improvised mask of cut-up fishnet stockings.... 

Ara Jo's Vampire Fashion Collection by Andreas Waldschuetz

The perfect combination of Gothic fashion and photography. London fashion designer Ara Jo created a beautiful collection inspired by vampires.  Slinky silhouettes of lace and ornate jewels.  Photographer Andreas Waldschuetz shot the clothing in an amazing, intense collection of photographs inspired by sinister siblings.  Are they a stylish take on the Bathory sisters? All I know is the first photograph could make the twins of the Shining run and scream...
For more photos, click through here.

Gothic Circus Fashion Shoot - August Bradley

I came across these fabulous photos while surfing.  They are from August Bradley's Hasselblad Masters books.  One with a circus theme, one about a man in a dark room.  They weren't marketed as fashion photography, but that's exactly what they looked like to me.  The haunting art direction has a look of wickedness and decay.  The circus photos look like a witch stirring up trouble, a wrangler of evil crows, a black widow and a sculptural gown.  The man in the dark room looks like it could be Hamlet contemplating death, or an Edgar Allen Poe type alone with his tormentors...

Temperley and Alice Spring 2011 Collections

When you think of Spring, does the theme "getting Medieval on your ass" come to mind?  Me neither.  The Temperley "Guinevere" collection and the less expensive "Alice by Temperley" collection held their presentation for NY Fashion Week on Tuesday.  

One collection featured some innovative (but surprisingly wearable) variations on chain mail.   Leather corset vests, armor-inspired necklaces embedded into ladylike dresses.  Another showed soutached black lacy embroidery.  A simple t-shirt print had Gothic cameo motifs with chandeliers and ravens.  

Viktor & Rolf's Revealing Fall 2010 Show

Designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren of Amsterdam brought a new meaning to the phrase "layered look". For the Viktor & Rolf presentation for Fall 2010, they brought out model Kristen McMenamy in every outfit of the collection.

The designers peeled away garment after garment to reveal luxurious pieces. The color black dominated the runway. It was translated into multiple silhouettes and textures.

Take a look at the video:

NYC: Cosplay and GothLoli Tea Party at Animinicon Soho

Does the world look better through an animated lens?  Need a good excuse to dress up and party?

The Animinicon festival in New York's Soho neighborhood is your weekend destination.  Start with tonight's Cosplay reception.  Dance to J-rock and win prizes for your outfit.

Saturday will have concerts, meet & greets with famous Manga artists as well as screenings.

Dress your best for Sunday's Victorian Tea Pary.  Gothic or Lolitas can sip lovely Harney & Tea drinks.  Shop from the large range of dealers on-site.

See the site for more info.

Tokyo Fashion Week - GVGV's Temptation for Fall 2010

A designer who simply refers to herself as "Mug" presented the Fall 2010 collection for the G.V.G.V. label at Tokyo Fashion Week. On the blood-red runway, the collection was inspired by L.A. punk and street style, as well as the unusual reference of David Lynch's movie, Mulholland Drive. The big graphic pentagrams seemed to be the flipside of Fur Fur's oversized crucifix motifs earlier in the week.