An Out of this World Fashion Show
by Terri Wells
The Orange County Regional History Center really outdid itself with its recent exhibit of costumes of heroes and villains from the movies. As part of the activities highlighting that exhibit, the museum put on an “Out of this World Fashion Show” on Saturday, March 6. Nine designers presented outfits they'd each spent a month creating, based on their ideas of what a superhero or villain might wear.
Already, this was no ordinary fashion show – and as Dan Williams, the master of ceremonies explained, there was more to this show than spandex and slinky runway models. Five judges would choose first and second place winners, and these were no ordinary judges either. They included Sven J. Bode, publisher of the Orlando Style Magazine; two Project Runway contestants (who also answered questions from the audience about the fashion industry); and Chris Kirkpatrick, a founding member of *NSYNC.
Williams himself is no stranger to the spandex set. Aside from being a geek himself and the Digital Media Production Department Chair of the International Academy of Design and Technology, he portrayed “Parthenon,” a hero he himself created, on Stan Lee's reality TV series “Who Wants to Be a Superhero?” In addition to coming up with the back story for his superhero, he designed and made the costume he wore on the first show of the series, so he knew something of what the designers went through.
Super-villains showed up in abundance; perhaps they have a better sense of style than superheroes. Before each model came down the runway, we were treated to each character's back story, and an explanation from the designer of where they are now in the industry, what sets them apart, and where they'd like to be.
The designers showed a wide range in the styles they chose – from the smooth, sleek lines and red and black colors of Kistin Sig's Lava Woman outfit, to the almost pastel colors and rounded shapes of Vanessa Justice's Sea Wasp. Some have already had significant experience in the industry – such as second place winner Carla Weaver, who has already worked for 15 years in the entertainment field as a self-taught costumer.
The designers were given a month to come up with their creations, but only found out who their models would be a few days before the fashion show, which meant minor (and sometimes major) adjustments needed to be made. While the judges never stated the criteria they used, it seems apparent that the best execution of the actual idea behind the costume ruled the day.
Take Carla Weaver's Scarlet, for example. This superhero lives in a universe where supernatural creatures such as vampires and werewolves are real, and she is an enforcer of justice. Her costume was clearly designed for movement and to keep weapons close to hand. Her trench coat sleeves included loops to carry stakes for vampires, while a heavy leather belt held “ammunition” – glass vials filled with water that held glowing “bullets.” Naturally, she carried a prop gun. Weaver got all the details right, which helped to portray the character convincingly.
The same could be said, in a different way, of Tara “Kat” Knapp's first place costume. She chose as her character the Countess Bathory – daughter of the notorious historical countess who believed that she would live forever so long as she bathed in virgin's blood. This countess had inherited her mother's practices; as an immortal, her outfit hearkened back to an earlier time, with important modern contrasts. The dress was cleverly structured like a jacket – almost a tailcoat -- with a low-cut neckline and cutaway front. A beaded bustier hid the zipper and added to the look. Three or four layers of bustling on the “skirt” added volume and made the whole outfit that much more dramatic. Knapp also made the jewelry, which included a small but striking beaded head piece that hung gracefully over her model's forehead.
All of the designers were students at International Academy of Design and Technology. The second place winner took home a $500 scholarship to the academy, while the first place winner won a $750 scholarship. We applaud all the designers and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors!
Links
Out of this World at the Orange County Regional History Center.
Orange County Regional History Center
About the author
Terri Wells is neatinformation.com's Crafts Editor. She is an amateur costumer and has made several costumes from scratch.
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