An entry on alternative and dark fashion is well overdue in this blog. I know that so far I've focused on my tastes that range from ultra girly vintage repro dresses to pin-up lingerie and modern urban wear but I also have a weakness for the dramatic. And nothing is more dramatic than Victorian and Goth inspired fashion.
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| http://www.yourfashion.com.au/ writer Lisa Rodrigues (blog on alternative and dark fashions) |
A good friend of mine (the lovely Lisa, above) recently ran a fashion show/night as part of Perth's Outskirts Festival 2011. She called upon some Perth locals who loved this style to submit outfits with a dark, alternative edge. From these submissions 6 were chosen to parade and be voted on at the show. The show was to be appositely entitled 'Vespertine';
ves·per·tine
adjective /ˈvespərˌtīn/ /-ˌtēn/
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| My legs! Channeling a Vaudeville theme for my outfit (Cage skirt, stockings and bustle all from The Powder Room - http://www.enterthepowderroom.com/ with dance shoes by Aris Allen) |
The six finalists were elaborate and diverse, but at a show that celebrates the street fashion and self styling of a sub culture, I was far more interested in what the attendees would be wearing. As my business was one of the event's sponsors, I thought it only fitting to create my outfit from The Powder Room's stock. I called in one of my fellow partners in crime to be my lady-date for the evening.
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Janey (r) and I (l) at Vespertine - I am standing on a step...  |
Once we had styled her amazingly long dreadlocks into a beehive (making her about 7 foot tall in total) and I had navigated around the issues of driving in my get up (ahem, a corset and a cage skirt are NOT built for practicality) we settled in at Geisha bar and I set about people-watching.
The crowd was dressed similarly to a Loft night (the event usually held at the venue on this night) but there were a few people who had seemingly stumbled in either from the festival or out of curiosity. It was interesting to see mainstream dressing being marginalised in this environment, where "alternative" is the norm. It was like a couple of seagulls who have only ever experienced seaside life with fellow seagulls and a pelican or two accidentally wandering into the amazon and coming face to face with a Toucan for the first time.
That said there was a range of attire. Fashion, while largely all alternative, varied from more understated to more traditionally 'goth'. Both ends of the spectrum were done incredibly well with the attendees committing to their choices. These were creatures of the night in their natural fashion habitat; no-one looked uncomfortable, even outfits that in some circles may be considered to be more like 'costumes' were here accepted, and worn effortlessly as fashion.
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| 'Understated' Victorian inspired wear and styling. Black and minimalist right down to the tattoo. |
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| More traditional goth, with fishnet undershirt, coloured hair and alt hair style. I love the theatrics and prep that have gone into this - I wish more people cared enough to express themselves articulately through their dress. |
Now I love alternative fashion for myself and fellow ladies, however I think dark alt fashion most shines where it comes to the men. Particularly as men knowing (and more accurately, caring) about fashion and their presentation seems to be a dwindling occurrence (epic sad face). This is not true in this scene. The men are immaculately put together, their clothing is tailored to fit them perfectly and (gasp) they actually know how to accessorise.
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| Ignore my poking him in the face, Jon Madd once again proves that a gent in a three piece is three times as delicious. |
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| From Steampunk Victorian to Gothic Gentleman, Skot and Frank bring a little male elegance back into modern fashion |
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| I've said this before and I'm sure I'll say it again - Leon is probably the best dressed man in Perth. While this image doesn't capture his outfit it makes my point about accessories - men of Perth pay attention! Go and get yourselves a silver top cane. Now. |
Fashion is one of the primary ways that subcultures identify one another. It's a visual cue before any verbal exchange that you may have something in common with another person. Like punk, or ska-kids or any other subculture, fashion and music are the key initial identifiers. Many of the Vespertine attendees included fashion students, fashion photographers and alternative fashion retail store owners; all people who love the fashion of this sub culture so much that they have to varying extents, devoted some of their life to it. It's a passion that is evident in how they construct themselves.
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| The blue beauty Adele, owner of alt fashion store Beyond The Trapdoor, in Subiaco. |
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| Guests and models at Vespertine. |
So that's the word on the guests. But of course the night was set up to feature six alt fashion devotees, modeling creations that they had either put together or made themselves. Here they are -
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| Casey channeled a mix of cyber punk, goth and japanese fashion |
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| Fashion Student (Luke?) constructed these angel wings by hand and was my personal favourite of the nigth (he came 2nd) |
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| Tom worked goth androgyny in his man-skirt and black lips |
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| Skot did what he does best - Steampunk Victorian Gent |
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| Marijke mixed Victorian, gothic and Manson influences to create a dark, subversive creature of the night that exuded twisted elegance (not pictured here, her claw hand that added to the twisted imagery). She made the design herself. |
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| Neo-Victorian inspired fashion with a dark burlesque twist. |
While the plague prevented me from staying for the announcement (coughing your lungs up on people is NEVER attractive, no matter how you dress it up) I was later advised that Marijke and Luke (Angel wings) came first and second. As my top two picks, this made me pretty happy, although the creations were so diverse that a comparison between them all is a hard task.
While I did have to leave to release my poor lungs from the corset encasing them, I did have time for a dance or three, something that I'm very happy that this subculture is never afraid to be seen doing.
Thanks again to Lisa, for having us and putting on a great show. Hopefully more events promoting alternative fashion will start to work their way into Perth's fashion social calender. To read more about Lisa's adventures in alternative fashion, check out her blog - http://www.yourfashion.com.au/
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| Lisa and her own distinct alt fashion can be followed at http://www.yourfashion.com.au/ |
All photos by Shaun Takes Photos (Shaun Ferraloro)
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