FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Geek Love
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
Once upon a time… I was a GEEK! After reading an article on Jeff Buckley's literary inspiration, I discovered Geek Love. My adoration for Jeff sent me rapidly searching for this strange but intriguing book. Years later, the protagonists of the Binewski's still vividly haunted me. Particularly Crystal, a maverick matriarch, who was unlike other women I had read about at that stage in my life.
The novel follows a travelling carnival run by Aloysius and his wife Crystal. In an attempt to rescue the failing carnival, the couple breeds their own carnival acts using various drugs and radioactive material to alter the genes of their children. The results are 5 children born with various powers and disabilities from telekinetic powers to dwarfism. The passage I was inspired by is set around 1945-50. Crystal is regaling her children with her 'how I joined the carnival story'. Vying for the affections of Aloysius, Crystal volunteers herself when the Geek of the carnival goes awol.
A Geek was a real historical carnival act. They would chase live chickens to catch and bite their heads off before swallowing them. Geeks were traditionally men often described in ghoulish terms. I was designing my costume for Crystal as she's remembering and looking back fondly on her time as a Geek, in an almost dream-like state. I was inspired by real-life performers such as Zazel the human cannonball, actresses of this time period such as Marlene Dietrich and surrealist designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli.
Outline the construction…
"I wore tatters really, white because it shows the blood so well even in the dark of the pit."
I had a clear image in my head that I wanted the outfit to revolve around a single garment that would have been handed down and modified for the carnival. There are mentions throughout the novel that the staff were working multiple jobs so I wanted to summon the idea of something made from everyday wear.
Crystal is also looking back, fondly and telling the story to her children so I wanted an element of fantasy whilst evoking a classic vintage showgirl feeling. I sourced a 1950s Weskit Waistcoat pattern from JemVintagePatterns that would be in my skill level enough to actually complete but still challenged me as it was the first vintage pattern and involved grading to match my size. If I had more time, I would have created it again to ensure it was perfect. The main change would be adding length to the garment to account for the larger darts I had to make to ensure it was form-fitting.
I would also focus more on the waistcoat. With this being my first big sewing project, I bit off a bit too much and it left the outfit lacking some much-needed sparkle that evokes performance costume or my surrealist inspiration. The list of other parts to the costume I wanted to add (embroidery, a head-piece, gloves) was endless. So it was a great learning curve in project management.
This is so delightful! I love the inspirations for this piece and it looks great!
this book. it is really, really good. but i only needed to read it once. that mood, those characters, that really heartbreaking story lives on in my mind. looks like you too! i loved reading about your influences, and how you went sleuthing through the story for clues to what she might have worn. good luck from icarus!
This look is very flattering on you! And the vests details look great❤
Every projects is is a learning curve — that’s what makes it fun 🙂 The fit of that waistcoat is lovely, and I think the movement of the feathers would be eye-catching “in the dark of the pit”. Well done!
Oh my….this is simply beautiful! very well done. Thank you!