Tag Archives: costume

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GOLD DISCO COAT

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Considering it’s made of gold, silver, and black lamé, I think this coat is pretty elegant. It does have a touch of Golden Girls glam, but it’s perfect for a rave and there’s something about that hood that makes me feel gangsta.

gold coat gold coat back gold coat

appliqué collar

Gangsta at a disco!

Right, it’s a lamé brocade, and I think the pattern is either scales or fabulous raindrops. For the lining I used black minky which makes me feel like royalty… Or maybe its that giant gold embroidered collar. That’s positively Aztec, but it’s also spacey, and I’m pretty sure the coat was designed for wizards.

The two-way zipper means it can be opened from the bottom and worn as a cloak. Little Red Riding Hood I am not.

gold coat gold coat gold coat

As usual, I got the fabrics and the appliqué from Fabric Planet. The two-way zip came from Stan’s Sewing Supplies, and since his prices are so cheap I find it much more convenient than going to the Fashion District.

Of course this was designed for Burning Man and other such fabulous events. It would be perfect for the chilly roof of a loft party, or walking 8 blocks to your car afterwards.

I made a second similar jacket, but this one is an original. I’ve got a couple yards leftover that might turn into some blinging pants. Shazzam! In the meantime, this coat is in the Etsy shop, and totally worth it.

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PSYCHEDELIC BEDOUIN

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Although I designed this coat for those chilly playa nights at Burning Man, it just so happens to be cold in our hemisphere right now. How convenient!

pschedelic bedouin pschedelic bedouin pschedelic bedouin Crazy Green Burning Hood sneak attack psychedelic bedouin

If staying warm is your goal, this is the coat for the job! This fabulous textured rainbow shell is a heavy-duty upholstery fabric. I lined the coat with minky, a soft acrylic fiber that’s commonly used for baby blankets. Put this on and you’ll be snugly all night long.

pocket coat lining zipper selvedge fringe

inspiration feedback loop

There are minky pockets set in the side seams, so your chilly fingers will always have a place to hide.

Another fantastic detail is the zipper–it can opened from the top or bottom, meaning you can ride a bike or use the bathroom without removing your fortress from the cold. With both zipper heads pulled to the top, the coat can even be worn as a cape.

The fabric selvedge has such a nice fringe that I used it for the hems.

There’s only ONE Psychedelic Bedouin, so get it quick from my Etsy shop!

Thanks to Mr. Siadek for the great photos!

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RAINBOW GOGGLES

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For some people, goggles are essential at Burning Man. Me? Not so much. I’ve gotten along fine without them, but I would like to have the option during a particularly dusty day. Plus, I’ve always thought those reflective bug-eye lenses look cool. I wear glasses, and while I am planning on using contact lenses* most of the time, it doesn’t make sense to have goggles that only work with certain eye-gear setups.

rainbow goggles Goggles in progress

rainbow goggles Painted, glittered, and relasticated, I’m one step closer to being ready for Burning Man.

Both goggles started off as standard plastic Dr. Peepers, which fit well over most glasses and have that bizarre alien look that we all try to cultivate. I taped over the lenses, front and back, and then covered them with spray primer (the key to having paint stick to plastic is to do several thin coats). Next came a layer of very shiny chrome paint–a great foundation for any project.

The decorations are done with a high-quality acrylic paint. I wanted the silver to still show through, so most of the acrylic layers were pretty thin. I wanted the two goggles to belong together without matching, so I used many of the same colors but in different places. I really enjoy painted in duplicate, because it allows me a chance to experiment with designs as I move between each goggle.

Goggles in progress Goggles in progress

I mixed different glitter with a water-based high gloss sealant, and I added a coat of Duplicolor Clear Effex glitter spray paint, cause I’m not holding anything back.

Goggles in progress Goggles in progress

One of the most crucial steps to achieving my look was the replace the boring black elastic. My sparkle rainbow elastic is a tiny bit wider than the original. At first I was concerned about not being able to find the hardware goggles detail to make my strap adjustable, but then I realized that the point of customizing my goggles was so that they didn’t need to be adjustable!

Minor additions were foam padding where I needed it (another benefit of really claiming an item as YOURS), and a few delicately placed rhinestones were unavoidable.

Last but not least, I added my name and playa address on the inside of the frames. If I were to loose these, I imagine I’d be pretty mellow about it–did I lose my goggles or is some stranger about to discover a really awesome gift? But still, I’d want the dusty stranger to know their story!

*Contact lenses are actually much easier than glasses at Burning Man. You find somewhere out of the wind to put them in, and you’re good to go all day without worrying about cleaning your specs or having them fall off!

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