Episode 9: Fashion Turns Ugly? – When Costume Meets Catwalk
It is not contentious to connect costume and the catwalk: Alexander McQueen did in 1997 with his ‘It’s A Jungle Out There’ collection. However, few designers and fashion houses are as willing – or as brave? – to compare their collections with the dressing up box. In today’s fashion industry ‘Fancy Dress’ remains a dirty term. Why is this? Discussing recent commentary that considers ‘ugly’, ‘critical’ and ‘experimental’ fashions, alongside the presentation of fashion in photographers’ work – from Tim Walker to Juno Calypso – this episode considers why the prevalence and popularity of fancy dress creates opportunities, and dilemmas, for some of fashion industries biggest brands. Links Adam Geczy and Vicki Karaminas, Critical Fashion Practice (2017) Francesca Granata, Experimental Fashion: Performance Art, Carnival and the Grotesque Body (2017) Jamie Huckbody, ‘The Ugly Truth’, Harper’s BAZAAR Australia (August 2018), 120-123. Tim Walker, Story Teller (2012) Instagram @dressfancypodcast @mslucyclayton @benjamin__wild Photographers @elenarendinastudio @nadialeelee @junocalypso Fashion designers @alexandermcqueen @thombrowneny @craig__green bruceasbestos @rottingdeanbazaar Wider commentary @vestojstories @trashfashionshit @worldofwearableart @sarahmower_
