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Circus Girl Chic
By Destroyx | January 5, 2009
As inspiring as I find fashion magazines and current fashion trends, I often find my style influences stretch into imaginings of the most fantastical kind such as those found in the circus world.
The idea of the circus has always intrigued me, the drama, illusion and the larger than life personalities of the show. I like to conjure up imaginary characters, wondering how they might act and what they might wear. Would I be the graceful trapeze artist or the fearless lion tamer (I’m a leo!) Perhaps I might be the a part of the freak show- the lizard lady, a sword swallower or the seductive snake charmer?
When I look to the big top for inspiration, textures, fabrics and silhouettes immediately spring to mind- such as harlequin prints and stripes, bejeweled and rhinestone encrusted surfaces, feathers, satin and exaggerated silhouettes.
A mood board I created inspired by dreams of the circus with some of my own wardrobe. Larger version here.
When I incorporate these theatrical circus influences into my own looks, I don’t try to exactly emulate them as a costumer might, instead I try to borrow, appropriate and reinterpret styles to make them my own. I’m more interested in reinventing looks instead of reproducing them as it’s much more fun that way.
I had some fun creating some imaginary circus characters and styling them. Read about my crazy personal circus below.
THE RINGMASTER (Product Information)
She took the job because she was the type that liked to project her voice. When she was five she started on the eisteddfod circuit and hasn’t stopped enunciating her syllables since. She has a penchant for military fashions, pointed shoes and shoulder pads and is glad that her job description allows her to indulge in such idiosyncrasies unnoticed.
THE SNAKECHARMER (Product Information)
She always had her way with animals, even though mostly she preferred them neatly preserved and taxidermied. She thought when she grew up she was going to be an embalmer but abandoned that path when she chanced upon her talent for snake charming on a family holiday. Her prized possession is her Alexander McQueen bag which is home to her pet python Apollo.
THE TRAPEZE ARTIST (Product Information)
She thought she was going to be a ballerina for the first 15 years of her life. When she realised that she had bad feet, she took to the trapeze- where she was allowed to spend time off her feet, while also wearing her most cherished leotards. Most did not know she had an extreme leotard fetish and no one seemed phased that she wore them all the time off stage and every night to bed.
Want to run away with the circus? Try styling your own outfit at Polyvore.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
God, why are you a girl after my own heart?! I LOVE Circus chic…. in fact, it’s one of the big elements I’ve been thinking about incorporating in to my wardrobe this year.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Ashe Mischief- YAY! that means you have good taste =) Hehe… yeah, it’s definitely one of those things I’m going to be doing a lot of this year. I’ve noticed so many nice things in the shops that relate to it, it’s great. Topshop in particular have some delicious jackets this season.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
DX, have you ever seen Emilie Autumn live? Its much like a circus! It was amazing when is saw her in London, stunts, stilts and teabags everywhere!
great post x
January 5th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Oh My!
I actually very much want to run away with the circus now!
I love the whole circus costume thing, it’s wonderful!
It’s nice to see where you get some of your inspiration!
Circuses are wonderful for colour, inspiration and just as a visual stimulus!
xx
January 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Yeah, circus stuff is good ;) but I don’t think that it’s going to be a main influence in creating my own style (I want a gothic/industrial/cyber/military look)…
January 5th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
…. too bad that real circuses nowadays are just plain boring without this whole dark, mysterious, wicked and endazzling atmosphere about them, that I like to think were part of the victorian era circuses :/
But btw, you need to show me Berlin, when you are back in Germany :D
At least we are both Leos… so we would either hate or love us, which makes a 50% chance of total win :D
Anyway, you’re awesome. thank you
Tao
January 6th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Oh man, this puts my circus-inspired costume post to shame! Fabulous.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:47 am
That’s such a fun idea, DX! i wish i had enough clothes to do such a thing… it’s wonderful fun imagining, creating, crafting your own alter egos… it had never occured to me to try to do such a thing with clothes.
I’ve unfortunatly only been to one circus when i was around 7ish… and i didn’t have my glasses so i couldn’t see anything anyway. i have had the opportunity to go trapeze-ing though when i was at a spa in texas and a bunch of trapeze artists were passing through town. that was a very memorable night.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Videokid- yup, I’ve seen her live twice… we actually know each other professionally too. She rocks. =)
Blitz- I know! The circus for me is really damned interesting! I’m glad you enjoyed the post, I hope it was inspiring for you!
Tao- Modern day circuses aren’t as cool are they? I agree with you totally!
Yeah.. can’t wait to get back to Berlin, but I won’t be there until mid this year I think.
Erin- Aww.. I just saw your post, it was lovely! You can’t get enough of the circus. =)
Rae- Cool.. I haven’t been on a trapeze before, but I’m sure it would have been really fun.
Yeah.. I’m full of alter egos because I have way too much imagination for one personality. =)
January 6th, 2009 at 9:53 am
I just found your blog! Everything here is absolutely TO DIE FOR. Let me inside your wardrobe damnit!
January 6th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
simi- thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting! It’s so nice to meet new people. I like your blog too. =)
January 6th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I have to know where everyone finds these amazing top hats? I already told my husband I must have one for Yule next year!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:15 am
You inspired me! I have no artistic ability but Polyvore was easy and fun and I could caputre things I like. Here’s mine (if this doesn’t support html, just delete this please! Hahaha)
January 7th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Ok, it didn’t work but I’m on Polyvore as Ayria! ;)
Jenn
January 7th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I just need to tell you this blog is one of my favourite things on the internet at the moment. Even though I don’t comment every entry, be sure that there are people clicking here everyday!
you are indeed amazing ^.^
January 7th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Samantha Darko- http://www.villagehatshop.com/mad_hatter_hat.html
I haven’t ordered from there before though, but they hats look AMAZING!.. and they are handmade!
Jennifer Parkin- Hey Jenn! I know, the website is addictive. The things on the site are a bit expensive, but it’s a really fun way of imagining how things will look and saving it for future use. BTW, did you see the MAC is making a range for hello kitty? I think it has you written all over it!
Leesy- Thanks sweetie! I appreciate the comment so much. =) I am glad you are liking it! *glows*
January 7th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Oooooooh, I see some Vivienne Westwood there.
*dies*
If only I had the money, haha.
Btw, I really love your blog! It’s so interesting, and I love your views on fashion, life, etc.
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but you said that everybody has to find colors and make up and whatnot that suits them. But how exactly do you find that out?
Thanks!
January 7th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Ah, forgot to ask…
How do you make your cameo-thingies? I’m not asking you to explain it to me super-detailed, but I’d really like to know how you make the form and what materials you use.
If you don’t want to answer, it’s okay! Thanks!
January 8th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I found the Mad Hatter and they are fabulous looking! I just want them to specially dye me one that is Hot Pink! It would be sooo much easier than teach myself to felt, which looks to be easy enough to do, but would take FOREVER! And I need to concentrate on making Hoe Couture (Stripper wear)!
January 9th, 2009 at 7:38 am
[...] is one of my new favourite blogs, and this guide to “Circus Girl Chic” contains some fabulous ideas for circus-inspired outfits, and in my favourite colours [...]
January 9th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Circus Girl Chic is sooo sexy
I make a bunch of my own stuff…so 2009 was either gonna be circus or something victorianish…
hehe i love polyvore too!
Oh you know what else can be really awesome looking? Pirate… or maybe I’m just weird…
xxx
Miss Laurabell
January 9th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
[...] I adore the circus and especially this post on circus girl chic. [...]
January 9th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
http://iamthemostofthemoment.blogspot.com/2009/01/casual-friday.html
LOVE the circus (esp alt-cirkus! hello aerialists and fire breathers!)
I was checking out that red coat, from your polyvore set, the other day. Trop belle!
By the way, your Birds of Prey series is divine!
xo
Birdie
January 11th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Samantha Darko- You won’t need to learn felting, but you will need to get a hat block and a steam to make a top hat. It is expensive to learn millinery… trust me! You might be better off buying it!
Miss Laurabell - I fucking love pirates… I’ll do a pirate post one day too!
Birdy- YAY! I’m glad you enjoyed the post *beams* =) Thanks for your lovely comment sweetie!
January 12th, 2009 at 2:23 am
So wonderful and freaking hot, I love it! Beautiful presentation of such a playful fashion theme; brave.
Much love, xx
January 12th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Its awesome
January 12th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Bombshell Kitten- Thanks kitten! I love your blog too, it’s very cute!
snake128- Thankyou!
January 19th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Absolutely incredible! I’m also a lover of circus fashion :)
And your Polyvore ensembles are very nice, indeed.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
The outfits you’ve put together are so beautiful! xx
May 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
You should publish your outfits on Polyvore and use the “Embed on your blog” feature to post your outfits on your blog. That way people can link to the set on Polyvore and see where all the items came from, and then they can buy them!
Great stuff. Your style is inspiring!
May 30th, 2009 at 8:04 am
[...] Circus Girl Chic! [...]
July 6th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
I love the ringmaster clothes and I am having a party wih a theme of circus and I want a jacket just like that 1 wiu the gold buckles but where do I get 1??
October 18th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
hey! I LOVED THIS, it may be a little late but where can i get the clothes of the ringmaster?
March 21st, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I Love the snake chamber outfit! im having problems finding the black and white stripe coat. Is there anywhere
else i can get it besides forever21? (forever21 says its out
of stock:( and i don’t know where else to buy one!)
Please Help! Thanks.
May 18th, 2010 at 12:33 am
I Love the snake chamber outfit! im having problems finding the black and white stripe coat. Is there anywhere