Sirens and Seashells

It's that time of the year again when the faeries, goblins, dragons and other mythical creatures gather for one of the most magical weekends in LA. The Labyrinth of Jareth is one of my most anticipated events every summer and putting together a new costume is MY FAVORITE PART.

My boyfriend was super intrigued with the ball and wanted to go, but when I asked him what he wanted to be, he drew a complete blank. I then realized that coming up with a costume and following through with the design and construction of it was foreign to some people, and even a little overwhelming. 

So here's my process for creating a costume! 

1. I'm somewhat of a lazy designer. I like to base a costume off a nice piece that I already have, whether it be a special corset or skirt I picked up earlier in the year at the renaissance fair or elsewhere. My Atlas Moth Wings and costume were based off a corset I couldn't leave without, but had nothing else to wear it with. So this year I found a gorgeous, light blue tattered skirt from Tickle Thy Fantasy. I'm normally drawn towards autumnal colors and deep reds, but this light blue, ocean-y skirt was something I couldn't leave without. 

2. Since the skirt was so flowy, and something I would love to belly dance in, I thought about creating a tribal style belly dance inspired costume all in white and light blue. It then dawned on me that I wanted to stay with that ocean theme, and instead of trying to make it fairy-like I should  go with the flow and be a mermaid. 

3. This is one of my favorite parts of the process. Once I have the general idea of what I want to do, I go onto tumblr and pinterest and start gathering inspiring images, nailing down what I want to accomplish with my costume right down to the tiny details and makeup. 

4. After that starts the gathering of materials and construction. I had an old swimsuit I wanted to use for the top. I got a bag of different sized shells and gemstones. I got fabric that reminded me of scales and sea netting to throw over my hips. Towards the end, I realized I didn't want to have to carry a bag while I was flipping my fins all night long, so I found a utility belt on amazon and decorated the heck out of it. 

5. I loved that many tribal bellydancers were inspired by Mucha when it came to their costuming, so I kept that influence in there with the layered headpiece that I made. 

Construction is still underway and the ball is right around the corner!!! More photos will come after the Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball so you can see the whole shebang put together!. Check my Instagram for sneak peak photos of the costume making and the ball! ;) 

Love Lindsay