Bibian Blue’s fall/winter 2012/13 collection was shown at Valencia fashion week. I am happy to see that Bibian Blue has been designing more than just corsets but rather entire elegant ensembles. Every collection seems to go a step further in that direction. In this collection the corset remains the backbone of the outfit but it is not always the focal point.

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featuring designs by Bibian Blue

AUXILIARY ONLINE CONTENT
[ additional images not seen in the February/March 2012 Issue ]

photographer : Maria S. Varela
makeup artist : Cervena Fox
hair stylist : Cervena Fox
model : Cervena Fox

view the full editorial in the February/March 2012 Issue

With a few new endeavors on the horizon, the famous fashion design company and Sydney, Australia boutique known for their corsets and alternative couture, Gallery Serpentine, is still going strong after 15 years.

interview by : Vanity Kills & Jennifer Link
photographer : Zelko Nedic
fashion stylist : Gallery Serpentine
makeup artist : Emma Lee Court and Renee De Bono
makeup : Illamasqua
hair stylist : Ambo Ars
models : Miroslav Naskovic, Sophie J. Wilde, Susy Natal, James Heathers, Lauren Kyle, and Jeremy Ansley

It’s safe to say that upon handing yourself over to the whimsical couturiers behind Australia’s celebrated Gallery Serpentine, you’ll soon forget all about the outmoded notion of, “being dressed to the nines”. Instead, you shall be whisked right past 10 and into a world of instantly recognizable style that is off the charts. No surprise there, since this Sydney-based “Home of Australian Corsetry and Alternative Couture” prides itself on being an “Antidote to the Mundane”. After all, nothing lights up a room like a Gallery Serpentine pointed waist cincher fashioned from black aston brocade, a distinguished pinstripe kirtle skirt that drapes just right, or a high-collared undertaker inspired coat. But that’s just one small piece of a greater fantastically fashionable puzzle. If you heart’s desire lies in transforming your entire wedding entourage into a horde of airship pirates, the brand’s alternative bridal salon, can help you satiate your steamiest matrimonial appetites. And if you wish to be plucked from the banality of day-to-day life by the way of sartorially minded old-school carnival magic, where tunes and togs collide: Dark Fashion Theatre beckons with promises of delivering a tantalizing, multi-performer road show unlike that which you’ve ever seen, letting you fulfill those, “I’ve run away with a really well-dressed circus,” fantasies you’ve always harbored. At least for one night.

Writer Vanity Kills and editor Jennifer Link had the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie Calkin of Gallery Serpentine.

Jennifer Link : Gallery Serpentine has had multiple designers and guest designers throughout its 15 years, can you give us a mini history lesson, who were some of the highlights and who is still working with Gallery Serpentine today?
Stephanie Calkin : Annette Magus, my sister, was the sole designer when her first label, Magus, morphed into Gallery Serpentine in the early years after she came back from Camden in London where she had a great following. She developed the corsetry during this period when you couldn’t buy a corset in Australia. She continues to contribute her signature romantic neo-Victorian styles and also what I’d categorize as “practical goth” or “corporate goth” daywear. For me I was making “deadtech” creations utilizing circuitboard screen prints and wiring diagrams with used computer parts and often pictures of Einstein. It was great to have this recognized with a color spread in a local Sydney gay publication and getting the cover of another local paper and having the winner of the Miss Geek competition in the USA wearing one of my deadtech corsets.

Once GS started growing and we were employing some creatives who in the main came out of the theater costume background an acceleration of dramatic designs came through. Basically nearly everyone who has ever worked here has ended up contributing designs whether it is the production team or the retail team. We used to have very intense staff design meetings every few months and design sheets were rampant pieces of paperwork wherever you went upstairs in our old shop in a Victorian terrace.

Shannon Mullane is still with us after about eight years, she originally started as a work experience student and is now Production Manager and has designed some great new styles for us.

Other guest designers are USA steampunk legend, Evelyn Kriete and Sydney’s own Robert from Red Rabbit & Ensign who really helped us kickstart our GS Gentlemen ranges. Our new Dapper Bastard ranges are being spurred along by a Victorian style strong man and scientist, Abbadon/James Heathers.

read the full interview in the December/January 2011/2012 Issue

We all have a penchant for the dark, the macabre, and the taboo. Nottingham UK’s Krissy Gore of Gore Couture makes this otherwise “secret” fascination a part of her everyday. In a word: sick, but we love it that way. It is the one-of-a-kind artistry that goes into each corset fashioned at GC that brings the taboo to the forefront, but makes ownership of any of these creations an experience in blood-soaked craftsmanship.

photographers : Iberian Black Arts Photography and Bodó Janos Attila
models/stylists : Morgana, Elyssia, RazorCandi, and Silent Noise
interview : Vanity Kills

If sugar and spice and everything nice isn’t exactly the first thing you look for while corset shopping, there’s always broken mirror shards, disembodied doll heads, and stitched cadaver flesh. Let’s face it, sometimes gratuitous use of graphic horror violence warms the cockles of one’s blackened heart in ways pink floral brocade never will. Such occasions call for wearing something that makes a truly visceral impact. Like a gore-geously crafted steel boned underbust, bedecked with printed pages straight out of a serial killer’s diary — complete with eyelids harvested from those who perished at her hands. At times like this, Krissy Gore of Gore Couture makes exactly what it takes to quench your sartorial blood lust. This master craftswoman and corsetière, adept at glamourizing the ghastly, will clothe your inner zombie/vampire/bird of prey in tight-lacing garments designed to elicit stares of awe and admiration alike. Who says that torture and dismemberment shouldn’t be synonymous with style?

When did you first discover your love of corsetry? When did the deciding moment of merging your love of horror with your love of corsets take place?
Krissy Gore : I discovered my love of corsetry many years ago. For me they were always the icing on the cake to any outfit, whether on show or worn as a foundation garment. Gore Couture was a natural progression having already worked and been associated with other alternative clothing companies. I was already making corsets and was wanting to combine my corsetry skills with my art when I met Miss Fiendish who at the time was making some pretty awesome PVC prints. We got together and created Gore Couture. GC is now just myself, Krissy Gore, creating all the designs, prints, and embellishments from scratch.

view the full feature in the June/July 2011 Issue

Heavy Red’s Fatal Affection Waist Cincher

image source heavyred.com

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but I’m sure you’re still in the spirit as you nibble on the last pieces of your chocolate heart. The Fatal Affection Waist Cincher by Heavy Red features a blood red heart with alternating black and white stripes that will remind you of love all year long. The steel boned underbust corset would look nice over a black flowing gown for a romantic gothy look, or paired with a short ruffled skirt and blouse for a fun gothic Lolita aesthetic.

The Fatal Affection Waist Cincher is available online at www.heavyred.com.

- Meagan

Spain’s underground fashion can likely hold a torch to the tight lace, undulating ruffle, and arresting shades and colors of Bibian Blue.  Using the corset in so many interesting ways, including steampunk, couture, and glamour designs, the catalogue of style at Bibian Blue appeals as much to the imagination as to the delight of the world over.

interview by Zach Rose and Meagan Hendrickson
photographer : María S. Varela
makeup artist : Jose Valle and Masuimi Max
hair stylist : Jose Valle
models : Masuimi Max, Bárbara Masiá, and Miss Doll

Could you tell us about the origin of the name “Bibian Blue”, how did you come by that name?
Bibiana : My real name is Bibiana and Blue is an adjective that when I started, described perfectly the sort of mood that I wanted to transmit into my clothing. Nowadays my collections are more colorful and diverse but still keep the romantic feeling of it. I think it suits my designs.

Your designs clearly have a lot of passion behind them, what are the goals or principles you try to adhere to when creating them?
BB : I just do what I like, I don’t really think about it that much. With time I am getting more confident about my ideas, so I just let them flow. I love to experiment with new directions.

What is your design process and how has it changed over the years?
BB : When I start a collection, I find the general concept of it, and I spend a few months looking for inspirations toward that direction, like colors, shapes, and fabrics or anything that I find interesting or related to the concept of idea of the collection. When part of the designs are drawn, then I start to make them. Some of them are the same as they were drawn and some end up completely different from the original idea, but in any case, there’s been a few months of work behind them.

read the full interview in the December/January 2010/2011 Issue

Heavy Red’s Tragic Alice in Wonderland Costume

image source heavyred.com

I implore you to think outside of the “sexy” bagged Halloween costume this year and take a look at what Heavy Red has been cooking up in terms of costuming. The Tragic Alice in Wonderland costume ensemble really caught my attention because there are three separate pieces that you can wear together for the Halloween season and then can be incorporated into your regular wardrobe. When you purchase the costume you receive the Tragic Alice dress in muted teal, a steel boned waist cincher in antique white with red stripes, and the full length harlequin tights. I think that’s an excellent value and I’m impressed they even included the tights! Another nice option about this ensemble is that the sizing is not one-size-fit-all, you can choose your dress size and choose the corset size, which takes the guessing game out of ordering costumes online and wondering if they are going to fit. If you fell in love the Tragic Alice in Wonderful by Heavy Red, I would get your pre-order in as Halloween is quickly approaching!

The Tragic Alice in Wonderland Costume is available online at www.heavyred.com.

- Meagan

Purrfect Pineapples’ Pink Gingham Cupcakes Corset

image source purrfectpineapples.com

Holy cupcakes Batman! The Pink Gingham Cupcakes corset by Purrfect Pineapples is just absolutely ADORABLE! This steel boned underbust corset is a must for that cupcake lover in your life! Don’t let the $250 price tag scare you, as Purrfect Pineapples is a cruelty-free, high-quality lingerie designer, and besides this corset is custom made for you! I love that the designer, Erika Shuhendler uses lovely heavily tattooed models and embraces the kitsch factor in her choice of fabrics. You won’t find these amazingly unique designs at Victoria’s Secret!

The Pink Gingham Cupcakes Corset is available at www.purrfectpineapples.com.

- Meagan