Submission status: Complete Designer: ChocoDoko (MJ) Model name: Waleria outfit title: Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen
ITEMS! Left to Right! Dark Princess diamandis (Gloves) Dark Fabella Genesis (cloak) Forbidden Myth Hunter (Rocky Shores) Faded memento Maui (glasses) Cryogenic aetas. op 1 (era's perpetuation) Auspicious Kingdom of time (dress)
Description: I love the song RIPTIDE by Vance. I Chose this song to base my design off for this challenge- because this song lives rent free in my head! I pull my idea of this look from the lines "Lady, runnin' down to the riptide Taken away to the dark side" and "I swear shes destined for the screen" Waleria is dressed up as if she is the lady who ran down to a rip tide and is now taken to the dark side. Because shes absolutely destined for the screen! I specifically picked this background and color scheme because every time I hear this song, I think of black and white film and then when color was first being introduced. So i wanted to keep the colors not so vibrant or popping. That way She Herself stands out. The Clothes are wearing Her. Shes not putting on these clothes and wearing them out and about... No. The clothes chose her- because she stands out and is destined for the screen.
Favorite pose: Is her walking away, Like shes going to the riptide just like the song says! The Outfit title is also a line from the song.
Song:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 11:58 pm
Designer: kaekie Challenge #1: Getting In Tune Status: Complete Model: Haoran Title: Come with Me to Santigwar
sanβ§tigβ§war/santiΙ‘ΛwaΙΎ/ [sanΜͺ.tiΙ‘ΛwaΙΎ] tab1. to be healed by a faith healer tabtab"Mari na, mapa santigwar kita"[Come with me, we'll go santigwar together]
santigwar feels like it was made for me. it brings together my culture, my love for romance, fantasy, and mythology, and my taste in music. we have 140+ languages here in the ph. of course thereβs filipino, but i also speak bikol β my regional tongue. santigwar is in bikol, sung by dwta, one of my favorite artists, and hearing it live felt magical.
a santigwar is a traditional folk healing ritual where an albularyo (faith healer) cleanses curses by spirits. in this song, the ritual becomes a metaphor for love β choosing to trust feelings over magic. at 2:34 in the mv, when dwta sings βwill you already believe me?β the guy transforms to have elf ears. itβs as if he was an engkanto all along trying to woo a human girl β at least thatβs how i see it haha. haoran embodies the albularlyo, the human girl, the enchanting engkanto, and the santigwar ritual itself. i wanted haoran to feel alive in this mystical world, bridging the physical and spiritual realms of bikol ｑ(β₯οΈ α΄ α΄ )
the design process!
haoran wears a diwata-inspired look. i dressed her in white to mirror the human girlβs outfit, but with elf ears to make her an engkanto. i layered a corset top with a sideskirt to make it more dynamic. i carefully chose to layer some accessories to make the outfit feel cohesive and intentional. without the gold from the vault item, the items would look more like itself and separate. her wide arms and stepping pose were my way of inviting the viewer into the ritual, reflecting the energy of the song. i had her sitting at first but i thought it would obscure too much of her look. i also gave her a headpiece to elevate her look into somewhat of a deity. the necklace from blanchella really helped pop out the necklace from kingdom of timer. i also placed her in hidden, sacred spot deep within the forest. i initially used candles from unwholesome child but it looked like she was stepping over them so i was lost for a bit til i rememberd about the cozy item. it worked so well because it also had little items that look like they belonged to a ritual haha. i hope i was able to make the santigwar look fully alive!
As Araceli Sat on the window seal, all she could think about was all the hurt and pain she went through trying to make her relationship work She truly doesnβt want to do this anymore.
I was inspired by my favorite song Unfaithful by Rihanna.
I really wanted to focus on Araceli's face and the lighting of the room. I want you to visually feel her emotions.
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2026 5:56 pm
Congrats on surviving your first challenge, Designers! It was such a treat to learn a little more about all of you while ALSO being treated some delightful new tunes to pad our playlists with. For our newbies this cycle: welcome to your first feedback panel! Each week, the judges work tirelessly to score your looks and touch on details we loved, as well as provide thoughtful critiques in the areas we want to see you grow into. The first week of the competition is always one of the trickiestβespecially for our fresh-faced newcomersβso be sure to heed all of the feedback you all have been given, and make good use of your time and resources moving forward... It only gets trickier from here! Many entries lost on easy points in the description department. We know that in some ways, this can be one of the most difficult aspects of the competition, so if you ever feel like you need some assistance with workshopping, don't be afraid to reach out to your friendly Mentors!
kaekie β Haoran β’ As always, your layering skills are sublime. Judges loved how you crafted this ensemble for Haoran--you could have fooled us into believing this dress was a set if not for the equip list! You also nailed the personal element of this challenge--yet again--and it was a delight to get to connect with elements from your culture. β’ As a returning designer, keep in mind that judges will hold you to a higher standard, as we know just what you are capable of. Your critiques were minimal this week--one judge wished to see just a hint of texture (like a shoe or anklet) on Haoran's legs, and a few of us were distracted by the tiny pumpkin. Keep pushing yourself and be mindful of little details!
FarrahLopolis β Kim β’ You came in second place by a mere difference of roughly one point, and we hope you feel as impressed with yourself as we do! The inspiration is crystal clear and so easily recognized, but we loved how you put your own fashionable spin on this iconic MJ look. Praise was also given to the background and Kim's fantastic posing for being so reminiscent of the music video. β’ This is quite minor, but be mindful of how different clothing textures/rendering styles appear when you place items next to each other. As with many others, we would have liked the description to be fleshed out just a tad--we want to know more about you and your building process!
Endless Endeavors β Inga β’ My gosh, these colors were MADE for Inga. Every single judge made sure to call attention to how stunning this palette is with her features! We also loved how cleanly everything comes together; the look is simple without being shy on detail between the outfit and background. Special attention was called to the gorgeous choice of frame and gradient in the shawl. β’This is a minor thing, but judges had mixed opinions on the blue eyeshadow. One judge also felt that the choice of skirt felt out out of place with the look, feeling a little too contemporary against the overall romantic, Art Nouveau vibe.
xXAcid_FreeXx β Wren β’ We are all absolutely OBSESSED with the use of color throughout this entry. Getting all of these vibrant hues to look so harmonious with each other is no easy feat! Special attention was called to Wren's eye makeup and playful, dynamic pose. β’ While we loved the pose, it was a bit of a double-edged sword this week, as we also wish we could have seen more of the outfit details throughout. Hiding less of the torso could have easily bought you a few more points! We also would have liked to read more about your process in the description.
Elora Lore β Zarina β’ Judges were very pleased with this look and the story behind it; you were one of the most successful this week in the "getting personal" element of the challenge and sharing the "Why" behind your choices! Everyone loved the attention to the little details--particularly the scales and layering of Zarina's dress. β’ A little more finessing could have bumped up your score a bit--we felt that the dragon wings were a little too obscured and a different item may have worked better. While makeup isn't a requirement, some judges felt that Zarina's face looked a little plain compared to the rest of the look.
Xogue β Aoide β’ Aoide looks so stylish in this inspired fit! Judges initially felt that this entry looked a little too simple at a glance, but after seeing the styles presented in the video, we gladly changed our tune. While it may be simple, your description helped us realize that every element is intentional. β’ Your main critique was that the look was just too simple, though one judge also felt that Aoide's crown was perhaps little too tiny. Overall this was a solid entry; others just wowed us more this week.
Pommes Frites β Brigid β’ The judges were universally fans of the background and overall styling for Brigid--these colors suit her to a tee! Not going for a one-to-one cosplay, but instead creating an "inspired" look, was absolutely the right call. Overall, this was a wonderful first look. β’ As much as we loved the background, the judges had mixed opinions about the animal companions, especially as they were partially obscured by the foreground. In addition, while we enjoyed the outfit being true the spirit of your inspiration, judges agreed that it felt a little simple and could have used some more glam to elevate things.
Freminet β Henrietta β’ While none of us were familiar with your song choice initially, one judge took a glance and immediately got Vocaloid vibes, so good job there! Henrietta looks lovely as a maid. Everyone really appreciated your thorough description--walking us through the thought process and design details like this is exactly what we want to see. β’ While your inspiration is 100% clear between the video and description, judges were torn on the execution of the look. Some felt that this just looked like a cosplay with Henrietta's head on it. You had the right line of thinking with layering sheer skirts to give it more of a fashion element, but the concept could have been pushed further with some of the items you hid underneath, like that cage skirt! In addition, be mindful that decorative background elements don't overwhelm the actual outfit.
Kr-E β Salome β’ The judges were very impressed with how many references to the music video you were able to fit in this look, and the solid description really helped to bring attention to them. Well done! We also loved this color scheme on Salome. β’ The neck/chest region felt a little too busy and cluttered for some of the judges, particularly with the inclusion of the creamy tone that doesn't show up elsewhere. One judge also noted that it was difficult to read the overall pose, as Salome's arms blend into the voluminous skirt. The most divisive detail, however, was the makeup--while we got the concept behind it, we didn't love how it jived with the look as a whole.
CottonCandy Girl β Marisol β’ A simple but lovely look. Judges agreed that listening to your chosen song while scoring made everything vibe! You received much praise for your thoughtful and thorough description, which really helped us connect to certain conceptual details, like the focus given to Marisol's exposed hands and lips. β’ We would have liked to see the details in the outfit pushed a little more! This has good bones, but some more flourishes--like sensual makeup or fancy lingerie peeking through the dress-- could have helped to elevate your overall concept.
mayuralover β Bea β’ Congrats--every single judge was immediately able to recognize your song choice from the look you presented! We loved the nostalgic and whimsical scene you created for Bea, who looks adorable here. β’ While we loved the scene, we felt that Bea's ensemble was a little too simple this week. A little more detail or drama would have helped your score in the style department! Judges were also split on Bea's makeup; some liked the nose definition, but others thought she looked smudged with dirt.
Starry-Tiger β Eevi β’ The Y2K vibes you gave us to pair with your song choice were fantastic! Judges loved your interpretation of the song and gave praise for the dreamy background and Eevi's semi-androgynous style. The use of a partial background helped keep your model at the focus. β’ The biggest detractor for us this week was the color choice. The pastel scheme felt a little too similar to your audition look, and Eevi's hair is getting lost amongst the large swaths of light blue. We also felt that the eyelashes modified the shape of her eyes a little too much, and the strong purple eyeshadow felt jarring.
lthildim β Darla β’ This was another entry where judges unanimously loved the chosen colors. The vibrant hues are definitely evocative of electronica as a genre, as we loved how they played with Darla's features. The overall styling is very cute and spunky--perfect for Daft Punk! β’ The biggest detractor for us was the lack of a description. Without knowing who you are and what your thought process is, it makes judging certain criteria (like concept/motif) really tricky! Letting us see behind the curtain a little more would have helped to greatly improve your score this round.
Crimson-Miz β Colette β’ What an unexpected look for Colette--she stands out from the crowd this week as a cowgirl! The judges loved hearing about the connection this song has for you. β’ This is a case where hiding your equip list may have benefitted you, as judges ultimately were disappointed in the use of item sets and overall low item count. Simple isn't always bad, but we want to see more unique combinations going forward! We would like for the description to be more fleshed out as well.
ChocoDoko β Waleria β’ Judges had praise for the elegant, dramatic vibe of the outfit you constructed for Waleria. The wave print under the sheer layer was a clever detail! The colors with the background created a nice mood. β’ Overall, most of us struggled with the concept behind this look compared to some others. The description could use some refining; one judge said it felt more like lyrics were being read back to them. More explanation of your thought process and journey would have helped us to better connect with the details. Also, with such a voluminous dress, we wanted something on Waleria's head to balance out the silhouette--maybe a dramatic, wide-brimmed hat?
Veenonymous β Araceli β’ You were 100% successful in conveying the emotion and tone of your song in this look--very impressive for how simple the build is! β’ This look was, ultimately, far too simple when stacked up against your competitors, and playing up aspects (like going for more of a lingerie look) would have helped improve your score. We also want much more about you and your thought process from the description next time. You were the unanimous choice to design for Araceli after auditions, and we have full faith you can bring it next week!
βΏβΏβΏβΏβΏβΏβΏ Status: complete Challenge: Fooling Around Model: Bea Designer: mayuralover Outfit Title: What's Black and White and Red All Over?
Description: Choosing a color scheme/palette was challenging because, at first, I wanted to do something outside of the typical red and something that a lot of jesters have. I considered something with Dreamland and that shock of bright Dreamy Pink but the challenge lay in finding the right shapes of clothing in those colors I looked through. In the end, I went back to the class red, black, and white (with a dash of gold), because I was able to find a lot of pieces that had the shape I wanted and layered well with each other. I also intentionally went with various shades of red for that "there's something slightly off about this jester." The very nature of a jester being the funny and uncanny and not to be super matchy matchy.
Speaking of shape, I chose to keep using the "v" edge on the clothing to bring in a repeated element to Bea's outfit - the collar, vest, and, yes, two capes! The crimson on the Heart of the Cards was the red I wanted, but I loved Miss Sundae Witch's dangling tassels for more of the dangling element, like in the jester hat, horns, and the bells on the vest.
I also waffled between the Verhakuma and Funny Business legs - I love the playfulness of the Verhakuma, but it covered too much of the outfit in the end. Funny Business does bring in the stripes to balance out the hat, so I'm pleased with my choice in the end.
Words can't express how excited I was when I saw what the theme was going to be! It took me back to my clown look in cycle 7, and in the spirit of that same challenge, I wanted to do something unapologetically gay. SO, I decided to take Inga in a drag-inspired direction! Because honestly, what is drag if not elevated clownery? I leaned all the way into that idea, and in my mind's eye, I pictured Inga as an overenthusiastic publicist who wanted to advertise her drag performance. This week's presentation, to me, felt like it should be part of the look.
SO...
I want you to imagine this post as a poster that's hung up in your local gay district. Imagine yourself attending Inga's drag show; she's voguing with her vibrant striped sleeves. She smells of bubblegum and blue raspberry candy. There's a massive crowd surrounding her, fans flicking violently in the air, twinks yelling "YASSSSSSSSSS" at the top of their tiny little lungs. The atmosphere is joyous, and the feeling is infectious. THAT's the energy that Inga would undoubtedly bring with this fit!
To speak on building the look, color was my starting point. I began with a punchy mix of magenta, cyan, and yellow, initially pushing the saturation to feel almost chaotic, yet still intentional. As the concept evolved, I incorporated elements of both the βsherbetβ and βvibrantβ color schemes to create visual intrigue while softening the overall intensity. I found that these softer tones complement Ingaβs lighter eye and hair color more effectively, which led me to pivot away from my original, more saturated approach.
I also loved finding ways to add in stars and stripes; my own personal middle finger to American patriotism. Here, those symbols get remixed, exaggerated, and folded into something far more expressive.. a version of Americana that feels much closer to home for me. Because to me, being an American isn't red white and blue vomiting on an ill-fitting T-shirt.
To me...
It's humanity; drenched in glitter.
It's culture; loud and in the highest heels.
It's DRAG.
I made a huge pivot... if you're bored, here's the thought process behind "why":
Originally, my color story was JUST magenta, cyan, and yellow, but the longer I looked at it, the more overwhelmed I got. So I wanted to start fresh, using a softer color palette while still keeping the spirit of the "stars and stripes rainbow" motif. Starting fresh can be really hard for me because I get so attached to the things I make. But in order to improve the look and make Inga look more clown-y, I knew that I had to set aside my ego and pivot completely.
The proverbial nail in the coffin that also made me shift gears was that I had Inga in sleeves that were identical to one of my competitor's avis, and though I do adore those sleeves, I didn't want to accidentally copy something my fellow competitor made. Also, the "wrench" on the sleeves didn't really fit the story I was going for.
Idk I'm also such an indecisive person, but I'm happy I re-designed the look!
Description: My main objective for this entry was to create something that contrasted with Eevi's blue colour. I landed on a rosey orange or coral, but it was hard to find items I liked for this outfit, so instead I leaned more into dusk rose. I contrasted it with some chunks of white, and a touch of green.
As I kept working on it, it became oddly familiar and more countryside themed. I was born and raised on the Swedish countryside, with plenty of greenery and sun, with red-painted houses, and strawberries in the summer. As the spring has been faster than normal this year, I wanted to let in a bit of that summer feeling too with the strawberries.
So here comes Eevi, welcoming spring with a dance, with greenery and life popping up along her path!
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2026 9:11 am
Challenge #2: Fooling Around Status: Completed Designer: Freminet Model: Henrietta
I stumble round, fumbling hand reaching out For yours again, but it gets tangled between our many doubts Thatβs how it is, to not forgive and give some distance
But even though, I keep trembling head to toe You want to stay with me, so keep this under lock and key
No matter what we do, I canβt help but draw us meeting, me and you So, would it be okay? be okay? for us to stay this way This fragile game of hide and seek, together lost in melancholy I just wish I just wish that we could stay like this
So gather every seam, however bad it seems Just what could we do, if we made it good as new? Cut it off then, and laugh then Cut me off then, and laugh just for now Though we can laugh for now-
Description: Time to honk that nose in celebration, for I am finally satisfied with the final look! Hoo boy, when I excitedly went to try clowncore items I instantly realized how washed out the vivid, saturated colors made Henri look- After reading the feedback from last week, I decided that my best course of action was to create a color story that was made for her, something soft yet whimsical to suit the theme. And why, the Konpeito scheme which I am already familiar with was right there!
To compliment the palette, I dug deeper on not only clowncore aesthetics, but the meaning behind the title of the challenge. So many times, clowns are associated with playful, carefree days, like those in our childhood in which we didn't have to worry about big decisions in consequences- We could just spend our days dreaming and playing, but obviously, that has to end, right?... Well, just for today, Henrietta will return to the dollhouse she is all too familiar with, for she is that silly, innocent doll you loved to fool around with, the sweet little clown you grew out of. Dressed in frills, bows and polka dots, she puts on full display the part of her that wants to go back to how things were once upon a time.
For the clown doll look, since it's something far beyond my area of expertise, I first did a little list of things that I associate with clowns and focused on 3 of them to be the focus of the outfit. I landed on the neck ruff, polka dot patterns, and asymetry, and from there I searched for items that filled in those blanks and built the rest of the look from there- The dress was such a holy grail find, not only it had the sweetest polka dot fabric, but the tiers with the ribbons and the shape of it complimented the clown doll concept so well! Things got more difficult with the ruff, since most of the ones I tried didn't look quite well with her face and hair. I didn't want her to drown it and the silhouette was already bottom-heavy, so I went for something more subtle yet just as cute. And to make it pop.... I blocked out her chest area with a touch of dandelion. Yes, it may be a chestmod- but it's the only way I could layer something properly between the dress and the collar, so let's all use our imaginations and pretend it's just a little panel of fabric www
I used the asymetry aspect of my essentials list to pick the arms and legs. I wanted her pose to reference her being a doll, so I went for something less dynamic, as if she was waiting in her box to be picked up. The shoes are quite simple, just missmatched boots with a subtle stripped pattern to clash ever so sweetly with the polka dots of the skirt. The arms are also kept simple with a little puff sleeve, bracelets and ribbons. I found that going with something more subtle helped draw the attention towards the center and kept a balance for the overall silhouette. I think that the triangle composition suited well her hair, but of course, I needed a big hair accessory fitting of a clown, she is one, after all! The straw and twin pierrot hats combo felt extremely silly, and not only they kept the vertical balance I wanted, but also gave the backview of the outfit the perfect little extra something.
After that, I approached the part that arguably scared me the most.... the makeup. To join Henri in being a clown, when I made the previous challenge I wasn't aware of the topic with all the how-tos and don'ts of the contest, so only after the feedbacks I realized my previous mistakes. The face is arguably one of the prime focal points of all clowncore looks, But not only I had to keep it fitting with the color story, I also had to be careful to keep those traits that make Henri herself. Maybe I got too into my head, but in the end I decided on a brighter blue eyeshadow to make her eyelashes pop, and some simple dot cheeks and a triangle nose. It keeps the silly vibes of a clown nose but daintier, don't you think?
When putting the final touches, I just went with what felt right. I wanted to bring some little extra tomfoolery and whimsy, so I allowed myself to be a little chaotic with the elf ears and mouse companion. The button earrings were just too cute to resist.... And every doll my niece gets always comes with a lil animal sidekick! It's technically part of the headpiece, so allow me the treat, dear judges wwww
My apologies again for not doing my proper digging with the fist challenge, and thank you lots for the feedback! Hopefully, I could apply into this new look and you can all enjoy it β₯
Congratulations on making it through your first challenge, Designers! As we ramp up the competition, itβs time to buckle down and get serious this week. For your next challenge, you are to dress your modelβ¦ as a clown! Or mayhaps a jester, harlequin, or pierrot if thatβs more your speed. There are centuries of history and culture to tap into here, and us judges look forward to being entertained and delighted by your looks. (And yes, can you tell that the site issues affected our challenge schedule and this was supposed to be for April Fools? Honk honk, now weβre the ones with pie on our face!) Designer: Ithildim Model: Darla Outfit title: "Candy Messenger" Description: I was inspired for this look by the vintage comic strip Little Nemo wich was about the adventures of a boy on the land of dreams a comic that mixed the carnival aesthetic with a grandiose otherworldly kingdom. This is the same contrast I tried to make on this avatar mixing a vibrant colorful character with the starry sky and the cloud ocean of dreams. Items like the invitation and the jumping Woolie also refer to the strip, Nemo is being invited into Slumberland and the sheep's themselves as reference to dreaming, as the fact that Darla's feet don't touch the ground. I attach a couple of images of What I was going for. Little Nemo: Img 1 Img 2
emotion_skull___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This round proved to be a little challenging for me. I am not used to creating clowns or anything close to the sort. My first idea was going for bright colors and strange palettes that I hadn't seen. In the end, I scrapped that and started over.
Clowns.CLOWNSClowns? What on earth could I do to make this clown stand out?
Then it hit me. I remember that at one point, I was absolutely terrified of clowns. They used to freak me out and make me so uncomfortable. Until the overexposure absolutely cured me of clowns and their adjacent song, especially that damned song. (Please see my side note!~)
Salome is embracing her dark side, a clown you'd likely find at a haunted house. Slasher style and ready to jump scare you, chase you, and make you scream until you cry. If there is any greater exposure therapy, it would be this source for sure!~ She waits for you at the gates, giggling, and her laugh will follow you throughout the attraction. Stalking each and every step. Waving around her cute clever, and well-prepared in her boots, just stomping towards you!
She'll take your breath away as she runs you ragged all through that house. What do you say? Will you spend a good night of fears with Salome?
Side Notes!~
Truly, it was a serious repeat of this song during one of the long-term relationships that helped me get over it. Plus, he used to taunt me and say he'd randomly wear a clown suit for me. sweatdrop Thank god that cringe is over!~
Challenge: Fooling Around Designer: Pommes Model: Brigid Title: PantoMime Complete
She's here, my jester mime fusion for Brigid!
Brigd's outfit is based around thirds, a balance of colors, white, and black. Additionally the colors themselves contain 3 main shades - purples, blues, and pinks. The trio can be seen as well in her makeup, with her pink heart (pulling from decoramas head deco), blue diamond (from the leg pattern) and purple nose. I'm very pleased with the 3 pattern segments of the look too, with checkered leg, star pattern arms, and striped head. I had no worries they'd clash together since the solid fabric placements break them up. I tied the checker into the background as well with the flooring and banners hanging. The background was a nice find as well, it felt like the lighting and flooring were her performing up on a stage, with the circus tent flaps draped open to the outdoors. It clicked early on as the main basis for the look when I combined the bad joke horns with the jest hat, to get the triple horned hat. It added more mass as well to balance the large fluffed skirts.
I wanted to not fall into a "one scheme" pitfall (with just konpeito) while still balancing placement around the avi visually. I used some more saturated colors from old gaian lavender as well as pinks and teals of harlequin (also pulling in the clown/mime naming of that scheme). At one point I was working with just the Dunce hat and top hats, but they didn't give me a shape I liked in the end. I did include the mini top hat from decorama to keep it around. Similarly I went with nezumimis lavender collared dress to mimic a ruff without a heavy black or too white ruff option. I wanted to make sure smooth lavender was also present on the central mass. I also love that she has small toe bells like her giant hat ones.
To play into the Mime aspect in the title and her design, I went with the japanese "www" text based laughing 'lol' to show she's having a fun comedic time without breaking the mime code xD I was afraid to break hard rules with the competition, as her harlequin makeup does darken the lip area under her base lips (without cutting/covering up the pixels themselves) but the eye color was important to me and the resulting mischievous smirk makes her feel like she's feeling her performance.
If I could have kept one thing from my starting build, it would have been the oversized "yaoi hand" white gloves from secret stach. They just didn't feel dynamic enough and hurt the outfit appeal as I was trying to build around them.
Designer: xXAcid_FreeXx Model: Wren Challenge #2: Fooling Around Status: Complete
Big Top Wren
Meet Wren, the most popular clown at the Big Top Circus!
This week I took inspiration from traditional circus clowns, but combined that style with the beauty and grace of tightrope walkers. Clowns are known for their red noses, bold mismatched colors, and an almost ethereal way of moving, so I leaned into those elements while giving her a softer, more graceful presence.
I pictured Wren in motion, actively juggling while pirouetting like a ballerina, with light, tip-toe movements. The Valkyrie Hime legs felt perfect for capturing that dynamic pose and graceful energy.
For the design, I started with the eye makeup. I wanted something colorful and fun without fully whitening her face like a stereotypical clown. Since she already has an expressive face, I created a flower petal inspired design around her eyes to keep the look playful but elegant.
The sleeves were my second choice. I was dedicated to a dynamic pose this week, and Sense of Porpoise showed her with the cutest wrist bracelets while tossing up some light colored balls. I also wanted to make sure her arms weren't completely covered, and enjoyed the short puffy sleeves.
I imagined Wren being especially popular with children, and the wrist bands inspired me to lean into a soft, fluffy, poodle-like aesthetic that tied in nicely with her makeup. The Oodle Poodle Party Hat was especially cohesive with this vibe. She isn't a jester- she's going full party clown with the hat and puffy features.
To tie this together, I found a flared overskirt. I loved how it gave her a bigger silhouette to match the size of her hair, without overpowering the rest of the outfit. The skirt features flowers and a blue backing as a callback to the makeup, helping tie the whole look together.
This being said, the short collar was intentional. I didn't want to cover her outfit, or have anything block my design this week.
My final design decisions were the tights and leotard. I debated making everything match, but ultimately chose a bold red for the leotard and tights to mirror her red nose, while keeping the rest of the palette light and blue.
I loved how the final look came together, and feel like the pose captures Wrenβs personality perfectly.
Fooling Around perfectly encapsulates my design process for this week's theme. Zarina went through a series of changes as I explored ideas inspired from my Italian heritage like Pagliacci and Arlecchino. My first iteration was the patchwork costume of the Harlequin, but my vision unraveled when I stumbled upon one item that shifted everything-- the luxuriously exaggerated sleeves of Beastly Wonder.
Those diamond cutouts, the vintage gold and tiny sootberry accents, all paired with that excessive ruffle! It was my deciding piece, full stop. I clung to my Pagliacci inspo with interpretations from A Very Yandere Birthday (legs), or the Covertly Dangerous Duchess bodice, but I was floored when I saw how Trina's Wonderous Trinkets echoed the same offblack/vintage gold scalloping as Beastly Wonder. And that's when it hit me. I was no longer in Italy, I had just fallen down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. β€ β¦
Decked out in Diamonds, Zarina is Jester to none other than Her Highness, the Queen of Hearts! Chained within the Queenβs garden, she reflects the courtβs madness back upon itself. A small heart rests at the base of her bodiceβcarefully placed so as not to rival the Queenβ¦lest her Highness cry, OFF WITH HER HEAD!
We're All Mad Here showcases the absurdity of ceremonial rule.
β§ From the diamond cutouts in her sleeves and stockings to the red and gold diamond embroidery stitched across her bodice, and even the pointed facets of her crown and the half-diamonds of her ruff, this Jester of Diamonds shines with the splendor of royal folly!
β§ Off-black and white ground the design, while a backdrop of agate blue balances vivid pops of red and the unorthodox red sootberry accents in Zarinaβs sleeves and boot cuffs. Gold accents run throughout, tying every element together.
β§ Zarinaβs exaggerated sleeves reflect the absurdity of a queen far more absorbed in the embellishment of painting her roses red than in the responsibilities of rule.
I was honestly terrified of this challenge, but that easily melted away once I dove into the rich history as mentioned in the prompt. One look at Aoide and I knew her solemn expression would be perfect for a mime, while contrary to her name, it adds to the inner turmoil of her stage persona being mute. I started with the striking white & black makeup, crucial for making facial expressions visible from afar, with a tear as a reminder that the viewers joy is often at her expense. At first, I had my heart set on a combo of the Pretentious Prince top + Consort Selene bottoms for a more elevated striped look, but finding shorts that layered correctly was a struggle and a skirt just didn't feel right for a mime's physical demands. I decided to work with the suspender shorts that almost fit the previous combo, they were just too cute to give up and would look nice with the iconic black and white stripes of the French mime. And so the hunt began for her current combo, searching for stripes close in size so that it wouldn't look jarring. It was also important that the legs flowed with the short's pose, and luckily this footing helps with the illusion of walking into an unexpected wall as her hands suggest. I thought it was unfortunate the gloves only came in white and not ivory, but it also made sense, as the hands are a huge focal point of the art. I was ecstatic the shirt cropped the way it did, shortening the length and removing the sleeves. Coquette was needed for some figure trimming and to cover her exposed belly, while simultaneously completing the stripes for a tucked look. The neck area was bare since the top is off-the-shoulder, so I thought the right necktie would make it appear like a closed neck top. Surprisingly, one of the first ties I found was an unexpected delight! The extra long ends that would otherwise look like additional suspender straps were cropped out, which made it cute like a bow tie. Also, the silver metal-like accents pleasantly match with the suspender buttons and shoe lacing. Her beret was initially found during the scrapped combo, and I like the idea of Aoide incorporating it into her act - where losing it is like losing the love of her life, plus the hat could be trapped in a box once in a while for a fun spin on the routine staple. Alongside Aoide is a suitcase for storing numerous props, whether invisible or not, while also being a routine prop itself. She is found performing near an intersection while doubling as a safety net for pedestrians, and she has no problem silently, yet dramatically, scolding any traffic violators she sees.
Get to know Xo:
I thoroughly and sincerely enjoyed researching mimes for this challenge! Not only did I read about different cultures and points in history, but I also found myself watching Marcel Marceau along with many other performers for several days and nights. Thank you so much for a prompt that pushed me towards a quest for knowledge, it resulted in a wonderful experience with countless laughs~ If you're curious, below is a video with a string of clips for a glimpse into what Aoide's act & suitcase may have in store! c:
Sweet Firefly Catcher
chick in bath
His Obsidian Reign (Nose v.1)
Devastated Souls (Corrupted Well)
Fantastical Journey (Secret Village)
Olde Worlde Floor
Brow Basics (Shaped brow)
Observant Lady of the Mist (Misty Skirt)
Endless View
Dreamy Landscapes (Shadow)
Snip Snip Scissors
Angel's Piercing
Noel's Light Gift (Codpiece)
Amorous Chiroptera (corset)
Ivory Ribbon Cinch
Secret Retreat (Sexy Tone Light Body)
Waist Necklace (Tarnished)
Antique Vault (antique Antique belt)
Slash Blush (Light Pink)
Strong Feelings (Chiffon)
Autumnal Breeze Amidst the Books (Face)
A Plethora of Zen Pots (Hair)
Warm and Coarse Inside
Ancient Reluctant Rival (Arms V1)
Rosy Thirds Goddess (Legs vB)
Rosy Lifegiver (Tiara)
Elegant Daughter of the Sea (Pearl Headdress)
Shining Kingdom of Timer (Bra)
Pure Fairy Blanchella
Satyrday Night Faun (Amaranth)
Erlking Ears Type B
