We’ve got a choice bit of Burner history to share with you today.  Wayyyyyyy back in 2007, the Nevada Museum of Art debuted an exhibit that focused specifically on playa fashion.  A Tribe of Artists: Costume & Culture at Burning Man invites the default world to interact with the radical visual beauty at play in our home away from home.

Visitors to the exhibit were astounded by a gallery filled with over twenty life size portraits depicting costumed Burners in all their glory.   Each of these portraits were taken on-playa by professional photographer Geoffrey Nelson aka Mohammed of Mohammed’s Mini Martini and Erotica Camp fame.

The exhibit was usually chock-full of Burners too as both it’s appearances have been in Reno, Nevada.  The city with the most Burners per capita.  The state of Nevada’s Department of Cultural Affairs acquired it for the Traveling Exhibition Program which is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mr. Nelson is an excellent costumer in addition to being a fantastic photographer.  In an interview last year, he shared some of his fashion philosophies with us: ”It can’t be too nice.”, he said, “Gotta be ragged/dusty/worn, ‘feral’, weathered.  Find the roughened side.  Let your clothing be aged.”  When one of his expensive Wagner tuxedos became brittle after being washed in the bathtub he exclaimed, “This is great!”  He and a friend are pictured below wearing two of his many illuminated ensembles (he is an expert at tracing filigree embroidery with el-wire).

“Like with wine, the serendipity of what happens to you in the clothing adds something of great significance.”, he added.  In other words, being able to see the history of the clothing via distressing introduces the natural and organic influences of time, environment, and spontaneous happenstance into your repertoire of techniques for creating “worn” art.

He continued with this sage piece of fashionista advice, “Thrift shopping can help you create a library and a palette of colors/accessories with which to design.”

In conclusion, Mohammed felt compelled to state with some finality that when creating outfits,  ”You gotta be willing to destroy stuff.  Don’t hold back.  It needs to be pushed.”

Indeed, Geoffrey and the participants photographed in this Tribe of Artists photo-gallery have pushed without holding back.  Have you?  If you think so we’d love to see it!  Send pictures of the outfits that you consider wearable art to DustyBacon(at)DustyCouture(dot)Com .  We’ll make sure Mohammed and the world sees them.

Equally admirable to the scintillating hats, masks, gloves, spats, shoes, boots, coats, myriad curios, baubles, bustles, corsets, and ingenious ensembles for sale were the engaging merchants peddling their wares in costume and in character.  Many of them seemed exceptionally pleased just to be basking in the radiance of  adoring consumers’ praise of their creations and it was a sincere pleasure to converse with thems what create these wonders.

While there was a small historical (read: steampunk) contingent shopping the bazaar, I would say the majority of it’s merchants and denizens were decidedly burners, and stylish ones at that.  It’s doubtable that another group could run the Edwardian fashion-plate into the punk’d end-zone and score such a radical mutation of the paradigm.

One work in particular that quite fascinated us was this gown (see photo at right) made of woven copper wire that had been patina’d to various corroded shades of green.  In our opinion, fashion art such as this is worthy of the museum and the fact that it along with a number of other pieces incorporating this woven wire in various visually striking ways indicates the near transcendental level of artistry that could be purchased for a competitive price at this bazaar.

There was a fantastic vibe which permeated the bazaar.  Smiles could be seen and laughter heard throughout the large open rooms.  The charming and animated hatter though, was perhaps our favorite interaction at the bazaar.  In addition to having on a delightful outfit, she educated us in the proper use of her many springed head sizing device as well as said device’s phrenological applications!  The device (pictured below on my companion’s head) allows a plot of one’s brow line to be punched into an index card via pins located atop the device.

Want to see more of what the bazaar had to offer?  Visit this gallery at our Facebook page.  In the next article, we’ll be talking about the outfits we made for this year’s ball.

In this exciting episode, “Kernul” Killbuck leads his forces to yet another victory in his campaign against your sense of reality. This time he’s once again marauding along the costuming front by enticing all of us with his beautiful custom couture creations (a few of which are pictured here).  With a battle plan of brilliant design, excellent execution, and a willingness to customize to your exact specifications it looks like his victory is assured.

We’ve been amazed with Killbuck’s artistry on innovative Burning Man art projects for a number of years now.  His ability to simulate patina, texture, blaster marks, or just about any other finish on lightweight, mold-able materials is beyond compare outside of Hollywood special effects. Perhaps this is because he grew up in a theater family building sets and designing wardrobes with his father.

Most impressive though is how startlingly original the things his strange mind comes up with are.  He’s a creative genius operating with all the ease of someone who was born to generate in-your-face freakiness.

Offered for sale on his new site are stunningly adorned hats, masks, coats, epaulettes, goggles, spats, and utility belts.  Examples of each are pictured in excellent detail and there’s also a gallery showcasing a number of his other works at the very bottom.  Click here to get there and see for yourself what happens when an already deviant man inhales a bit too much playa dust and starts using his powers for DOOM!

Today’s video is a brief prelude to a series of video blogs about this fascinating burner owned business that will be posted here over the next couple weeks. If you visit them, don’t forget to mention “DustyCouture.Com” for 10% off your purchase.

Check back soon for videos showing the rest of the 3rd Annual Reno Midtown Burner Fashion Show.
*Note: Take advantage of the full screen options and higher resolution (only available once video starts)!

The Melting Pot models pose in their rainbow colorful, playa ready outfits.

By now you’ve gotten dressed up and seen the movie, maybe you’ve even seen it twice.  So now what?  Well, if you happen to be fortunate enough to find yourself in Reno this weekend, and you haven’t  decided on an entertainment option for the evening, we can tell you exactly what you’d be most wise not to miss … Bohemian Burlesque’s presentation of Down The Rabbit Hole!

Even before the show starts, strange wonderland creatures are roaming the halls offering up fine eat-me treats while you choose a seat amidst the stylish interior of a club that seems to have been designed for such whimsically wondrous displays of sexuality.  The stage lights come on and before you know it you’re deep down the most sensuously sinister rabbit hole one could ever hope to slip into …

In addition to striking displays of physical prowess and stimulation beyond what even a veteran burlesque show attendee might expect, the outfits are extravagantly fantastic.  These pics are just a sampling of what you will be treated to.  For you see, it’s not just the looks, it’s the solid acts that go along with them.

The ever re-appearing Cheshire Kat seems like she’s been training to play this role her entire life.  The Mad MC has, in addition to the most elaborate outfit, a wit sharper than a hat pin.  There’s a scrumptious platter full of surprises in a program that ranges from aerials to traditional feather fans to modern dance and beyond.  Believe us when we say that it’s a program packed with delights that will progressively challenge you and all will make you ever so glad to have attended this most titillating tea party.

And even if you’re not going to be in Reno.  Don’t worry, be happy knowing that we’re bringin’ freaky back for the lot of ya!  Driiiink … Meeeeee …                                                              *Photos by Anna Wright and Peach

Alice is one of the holy grails of imagination in much that same way that many consider Burning Man to be the creativity world championships.  But, daunting though it may seem, we had to represent the couture of our conviction at the debut this last weekend!

The concept of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is deep.  So deep that some Zen instructors use it as a teaching text for their students.  How this tremendous contribution to the devolution of humandroid consciousness manifests visually and how that visual manifestation relates to our own dusty riffs on fashion is just a part of these blog posts celebrating the release of Mr. Burton’s Alice.

After indulging in just the right amount of Wonderland “Eat Me”s and “Drink Me”s we were finally absurd enough to carpool down to the theater that we had pre-purchased our tickets for and begin our journey down the rabbit hole.  Security eyed us and the other patrons gawked while we proceeded to spout profundities and guffaw in a most frabjous manner.

The main characters of the film(s) were well represented by a beautiful Alice, several mad hattas, the most hilarious white rabbit we’ve yet had the privilege to see, and a march haya or two.  A few of the more obscure characters were in attendance as well: Time (whom the Mad Hatter andMarch Hare were involved in a dispute with) took the form of a
steampunky clock-adorned rabbit-eared vixen and, while slow to arrive, the Mock Turtle was definitely in attendance.   The Lion of Looking Glass fame was also present and it is strongly suspected that his nemesis the Unicorn was lurking there as well, however, since only virgins can see unicorns it is difficult for us to confirm whether or not this is true (the Lion is not a virigin).

Everyone in our group seemed to thoroughly enjoy the film.  We had some especially high expectations after reading both the books and being a part of the virtual machine that’s been hyping this film, but we experienced satisfaction through the nods to Carroll’s original even if we were not digging the stereotypical fantasy plot.

If you feel like you may have missed out on a good time, please, DON’T!  It’s not too late to read the books, dress up with some friends, and attend the film.  One member of our entourage mentioned that this has the potential to become something akin to the Rocky Horror Picture show.  Don’t believe us?  Try it for yourself and make sure to send us the pictures.  We can’t be the only curiously costumed cats … I mean, we are all mad here aren’t we?

First, we highly recommend that you read the books.  They are fast reads (as you might expect from a childrens’ book) and could likely be finished in 4 hours each.  However, if you simply can’t be bothered with all that homework and you only have time to put together an outfit, here are some great lesser-known characters costume ideas complete with acting notes.

Man in white paper suit reading a newspaper.  He’s on the looking glass train with Alice and as such subscribes to the process of doing things in reverse (ie ride the train before purchasing a ticket).

The White Knight is a great costume for an elderly or kind person.  Whilst assisting Alice in an exceptionally chivalrous fashion he constantly talks of mildly useless things he’s invented (think Chindogu) and is very clumsy (consider some tumbling).

From the Wonderland book we have: Mouse, Duck, Dodo, Lory, Eaglet, Crab w/daughter, and several birds.  All these animals fell into Alice’s pool of tears and are trying to dry off by playing race-like games that satirize civilized life or telling sad tales.  Really you could come as just about any animal and claim to be with this group.

Flowers: Tiger-Lily, Rose, Daisies, Larkspur, Violet.  A great group costume, these pretty ones address a subject en-mass judging the poor soul while intermittently chiding one another.

The various insects of the looking glass universe make for great ideas as well, especially since you can invent your own.  The three mentioned are Rocking Horse Fly, Snap Dragon Fly, and Bread & Butter Fly.  Come up with your own pun-ny bug to fit your costumery’s constraints.  Perhaps make a few and mount them on springy things so they flutter about you or rest on your shoulder.

The Duchess and her Cook are also fun characters.   The Cook is ill-tempered, throws things, and reeks of black pepper which causes everyone to sneeze.  The Duchess is well-dressed, likes to cozy up with an arm around someone and does more than just agree with everything anyone says by extrapolating on the point in a very make it up as you go along way that ends up with some lame moral.

Finally, if you want to be one of the popular characters but still want it to seem original you can combine costumes by being Gonzo as the Mad Hatter or Brooke Shields as Alice.  See pictures below.

These ideas should get you at least headed in the right direction.  We want to hear about your experiences at the premier.  Email us with your words and pictures

While the Playa may be our own personal Wonderland, there is no denying the tremendous appeal of Lewis Carroll’s transcendentally absurd universe.  The original Disney movie has been with us since 1951 and we suspect that few BRCitizens have escaped the distinctly psychedelic influence of Walt’s masterful re-envisioning.

As an homage to the imaginative geniuses that have stepped to this concept, many of us will be dressing the part of our favorite Alice characters for this coming weekend’s debut.  We incite you now to join us in this underground spectacle with your own interpretation of this ever so burnerly theme.

Mimicking the well known portrayals of Alice, the White Rabbit, and other characters as previously or currently defined will definitely fit the bill.  Bear in mind, however, that those visual geniuses are all drawing from the same source: Lewis’s novels.  You can empower yourself by giving new life to the words with your own unique interpretation.

Consider fusing the Mad Hatter with a steamier Oz vibe, or putting the Tweedles in a blender with candy-kid rave accessories.  Hybridizing tried and true characters with these modern sub-genres could yield some surprisingly pleasant results.

In a different direction, normalizing the characters into an everyday personae turns the concept of a costume on it’s ear and could lead to a potentially profound performance.  For example, the caterpillar could be a hippie dude wearing tie dye (and has obviously been smoking something) who launches into conversational tangents along the lines of, “But like, seriously man like who are we anyway you know, I mean who am I?  Who are you?  I mean really when you get right down to it you know …”

We hope to hear from you about your adventures through the cinematic looking glass.  Include some pictures so we can feature your antics in the upcoming series of blog posts celebrating the latest incarnation of the curiouser and curiouser world of Alice.  Email addy is just to the right, oh and if you please, Drink Me!

Over TWENTY super heroes and super villains assembled for this year’s 4th annual “Cease Fire” bowling-based battle-royale between the super heroes and super villains of our fair Truckee Meadows .  Both rival factions were represented and the costumes/character concepts remarkably well executed.

In attendance were such marvels as Cosmic Orgasm, The Striped Crusader, Lady Bacon, Tie Dye Guy, Super Nurse, Lemon Drop, Superlative Girl, as well as their nefarious foes: The Eraser,  Mistress Ring-Worm, Rain Man, The Pet, Pretty Horny, Mathematicus, Latexra, and Melancholy Baby.  Various henchmen and sidekicks were also present.

The concepts and costumes of the participants were intentionally light-hearted and really, the only thing super about them was their super-silliness. We suspect this is the main reason for the event’s rising popularity and continued success.

Some serious thinking outside the box is required to generate a silly character concept.  Take Lemon Drop for instance.  She is the protectress of Lemmon Valley who’s special attack combo is, “Paper-cut, lemon-juice!”.  Her war-cry of, “Who’s ready for some fresh squeezed Justice?” could be heard echoing across the lanes as she brandished her lemon shaped bottle with citrus-scented authority.

On the other side of the wedding aisle in this marriage of extremes we have a villainous concept like The Eraser who’s dueling chalkboard erasers strike fear in the hearts of even the most courageous.  He makes his escape from bank robberies in a cloud of chalk-dust (generated by banging the erasers together) and derides his opponents with taunts of, “So, I see you have been foolish enough to wear dark colored clothing!” before leaving chalk marks all over their outfit.

The payoff for an execution of such sheer ridiculousity is exhilarating, especially when done en masse and in synergistic rebellion to one of the most popular fixtures of American culture.  As SUPERlative Girl so eloquently exclaimed, “SuperBowling is the best idea ever!” And for once, she was not exaggerating.

*SUPER Special thanks to David James Kerr for his excellent photo-documentation.  All pictures are by him.

This latter group includes the Santarchists, or “Santa Crawlistas” as they are known around these parts.  SantaCon events occur in multiple locations around the world during the month of December as individuals subvert the aesthetic of the world’s most popular themed occasion with copious amounts of egg-nog and a Claus sized helping of St. Nick naughtiness.

We were on the scene for this year’s exceptionally snowy and well attended crawl (Reno apparently has one of the largest) where we witnessed the full spectrum of holiday themed costumes.  While the “sexy Mrs. Claus” costume handily maintained its perennial dynasty, as evidenced by the 2nd annual Sexy Santa Competition, a 1st annual Most Creative Christmas Costume Contest also paid homage to the many reindeer, toy soldiers, snowflakes, wrapped presents, ice fairies, pajama’d children, hybrids/mutants, candy canes, Noelian steampunks, Christmas pirates, and of course, the ninjas (among numerous other original holiday costume ideas).

Whatever the costume might be, the feeling behind it is the same:  Let’s take a break from the holiday related stress of shopping, family, traffic, etc., and have some good-ol-timey burnerly fun with this Xmas beast! That the costumes express such a level of creativity, innovation, and liberated viewpoints regarding the “reason for the season” are a testament to our community’s brilliant willingness to shift the sometimes oppressive holiday paradigm towards something more … scandalous.

An epic snow/ice-ball fight marked this year’s Reno crawl as one for the history books (see great videos here and here).  There is no denying the holiday counter-magic created by legions of wassailers dressed in red fuzzy outfits having their run of the town.  It’s an effect that is remarkably similar to the inspiring feelings of rampant freedom present in our home away from home.  When thousands of people dress in costume, the mind becomes overwhelmed and disbelief gets suspended.  Suddenly a host of ridonkulous new possibilities enter the field of play and the next thing you know, you’re right where you need to be with exactly the freaks you were meant to be with doing the things that dreams of sugar plums dancing with freaky ice fairies are made of …