Fashionista


Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 5

It’s not over yet!  One of the burner underground’s newest sensations Jordan Miller of Red Dirt Fashion puts her radically unique style on display for our collective inspiration in this Top Five.  Prepare to SQUEEEEEBeautiful young woman (the guest author) in a blushing type pose wearing a very colorful bandana and pink hat.

Guest author and fellow Faux Fur Freedom Front Fighter Jordan Miller is the sole-proprietor of Red Dirt Fashions,  one of the most radically re-inventive fashion labels we’ve had the pleasure to discover.  Now, heeeeerrrre’s Jordan!

Bandannas… Sure, we only have the threat of finding ourselves in a dust storm about a week out of the year, but for that week, bandannas are an absolute must. Not only do they make you look much more fabulous, but they have functionality as well. And for those of us who maintain style notoriety the remaining 358 days a year, a bandanna can be an asset to any ensemble. Even though we do not wake up everyday with the fear of finding ourselves face first with an infamous playa white out, the rest of the year, a bandanna can double as a handkerchief, a napkin, or even a bib for those messy eaters—just remember to wash it regularly (with a fourth a cup of vinegar in the washer to keep colors their brightest)!

Two young ladies all decked out for a phat party.  One is wearing a custom DIY hoodie and arm warmers.

Arm Warmers… Anyone who does not wear faux fur for moral implications has felt the consequences from the cold desert night more than others. And even though there are bulky alternatives, for us fashionistas, enduring Mother Nature’s bite is the bitter but more fabulous alternative. My solution for this problem has always been to layer multiple arm warmers underneath my sweaters. This way, one still looks cute and petite in their sexy playa wear, and can endure the pain of below freezing temperatures in style.

Suspenders…. Have you ever found yourself waist deep in a pair of pants that were a size or two too big and could not find a belt anywhere? Burning Man 2009, the morning after we arrived, whilst sizing up my luggage, I realized that I left my only belt at home. A devastating blow for anyone who thinks the pants-below-your-ass look was overdone by the 90’s. However, fate was on my side because I still had my suspenders. Fabulous fashion functionality came to my rescue because, once again, I found the perfect blend of style and utility.

Hobo gloves… For someone who has poor circulation, I have always found that a major concern of mine while out and about is my core temperature. So, as mom always insists, gloves are a must for the winter climate. However, whilst embarking on adventures of the social manner, gloves do not fare well. Encompassed in a thick layer of fabric, while although warm, can become troublesome for fingers when someone has activities to partake upon. So, my solution has always been to cut the fingers off for a stylish and functional hobo glove. Although they are not quite as warm as their uncut cousin, they are way more reasonable since they do not entail constant removal anytime one is doing something that requires nimble fingers

Henry, my fake plastic turtle on wheels… He might not seem like an actually fashion accessory, but I can count the number of mornings that my outfit was completed with his cheerful smile as I drug him along behind me. He is perfect for those saucy mornings after a night full of partying when synapses are not firing rapidly, for he is a great conversation starter. And you can talk about a fake plastic turtle on wheels for a good amount of time with very little work from your cerebral cortex—a must have item for hangovers!

Jordan will soon be relocating to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.  Click the Follow Along links to the right to be kept up to date on her latest fashion revelations.

Montage of pics showing pink fingerless gloves, green-yellow-purple striped suspenders, and Henry the fake plastic turtle on a leash.

Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 4

Are you already dreaming of what items you’ll be rocking this year as the festival season takes shape?  Calendars and closets are filling up with intentions that will soon manifest in the ever glorious moment!Three Pairs of Disembodied Forearms/Hands Model The Braided Gauntlets.  Pale skin on black background.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome back our favorite co-author of 2009, Mairin the beautiful artist and owner of Kareli Kairos.  Not only does Mairin have a reputation for being one of the most creative fashionistas in our local tribe, she also generously gives of herself in helping others with their couture projects and experiments.

<- Braided Gauntlets/Arm Warmers – I started making these in 2009, in every color I could find, and they are a great way to add edge to anything.  They play with negative space in an interesting way; there is something very sexy about skin that shows in patches.   They are tribal and geometric at the same time.  They can also be worn layered over solid arm warmers, making them super-versatile.Headshot of pink haired woman looking at you with large gossamer winged Faerie headdress that has white fur and other miscellaneous accents.

Faerie-Headdress -> This is probably my favorite thing I made last year.   I created it on top of a commercial “fairy hat” base, and added two pairs of small costume wings, flowers, beads, lights, etc.  I created different clip-on accessories for it that allowed me to wear it for several occasions, including it’s incarnation as the Poinsettia Faerie’s crown for the Santa Crawl.  It is dramatic, different, and reminds me of Art Nouveau illustrations.  A headdress makes one feel theatrical in a transformative way that is liberating and very fun.
Headshot of a woman smiling coyloy at you models her shockingly pink hair with black striped accents.  The colors contrast remarkably with her soft pale skin and large blue eyes.

<- My hair – This might be a bit of a stretch as an accessory but I got two really incredible, colorful haircuts in 2009 that rocked my world.  Having hair that looks amazing is great, even if the rest of one’s ensemble is less than awesome, the hair is there, ever vigilant in expressing your style sensibility.  I also dress up to my hair on days when I am not very inspired; having pink and black stripey hair encourages me to commit to the rest of my look with the same vigor as my hair.

Close up of woman's piercing big blue eyes framed on the outer corners by shockingly bright turquoise and pink feathers that stick out above and below about three inches from her sockets.

Feather Eyelashes -> Feather eyelashes created quite an impact for me 2009.  They come in a wide range of colors, and instantly make one look “made-up,” even if one isn’t wearing any other make-up at all.   Drawing attention to the eye is the major reason for wearing make-up to begin with, and boy do these do the trick.  One’s eyes will be noticed. They are whimsical and otherworldly; every blink becomes the wing-beat of an exotic bird.

Fur Crop Jacket – Sometimes it gets cold, and one wants to stay warm, yet not cover up one’s whole outfit (or lack of one).  The best solution I’ve found is the fur crop jacket.  Having one’s arms and shoulders covered in super-warm fur goes a long way to keep the whole body warm, even if the rest of it is scantily clad.  Also the cut of a crop jacket makes one’s shoulders look bigger, which makes one’s waist look smaller (generally figure-flattering),  and in a football player sort of way, makes me feel like a bad-ass.  There’s something about a crop-jacket that says, “Don’t mess with me.”

Our sincere thanks to everyone who wrote in so far with their top 5.  Rest assured we will be bringing this popular and interactive series back at the end of this year!

Tall sexy pink haired woman with her hands on her hips and an impressive purplish-pink fur crop jacket sitting high on her shoulders gazes down on you with a blank yet vaguely authoritative expression.