Dress Code: The Good, Bad and Ugly
Welcome to the Dress Code, where we celebrate, critique, commend and (on occasion) condemn fashion trends, shows, designers, boutiques, events and everything in between. From the couturiers and costumers to the retail clothiers and quirky DIY crafters, fashion--good and bad--is everywhere. The Dress Code is where we wear our hearts on our sleeves and write about it all.
This week's Dress Code is inspired by both equine and feline fashions.
The Good: This week we were really hoping to cover an exciting, fashionable event at the Emerald Downs 75th Longacres Mile Race, with all the sincerest intentions for it to make our “good” list. We envisioned classic cocktail attire and the staple wide-brimmed floppy hat to grace the VIP viewing room. Alas, we cannot in good fashion conscience claim that Emerald Downs procures stylish sights; rather, it felt more NASCAR than horse-track. Fun indeed, but absolutely not fashionable.
Dubbed the “Sport of Kings”, horse racing has ancient roots in Roman mythology, making it one of the oldest sports in the world; today it is one of the most lucrative. As a hundred billion dollar industry, horse racing and other equestrian sports (English horseback and polo, for example) are considered an elite enterprise and palate from which the world draws much of its fashion. Yet, in absence of high fashion at the Auburn track, we give you Dior’s fall 2010 collection, featuring a brilliantly executed equestrian-meets-lingerie theme as this week’s “good”.
Iva Handfull in leopard print bodysuit by Agent Provocateur, photographer: Debora Spencer Photography
Forget million dollar horses—cougars (the animal, Mrs.Robinsons all over the world and burlesque dancers who pay homage to them both)--are where we find a successful fusion of fun AND fashion.
This week’s “bad” is Discontinued Trim Productions Prowling for Paws burlesque and variety show (Friday and Saturday night) to benefit PAWS, a local nonprofit organization that finds families for homeless pets and rehabilitates wildlife. From Miss Kitty Baby's vintage leopard prints and fringe to Iva Handfull's silver sequined, fiber-optic cat costume designed by Seattle’s own Jamie Von Stratton (and pasties galore, a la Pinky Shines), Prowling for Paws will exude all things feline: fierceness, sensuality, playfulness, danger and sex. This show will celebrate femininity, fashion, cougars (see definitions above), cougar hunters, cougar bait and cubs, and a surprise guest celebrity cougar. Heads up: dress in animal print and you’ll get a free raffle ticket.
The Ugly: In perhaps what was an overly ambitious and grandiose expectation of Emerald Downs, we projected that this week’s “ugly” would be something to the effect of an excessive fur shawl made from baby sea otters, more resembling taxidermy than an article of clothing; you know, those kinds with the face still on it? The closest thing we found to fur was a velour track suit, and that was pretty bad too. This week’s “ugly” is our top three picks of worst fashions at Emerald Downs.
