Challenge #4: Noire Obligatorie Designer: Eziara Model: Imani Outfit Title: La Sonnambula En Pointe Submission Status: Complete
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Very excited to work on this theme as I'm a dark aesthetic lover! Imani's haute goth look is inspired by 3 things. First, the Rodarte's Fall/Winter 2023 debut. Particularly, in how they introduced a blend of Victorian Gothic aesthetic with a ballerina-esque elegance. Going with the balletcore style, my second inspiration is the Black Swan from Swan Lake! Third, the visual design of Emily from Corpse Bride, another iconic Gothic character. Overall, Imani's look comes from the question, "What would a sleep-deprived Goth wear to the Ball? (and she's fashionably late)"
Immediately my first instinct is to give Imani a veil! However, I didn't want to hide her face. It's a big statement, announcing to everyone who the real Goth Queen is. To emphasis regalness and ethereality, the veil is topped with a delicate floral halo crown. For her dress, at first I was thinking of leaning more into the balletcore with a tutu style. In the end, I decided upon a sheer dress that slightly flares out by Imani's hips. I think this fits more of Imani's mature style. Her legs are en pointe, a creeping of blue florals reminiscent of a ballerina's shoes.
For her makeup, she has a smoky blue eyeshadow on. Don't forget the shadowy undereyes! No goth will be caught dead without them. Imani's eyes are dark already, so just a little blue near the eyes will highlight it better.
Finally, the background! I decided upon a visage of blue roses upon a dark background. Blue roses are associated with mystery, being unnatural in reality. Paired with the outfit, Imani is like an unapproachable beauty. No one would dare reproach her for being late, ever!
All in all, being goth isn't always about dressing in all black. That darkness is all the more highlighted when paired with something lighter, in this case: blue. I think that's what it's all about, showing a deeper facet of yourself beyond the standard.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Items List:
Undereye Eyeshadow (Black) Sapphire Vault (essential sapphire earrings) Bold Brows (Furrowed brow) Murder of Frigid Crows (Skirt Tattered Cutter) This Cosmic Universe (Veil) Treasured Torso (Off Black) Rosy Vampire Age (Arms v.1) Dark Empress of Dragons (Dress) The Wicked Stepmother (Necklace) Belle's Night Out in L.A. (Offblack) A Shade A Day (Comet) Lazuli in the Withered Grotto Alexandrite Witchy Aesthetic (Powers) Alexandrite Mélancolicorne S Vintage Blood for the Blood God (Veil)
I found this challenge to be that of a challenge as it reflected a lot of what I JUST did for Priya in the previous challenge with the boudoir shoot.
With this one, I really wanted to jump out of the usual color palette of black, red, and white I kept seeing in countless images. Of course, wanting to pull away since it reflected the same schemes in my previous submission.
I wanted her to step into the color that still met the narrative. So ultimately I choose green, more so vile green here on Gaia. It was quite the journey to find the items I desired and I played with many. As I was searching, I realized I wanted to pull away from a very form-fitting silhouette.
Immediately fell in love once I found the layers of the dress and cover, the asymmetrical patterns, and how they combine. The eye-like patterns and the eyes themselves really were what caught my eye. The planchette tucked in with her corset was also a way of playing into the eyes feature as it itself is a looking glass for messages. I also wanted to make the bold choice of a veil and a mask. I love Priya's smile, but I felt it wasn't as fitting for the look. While keeping her eyes still visible but in a shroud of mystery. Much like the future may be unknown, we seek to make it unfold.
I hope you enjoy my vision of gothic haute couture, as I believe all things are open to challenge. gaia_nitemareleft_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________gaia_nitemareright
The lewk: I knew from the second that I saw the breakdown of the challenge we had to put Jolene in a Victorian Gothic lewk. I started by just searching Victorian, forgetting Gaia had the color called "victorian" and immediately found the top I wanted to start with. I think Jolene's hair suits victorian gothic well, but really ultimately is more lolita anyways. So I was going to end up making somewhat of an intersection between the two.
I didn't want to get stuck using only the Victorian colour palette, and my original thought (before I found the base for the top) was to do monochrome off-black. So I had to at some point pointedly go in and add off-black items to the look. I think it helped to round it out and not feel so pre-set.
I ultimately titled this one "Time Weary Widow" after the Victorian tradition of wearing nothing but black after the death of your partner. The fact that there is colour making its way back into Jolene's outfit shows she is weary of how long she is having to mourn and she's ready to get back out there and find a new bachelor. So she's at the Victorian Goth fair, looking "sad" and "mournful" but also flirty and ready to start new love.
۞━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ۞Designer: ThoughtsofaDame ۞Model: Naomi ۞Status:Complete ۞Avant Goth ۞ After giving you guys a solid gothic boudoir look last week I started off excited feeling I could ride that vibe right into this challenge. I wanted them to look distinct and I had to avoid reusing items that would have looked great because well I used them already. I went back and forth all week I really tried to create something I was as confident in and I am really pleased with what I ended up with even though I had to change half my look last night to get there.
Goth is one of my main personal styles so I didn't do quite as much research as I have in the past. I knew without doing the research exactly what I wanted. A long mermaid style skirt with a detailed bodice. The version of this look I initially planned to submit didn't have this because I struggled to find one, but when I decided I needed to rework it I found Noir Foret which really was what I had wanted from the start! It made me feel so much better once I put it on Naomi.
I had to find different shoes as the ones I had conflicted with the skirt. The Gilt Stockings from Regent of Ossidian looked great and played off of the Gloves from Silently Pinned. Finally I constructed the headpiece. I liked the Ruff from Hera's Lace and wanted it to combine with the Mourning Hat from Lumiere Noire to give her a very covered look without obscuring her features.
Over all I really loved this challenge even though I spent a lot of time second guess myself I really am glad I was able to construct the dress I came up with in my head. I feel like this really speaks Haute Goth.
Description: FINALLY!! A challenge I feel I could really shine in!! Pardon my excitement, you see I have always LOVED Gothic style fashion, so seeing this challenge got me really excited! For inspiration, I used these 2 models as a bit of a jumping point. I loved the reds with the black, and the sophisticated look to them, kinda like a mix of victorian and romantic goth if you ask me. To start, I absolutely adored the lace sleeves, so that was my first item I wanted to find, and I reallt think Papillon Mystique Muet really captured the look I was going for, with the sheer sleeves and glove like ends, plus the puffy sleeves, I was in love instantly! The flowey skirt was from Ornate Witchy Aesthetic, and I absolutely adore this skirt so much, I wish I actually owned one like it. I layered it up with a Haunted Graveyard Crasher Shredded Skirt to thicken the skirts a bit, it was a tad tricky finding an underskirt that meshed well with the Witchy one, and I really loved the added belt. Finally, the top. I went with Ornate Case of Attachment for the black and red hues, and I think it pulls the fit together nicely. Almost like a corset style top, and it gives it a bit of a modern victorian look. In place of a veil, since every lace veil I found obstructed Kimbers face a bit too much for my liking (I was very sad about that btw) I opted for some thorny roses to adorn her braid, and went with Depraved Blood for the Blood God. I felt it was subtle enough to not overpower Kimbers head while adding that bit of extra I felt the outfit needed. I also really wanted to add another belt, but every belt item I found looked way to chunky on her waist, which was a huge bummer. It was also a bit of a challenge to find a decent black makeup that didnt totally cover Kimbers face. Every decent one I found changed her lip color, which also aggervated me, or looked like runny war paint/dead bride kinda makeup, so I went for a simple black eyeshadow and managed to find one that didnt make it look like Kimber took a blush brush full of black powder to her face. Seriously, Gaia needs better black makeups PLEASE Dx Lastly, Kimber is rocking some Ornate Forest After Dark legs, I really loved the boots, pose, and the stockings. I know they are hard to see under the skirt, at least the stocking are, but I loved the boots and leg pose too much to change it up. And I figured the runway background suited the theme and stopped the background from being totally empty. Overall, I LOVED this challenge so much. It has been such a joy to dress Kimber as a haute couture gothic queen!
Everybody knows about the lonely cat ladies, but what about the lonely BAT ladies? The creepy yet alluring ladies who love darkness but are full of heart for all the things that are gothic and offbeat? Well here is Harper, in her best lonely bat lady couture outfit. Now, I have to be honest, coming into this challenge I was extremely hesitant! After the marks I got from Harper's makeup look that I got last time, I didn't want to overdo the gothic makeup so I just did a bit of grey eyeshadow. Again, being honest, I also am only used to working on darker skin for POC type shades when it comes to makeup (both irl and online) so I honestly don't know what looks best when it comes to makeup on paler skin without making it look too pink or orange sweatdrop I'm trying though, I hope it pays off!
That being said, as for the outfit, of course I wanted to add bat wings to the mix. I also originally wanted to do a cage dress (since sometimes bats are kept in cages) but I could not find one I liked, so I worked with a bodice with a hoopskirt to imitate a cage-like skirt look. I also think form-fitting dresses are staples of gothic looks, especially haute goth, so I also made sure to work that in as well. I did think about doing a more loosely flowing skirt/dress but I don't think it would have fit into the more haunting look that I was going for.
For the colors, I wanted to do cool colors rather than warm colors because personally, when you see goth looks online, you mostly see black and red, or black and pink. When I do goth-like looks in person, I use more cool colors because black and light blue or black and purple complement each other so well and gives it a more mature and haunting look. I was inspired by the looks as pictured (see below) for the colors of a haute goth outfit. I didn't want to do a full black outfit for this reason, though it would have been easy I love a challenge! Also, for the background, I made sure to do one that neither obscures/blends in with the black in the outfit, and also still look gothic enough to complement the cool colors of her outfit.
All in all I really enjoyed this as someone who loves doing goth looks myself! I mostly do pastel goth, gothic lolita, or cybergoth, so this was definitely a challenge but it definitely paid off!
Challenge #4: Noire Obligatorie Designer: Picaru Model: Pearl Status: Complete
Danse Macabre
Shrouded in a veil of darkness, hand in hand, we waltz into the eternal night. emotion_skull
So, a fun little fact about me: I have a degree in Fashion Design! And that made this the toughest challenge for me yet. When I think of haute couture, I think of garments that are masterfully designed with intention. Every single piece of clothing on the runway has a story behind it; there are no elements that are there "just because." When it comes to avatar building for me, it's always tempting to add just a little more--but more can sometimes be a detractor if it doesn't serve a purpose or have anything to say. Even though this outfit is more pared-down compared to some of my earlier entries, I wanted the end result to feel truly evocative of the elevated feeling of couture, focusing on structure and silhouette rather than overloading on details that can sometimes read as costume-y.
This look is inspired by gothic romance and the Victorian Era. During this time period, there was re-emergence of the philosophy of memento mori, meaning: remember you will die. This fixation with the spirituality surrounding death influenced many artistic mediums, and forms of art ranging from photographs to jewelry were resplendent with macabre imagery and symbols such as skulls, skeletons, and withered flowers. In this entry, I chose to depict Pearl quite literally dancing with Death, in an outfit that takes nods from Victorian dress but updates it through a contemporary fashion lens.
The typical Victorian mourning veil has been swapped for an oversized, wide-brimmed hat (a fixture in couture collections, from design houses such as Schiapparelli and Valentino) that is itself draped in a cloak of floor-length sheer illusion mesh, creating a physical barrier between Pearl and her environment that completely envelops her, symbolizing the isolating feeling of grief that comes hand in hand with death. A flouncy ribbon cravat adorns her neckline, and her dress beneath follows the typical Victorian silhouette of a nipped waist with a more voluminous hemline. The corset--typically an undergarment--and sheer ruffled hem of her skirt add a sense of sensuality, while an exaggerated bustle adds a bit of edgy contrast. My absolute favorite detail in this look is the contrasting scalloped lace that composes the upper portion of the skirt, inspired by differentdetails found in the Alexander McQueen F/W'15 runway--a collection that shares similar inspiration from this particular time period! To finish the look, Pearl's makeup this time is pale and gaunt, creating a "hollowed-out" look beneath her brow. For the last little flourish, an artfully-placed black teardrop graces her cheek.
Equip List:
Everlasting Gaze (Ash) Shooting Star's Revelation (lips) Mimi Neko (Nose) Underworld Order Gothic SPF 5000 (Veiled Sunhat) Dark Firefly Catcher (Collar) Yes Miam (Sand) Withered Severed Bloom (Petals) Grim's Dominion (Mauve) The Doll's Ossidian Downfall (Bustle) Victorienne Papillon Mystique (Legs) The Forgotten Doll (Tear) Cathartic Lost Unmurin (Underskirt) Nude Enticing Eyeshadow (Sketchbook) Foggy Midnight Visitor (Background) Witchy Aesthetic (Dress) Case of Attachment (Top) Beloved Dead Midnight (Makeup)
In the darkest hour of this frozen tundra, a single rose dares to bare its thorns.
Growing up, I would see models on runways donning everything from sharp suits to flowing ballroom gowns, but very rarely did I ever see something that looked like it could survive the cold. Winter is still in full swing over here, and after taking one look at the reference photos, I found myself thinking that those models would be freezing if they were walking the runways over in my part of the world. So this time around, I decided I wanted to adapt the key themes and shapes present in the style to a more seasonable look.
Marina is trudging through a dark and moody snowscape in haute-inspired gothic winterwear. Large gothic lolita bows cascade down her head, obscuring the large, fuzzy earmuffs underneath. Her jacket features a lush fur cowl to help retain heat in the bitter cold and beautifully adorned bishop sleeves that trap insulative air inside, mimicking both the wide shoulder shaping and the lacy cuffs of the reference photos. Underneath the jacket, she wears a short black skirt over a layered wine corset top, a silver belt, and a decorative belted torso garter. To top off the look, she's rocking lace-up thigh-high boots and a thorny rose eyepatch. The short skirt paired with tall boots maintains the floor-length style elements of the reference images while ensuring that the model is able to navigate winter terrain with head-to-toe coverage sans salt/sand and slush effects.
While many choose to stay indoors during the cold months or suit up in mismatched winterwear, this rose is unafraid to brace the elements in style.
About: She is a whisper of fabric and a quiet footfall. A distant sigh. A silent sob. A hand on your arm. A warning in your ear. She is the widow who haunts this place. She does not like to be disturbed.
When I read "Haute Goth," I instantly went off to gaze longingly at some of the weird, wonderful designs of Alexander McQueen. I knew I wanted to capture the sense of drama McQueen was (in)famous for, particularly using Snowflake and Widows of Culloden as inspiration. To make my inner Goth Girl happy, I also drew inspiration from my favorite subgenre of goth: Victorian Goth. This look ultimately went through many, many, many iterations before I landed on something I was happy with.
I decided to stage Cressida in a dramatic, darkened graveyard to truly capture the macabre widow I imagined her to be. Her veil is actually four separate items layered over each other to create drama, movement, and shadow. The dress itself is a delicate balancing act: Velvet Hexmistress and Shattered Onyx work together seamlessly as her bustle but only if layered properly. I had to put on and take off dozens of items (and arm mods) to find ones that wouldn't break the layering. Also, can we just take a moment to appreciate how perfect the Bibliothecary corset and the Velvet Hexmistress skirt are together? I'm so glad I found that combo.
Overall, I am deeply pleased with this look. It's detailed and yet sleek, which feels like haute couture to me. I can imagine the hours of work it would take to complete this dress in real life. The embroidery. The draping. The corsetry. I'm so proud of the outfit itself that I've included it without the background below the spoiler to better show off the layering of the veils and skirts. Every item is important to the overall look; even an underskirt skirt other than Midnight Countess and a bodysuit other than La Lapine removes some of the depth and detailing I wanted to achieve.
Item List Sleepless Starless Serenity THE Dark Bride (Veil) Dark Radiant Nights (Horns and Veil) Luminous Dark Days (Crown) Necromansea (Veil) Divinity Court Lucia (Top) The Literate Bibliothecary (Corset) La Lapine (Bodysuit) Lethe Rose (Train) Shattered Onyx (Bustle) Velvet Hexmistress (Skirt) Aria Scuro: Encore (Playwright's Encore Shift) Andante Concertino Tempo (Second's Shift) Midnight Countess (Nightsky Skirt) Furious Lost Boy (War Paint) Astra: Falling Tears Pick Your Nose Daughter of Fury (Facepaint) Me Day (Brazilian Blowout) Grumpy Talker (Ruined Dates) Under the Earthen Hydrangea (Blush) Aurelian's Makeup Skintone A Body Dye Bashful Spirit (Face) Everybody Nose ★ ☆ eyeshadow ☆ ★ His Obsidian Reign (Nose) Miss Delicate Gaian Tropic (Arms) Skyward Elf Reflection (BG) Grim's Dominion (Mauve) Warlord of Lalune (Graveyard) Dreamy Landscapes (Shadow) Cloak of Invisibility The Wise Surgeon (Surgical Scissors) Your Black Doris Angel (Bewere Cutter)
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:00 am
Congratulations designers! Once again, you've impressed us with your skills. Now, it's time to challenge yourselves! This round, you'll have to complete two different looks for two different challenges. It might be hard at first, but we believe in you. Good luck everyone!
Picaru — Pearl • Another win for you, you've been really killing it so far! The judges were obsessed with this entry, and we're expecting more great entries from you! • Watch out for filters, sometimes they make it hard to see the details. Ananemain — Cressida • What a stunning entry with a lot of thought put into it! We're impressed with how much you've grown as a designer since the first challenge. • The judges felt like another, less bare armmod would've been more fitting. ThoughtsofaDame — Naomi • You've managed to encapsulate the Avant Goth look perfectly. The judges loved the colour scheme and how you were able to separate your entry from last week's. • The shiny gloves felt a bit unmatched with the rest of the outfit, another item in a similar style could've remedied that. Sleepy Luna Moth — Kimber • The judges loved how every part of your entry looked intentional and based on your inspirations. • The black makeup didn't work the best on Kimber, but it seems you are aware of the makeup struggles. actualdeerooze — Zanna • Another strong look; it's well-balanced, and we especially loved all the tiny details you've included in it! • The belt wasn't working in your favor, the judges felt like it was quite distracting. Her headband could've also used a bit of red. Kr-E — Priya • The judges loved the veil and how the colours made Priya pop. • The veil/face mask combo was a bit too much, it would've been better to just stick to one of them. Also, they overlapped a bit. wishflower — Maeve • A great, fully fleshed-out entry. One of the judges loved how the eyes looked almost fluorescent because of the shadow. • The pillow pile is too bright in comparison to the rest of the background, and the skin on Maeve's torso looks a bit off. torimani — Harper • Harper looks stunning with this makeup on! The judges also adored the wings and the cage skirt. • The colours make the outfit look disjointed, as if parts of it are being chopped up. supersunshine506 — Marina • We liked how you went for a different approach with a winter-themed look. • The description felt a little bit short, and you need to stop including every angle of the outfit. It makes the magic disappear and shows all layering flaws. Eziara — Imani • Blues look beautiful on Imani, and the judges loved the inspiration. • The makeup wasn't too flattering, and we felt like the outfit wasn't really goth enough. lucifer eats pizza — Jolene • The look was really cute and fitting for Jolene. Using off-black items was a smart choice! • The outfit didn't look goth enough, it was leaning too heavily on lolita. The background also lacked something special.
Detrimentum Vice Captain
Creature
Offline
wishflower
Crew
Egg Egg
Offline
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:58 am
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ gaia_moon⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
Challenge #5: This Is No Green Screen Prompt:
Description: Designers, this week we want you to bring some joy to the runway! I'll be honest, I'm ready for sunnier weather to arrive and I'm hoping if we work together we can manifest it. So this week we're asking you to bring a spring look to life! But maybe that is too easy for this stage. You know, there are certain items and themes that divide the judges every challenge, and one of the most divisive topics? Backgrounds. So for this challenge we are taking them away! That's right designers, no backgrounds allowed for these entries. No full or partial background. Where is the line between partial background and just using an item in the background? There is no clear answer for that, but know the judges will err towards docking points for backgrounds. Due Date: Mar 15th
Description: Spring is a season of new growth and youthful innocence so I decided to change things up for Maeve Not only did I go for a cute vibe, but also a more femme look--this is the first time in this cycle I've put her in a skirt! I went for a cottagecore look because it centres on living a simple life in connection with nature I chose to build this look with predominantly green and pink with accents of brown For the green and pink, I chose quintessentially "spring" pastels but in somewhat more vibrant tones (Sprightly scheme mixed with accents items in Demure and Skuzy)
Wearing an oversize slouchy knit cardigan, Maeve is prepared for both warmer and cooler temperatures The Simple Esse corset bodice in the Tranquil scheme helps to keep the look grounded A layered skirt in a gradient of peachy hues hearkens back to the process of how a fruit ripens I opted for a set of cute sturdy boots (rather than an earlier iteration with flirtatious strappy sandals) to double down on the pastoral practicality She rounds out her ensemble with soft innocent makeup and coordinating accessories Maeve sports a headscarf, purse, and several flower blooms and sprigs
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ gaia_moon⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:00 pm
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ gaia_moon⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆
Challenge #6: Time After Time || 1990s Prompt:
Description: Designers, I don't know about all of you, but I am so impatient for science to finally create a time machine. I'd even settle for a holodeck to get me there without all the risk of y'know traveling to a time where there isn't medicine or things are dangerous for most humans. But this week I think you are all ready to take us on an adventure. We're going through time, an entire century, the 1900s! Each of you has been assigned to a decade, and you're going to design a look that embodies that decade. You can bring it to life however you see fit, but make sure it reads as your decade.
Description: There are definitely a lot of options when it comes to 90s fashion: so many different aesthetics, subcultures, and trends to choose from! (As tempting as it was, I wanted to avoid grunge and skater culture this time because I've incorporated a number of those elements in other challenges before and want to show something new!) ((Although I still couldn't resist giving Maeve a pair of Doc Martens!)) To me, the 90s is represented by its many TV sitcoms, which inspired me to go for a casual, school-day look for this challenge In particular, I drew influence from Jessie's fashions seen in Saved by the Bell
If I had to summarize the general look of the 90s, I'd say that straight-legged jeans and wearing lots of layers are among the most recognizable staple elements of the decade I went for a cozier, everyday-wear interpretation by outfitting Maeve in a small-floral printed cardigan layered over a preppy green sweater-vest Even though she's at school, Maeve still completes the look with accessories and makeup Headbands are the iconic hair accessory of the 90s (although an argument could be made for scrunchies) and there was also a trend of wearing daisies in your hair, so I was thrilled to incorporate both! Maeve showcases a relatively simple face--except for her eyes, where she wears iconic "frosty" eye makeup
Challenge #5: This Is No Green Screen Designer: Eziara Model: Imani Outfit Title: Merry Maypole Submission Status: Finished!
🌷 🌸 🌷 🌸🌷 🌸 🌷 🌸
As someone who hails from a country of endless summer, I don't claim to have firsthand experience with springtime changes. But my interest in folklore has got me reading about many traditions based on spring. I thought about the magical transition between winter and spring, a mysterious force of cycles. Thus, I was greatly inspired by the Maypole celebration for this challenge! From circles, flowers to the ribbons, I wanted Imani's outfit to truly represent all the elements of the Maypole dances of every culture celebrating the coming spring.
The first thing I found was the Spelldancer arms! I thought it reminded me of the rings of the Nordic maypoles, and they looked like wreaths. I wanted to match these with a flower crown, which actually took me quite some time. I went with a blend of 3 to have this overlaying effect of florals, instead of relying on one type. Since Imani's outfit is heavily using the Blooming colour scheme, I matched her makeup with soft tones. And just a little glimmer to make her eyes pop!
For her dress, I was inspired by some vintage Victorian era illustrations of people Maypole dancing. This was the most time consuming part: I didn't want the dress to be too overwhelmed with flowers, as I still wanted an overall pure feminine visual. I found a great way to overlay the corset over the bustle, making it look like the petals of a flower just blooming! Since this is also a no background challenge, I was careful to not pick anything that will stick out too much from Imani's silhouette.
I hope this outfit highlights the bursting excitement for the warmth of Spring!
Items Used:
Brow Basics (Thick brow) Herbal Camomild (Flower Crown) Morganite of the First Water Bride's Pure Lehenga ★ ☆ eyeshadow ☆ ★ (Sketchbook) Their Enchanted Darkness (Corset) Spring Trellis (Flower Belt) Timeless Floral Circlets (Chiffon) Fall Floral Crown (Skuzy) Gentle Spirit (Overskirt) Sweet Kingdom of Time (Blush) Blooming Spelldancer Danica (Arms V1)
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:50 pm
Challenge #5: Time After Time Designer: Eziara Model: Imani Outfit Title: Fated Encounter Submission Status: Finished!
🥀 🖤 🖤 🥀
Well, well, well... who have we got here? As they say, another sucker is born every minute...
1940s is a true era of Hollywood glamour, smack dap in the middle of the Golden Age of cinema. When it comes to fashion especially, one looks to the screen to see what will trend next. In 1946, the film Gilda was born, creating a new ideal of femininity. The titular character actually sports many iconic outfits, including the famous black dress with matching gloves. I wanted to portray that femme fatale visual of Gilda, that mysterious allure!
I didn't want to directly copy exactly the outfits from Gilda, but rather take inspiration from them and keeping with the usual fashion trends of the era. The most important feature was the sloping hats of the trending New Look style. With that, I had to match the style with the famous jacket + full skirt combo. It was quite hard to figure out how to get to this look without it clashing from the overlaying! I kept Imani's jewellery small and complimentary, enough to indicate a sophisticated woman. She carries a smoking pipe in her hand, a classic Hollywood femme fatale staple!
Since 1940s is also a time of Film Noir period, I looked for a setting that has that dark cinematic vibe. I didn't want it to be too dark though, else Imani's outfit is overlooked. I went with a dark purplish tone for the street background, with some smoky atmosphere. It makes Imani look like she apparated from the smoke, which I like. Finally, I decided to give a slight shadow over Imani's eyes. It's a nod to the dramatic lighting of the black and white films of this time.
And with that, Imani slinks into the shadows... till you see her again in your dreams.
Items Used:
Astra: Rosy Radiance (still) Bold Brows (Furrowed brow) Quite Contrary (Necklace) THE Ungrateful Bride (Necklace) Umbral Nocte Malum (Calamity's Embodiment) The Queen of Executions (High-Waisted Skirt) Bloody Baesic Salt (Top) Haute Glue (Courture Hat) Proud Scorned Cupid (legs E) Sadistic Megami Natsube (Earrings) Belle's Night Out in L.A. (Offblack) Aurelian's Makeup 1 Respectfully Succumbing (Hands V1) Unison Lost Unmurin (Fog) Bony Severed Bloom (Shadow) Sickly, but make it fashion! (Smog Background)
About this Look: I want something bright! not just bright, but I wanted it to be fun. Spring of course means that winter is ending and color is returning to the world - but there is already color that hadn't left! In that sense I wanted to highlight more the brighter, funner side of spring with a fun pattern, and the Dewdrops Cardigan was the perfect way to capture a bright pattern in springy colors. When I was looking at colors for Zanna I was also aware that some colors would dull her skin tone and thankfully we came upon the Snapdragon colorscheme. The green and purple create a fun, playful set of colors that please the eye without being overbearing with the right balance.
The balance in fact was the hard part! While snapdragon is a pretty colorscheme it lacks a lot of items that really encircle the spring vibe; it took a lot of trial and error of pairing items with the vision I had, and I'm taking a gamble by using two items from the same item. In turn for this, I wanted to ensure they weren't statement pieces as for the Dewdrops it was the cardigan (the staple) and the earrings and for Hydrangea it was the backpack (staple) and the collar. Together it doesn't clash, and I think really lines together a playful scene.
With a challenge of no backgrounds, my biggest focus along with the balance of the colors in the outfit was creating a pleasing blackout silhouette. By being playful with and creating an asymmetrical with the arm pose (and truthfully her hair makes her unmistakable but we can imagine if she didn't have her gorgeous hair) and the layers of the skirt we created a silhouette to keep the eye on her.
What is Zanna Wearing?
Pick Your Nose (animated style dark) Curls of Serapherins Natural Fiametta (Overskirt) Snappy Stars Taste Sweet (Starry Headband) Natural Kakumei Soldier (Skirt) Scholar of the Snapdragon (Clever Blouse) A in Snapdragon Spades (Belt Skirt) Clouded Usakeiko (Face) Under the Snapping Hydrangea (Collar) Under the Snapping Hydrangea (Backpack) Snappy Miss Teasqueak (Legs E) Snappy Froggy Dew Drops (Pom Pom Earrings) Snappy Froggy Dew Drops (Cardigan V1) Lost Summer of Snapdragons (Purse)
Papillon Mystique Muet really captured the look I was going for, with the sheer sleeves and glove like ends, plus the puffy sleeves, I was in love instantly!
Ornate Witchy Aesthetic, and I absolutely adore this skirt so much, I wish I actually owned one like it. I layered it up with a 
Haunted Graveyard Crasher Shredded Skirt to thicken the skirts a bit, it was a tad tricky finding an underskirt that meshed well with the Witchy one, and I really loved the added belt.
Ornate Case of Attachment for the black and red hues, and I think it pulls the fit together nicely. Almost like a corset style top, and it gives it a bit of a modern victorian look.
Depraved Blood for the Blood God. I felt it was subtle enough to not overpower Kimbers head while adding that bit of extra I felt the outfit needed.
Ornate Forest After Dark legs, I really loved the boots, pose, and the stockings. I know they are hard to see under the skirt, at least the stocking are, but I loved the boots and leg pose too much to change it up. And I figured the runway background suited the theme and stopped the background from being totally empty.
🌷 🌸 🌷 🌸
🖤 🥀
