"Absurd Beauty of Unorthodox Means"

Author: Lisa Jones-Tomassini
Published: 02/11/2018

Our 3rd year taking part in this crazy fun fundraiser.

The Crucible is a nonprofit organization and art school dedicated to making the fine and industrial arts accessible for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Whose work is centered in Oakland and the East Bay, where we provide high-quality, fun classes and workshops to over 8,000 people each year.

This year is a tribute to PRINCE: The Theme of 2017 Hot Couture is The Beautiful Ones.  Fashion designers construct fantastical pieces of wearable art. Jones and Tomassini started work in October, calling their designs, “Absurd Beauty of Unorthodox Means.” They’re taking the Prince concept and running with it, Jones says in a phone interview, creating their own sleek version of 1970s jumpsuits, then adding mechanical face shields, headdresses, LEDs, mono-filaments, fur, and even prosthetics — in the form of silicone third eyes.

“It sounds outrageous, but at the core, the jumpsuits are fashion you could wear in actual life,” Jones says. “For the designers, this is your big show. Just like the runway shows in Milan, where the creations are clearly over-the-top but meant to be a showcase of what you can do.”

Press: https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/The-Crucible-to-Welcome-The-Beautiful-Ones-in-HOT-COUTURE-2017-Fashion-Show-20161118

Press: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/18/watch-the-crucibles-hot-couture-brings-the-fashion-flames/

Press: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/01/hot-couture-at-oaklands-crucible-behind-the-scenes-at-the-smoldering-spectacle/

Press: https://bammagazine.com/bay-area-tribute-to-prince-from-the-catwalk/

"Pushing out a metal contraption which first looked like a cart for baby robot, followed by models in black like Edward Scissorhands with hung Afros and long sleeves which dragged to the floor and ended at the fingertips that were lit on fire like small candles. They mingled in a weird and wonderful way with a second group of models wearing powder blue nickers, bonnets and tall hats with glasses attached that opened and closed automatically as they stopped to strike a pose. Very idiosyncratic with a hint of sexy and extreme. Erotic City come alive." -Keno Mapp  

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG8hhyVqIfI

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZvQGjwXpPU

Behind the Scenes:

Process