Posts Tagged ‘autumn’

Helianthus

Story by:Dan Barrett

Long ago, when the night hours were lit by naught but the subdued, mournful glowing of the moon, there was a noble inventor who lived on the outskirts of a long since forgotten seaport. He grew many rare and unpredictable crops on his fields, gaining him recognition throughout the land. Yet, he lamented that the growth of these wonders was constrained by the absence of the warm hand of the sun during the dark hours. He realized that if he could harness the power of the sunlight — to save and deploy it at will, he could have the finest crops anywhere the world over. And so he set about to do just that.

After years of toil, he was able to successfully crossbreed several genera of exotic flower to achieve the aesthetic design: tall and thin to reach above the canopy of foliage and grasp the sun’s rays. However, all his fantastic designs ultimately did him little good, as they could do little to accumulate the energies of the solar sphere. It was not until he bought the black oil from a shady, hooded figure in the obscurest of alleys near the seaport that his plan was able to achieve fruition. With the addition of this mysterious, viscous substance, the flowers became imbued with a hideous power. Their shadowy, porous countenance could now act as a beacon to suck up the sun’s rays, trapping them within the surrounding leaves. As this process transpired, the leaves attached to the circular center would come to glow the same yellow as the sun itself. The flowers could work as batteries: constantly pumping energy into the soil to vastly excite the growth of the harvest.

The abundance of crops resulted in much increased business for the inventor; unfortunately, one unforeseen side effect of his creations was the sowing of jealously into the minds his contemporaries. He had a secret growth formula and, unsurprisingly, they all wanted it. Rumors were spread that the man was a witch, dabbling in pacts with the devil in exchange for such bountiful crops. Of course, this antagonized the ignorant masses amongst the townspeople and not long after, a vehement mob coalesced from the filthy streets and descended upon the farmer’s cottage. Before he could speak, the unquenchable fury of the crowd overcame him. As a cruel joke, they buried him beneath his own fields. Following his demise, the townsfolk ransacked the house, looking for any evidence of what magic he was using. They found none, but rather than depart empty handed they decided to uproot the beautiful, colossal, golden flowers which grew nowhere else. They would never understand the secrets that these contraptions harbored in silence, and as such, the sunflowers became integrated into the community as mere decorative items. Over time and extensive trading, they traveled to the corners of the globe. Though much weakened from the early archetypes, you can still see the sunflower carrying out its intended function as its face follows the sun as it moves across the sky.

Inspiration List: Deemphasizing the “pirate” in Brocade Piracy,flower crowns from Meadham Kirchhoff’s Spring 2011 Ready to Wear show, black oil sunflowers, waving good-fucking-bye to 100° of heat and humidity, fall foliage, Sylvia Ji’s “Dia De Los Muertos” Catrina girls, chrysanthemum, fiery near-blinding orange lipstick, fields of perfectly purple roadside wildflowers, finally utilizing my tiny striped gloves in a photoshoot, cardiac inspired corsetry and the decidedly autumnal Sleepy Hollow vibes I instantly feel upon donning my striped skirt.

Bidding summer 2011 adieu epitomizes the phrase “mixed blessing”. On one hand, it’s easy to give in to fleeting moments of doubt that prod your brain with pesky questions such as “Did I accomplish everything I set to do back in May? Did I check enough seasonal outdoor fun off my to-do list?” Cue the mini-existential crisis, complete with stinging pangs of guilt, brought upon the sudden realization that you’ve managed to fall prey to the Sloth Monster by wasting large chunks of the year’s sunniest months parked in front of the AC unit, Frapp in one hand, Iphone in the other yet again. Suddenly, you’re wishing for a summer do over with more roller coasters, pool-side adventures in frozen cocktail tasting, and more quality time with those cute skull-print wedges. And just maybe less natural disasters. Take comfort in knowing that the dawning of autumn signals the end of near-certain heat death, bringing relief to our collective longing for cool-weather dressing at last, while simultaneously creating opportunity for a whole new crop of seasonal shenanigans: bonfires, apple pickings and hayrides await. I needn’t mention the pumpkin spice everything, candy corn, and constant onslaught of awesomely cheesy slashers invading your TV.

The newest sartorial incarnation of Vanity Kills enjoyed a definite equinox moment in a not-all-to-surprisingly compatible mix of cabernet colors, unmuted harvest-hued floral flourishes, and a never-too-early-for-Halloween vertically striped bustle skirt — heavily influenced by Tim Burton’s iconic carnival-esque aesthetic. Unceremoniously taking a remixed version of last year’s Plague Widow ensemble out of the solemn spires of man-made cathedrals to worship at nature’s altar. Savoring every second of those much awaited elusive crisp, sunshine-filled, humidity-free fall days before the chilling frost of a seemingly neverending, dull winter takes grip. This is autumnal goth.

• Donning a billow sleeve top such as the Brocade Piracy # 83-7-09 Off The Shoulder Blouse in the black/wine colorway doesn’t have to end in being mistaken for one of Jack Sparrow’s groupies if you solemnly swear to stay clear of cuffed over-the-knee leather boots, large tri-corn hats, skulls, headscarves, vests, dreads and anything with gold coin detailing. Pairing with aristo-goth inspired Victoriana is always a good way to disassociate yourself from buccaneer guild members. Think big bustle skirts and anything that would feel out of place on a pestilent vermin infested ship. As much as it pains me to say it, this ain’t the time to accessorize with a barrel of rum and a macaw.
• Chrysanthemum, flowers which often symbolize death as well as the arrival of autumn, attached to a weeping veil heighten the appearance of mourning for the passing of summer whilst simultaneously celebrating the year’s transition into fall. For more distinctly Dia De Los Muertos flavor, try a wreath of delightfully orange marigolds which bear strong ties to the holiday’s celebration.
• Closing out the summer with a romantic stroll amongst the wildflowers? Graphic black and white stripes stand out brilliantly against the efflorescent background of fields and meadows (unless those flowers sprouted directly from the monochromatic striation obsessed mind of Tim Burton).
• A waist cinching rendition of the “Tell-Tale Heart” stirs the anticipation of spooky festivities to come in a most Poe-tic way.
• A single black bloom carefully pinned to a ruffle, a bouquet of fresh-cut sunflowers, and delicately striped fingerless gloves imbue this ensemble with the lightest touch of dreamy femininity, softening the edges of the corset’s gory details.
• Punchy orange lipstick beckons with promises of tree ripe citrus fruit in August and jack-o-lanterns in October, making it the ultimate seasonless lipstick shade.

Credits

Photography: Bill Tracy Photography

Model: Vanity Kills

Location: Montague and Augusta, NJ

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Vanity Kills

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