Etsy's Handmade Blog
Trends: Circus & Carnival Couture! Cuffs, Ruffs, & Stripes Unite!
Story by annettemusick
Published on June 6, 2008 in Spotlight 		Photo by TopsyTurvyDesign

Okay: let me start off by saying to you all that I am absolutely IN LOVE with Steampunk. That being said, there's a new, almost sub-genre, of Steampunk called Circus Couture. Like Steampunk, Circus or Carnival Couture revitalizes times past, and encourages participants to inject a bit of carnie color and energy into their wardrobe. Lately, this trend has been flying off the Etsy seller shelves, so I've decided to introduce it to readers of the Storque. It's a style that borrows from the big-top, burlesque and pin-up alongside some of the dark-MadMaxness from Steampunk, minus the metal decorum. I believe Black Rock City residents from Burning Man may have clearly pioneered this fashion, especially with the vaudville performance groups Cirque Berzerk , and fellow relative Lucent Dossier Vaudville Cirque. Both troupes showcase incredibly amazing performances with costumes and talents that might literally knock your socks off, so you should definitely plan to see them live for yourself.

From Lucent Dossier's website (photography by: Steven Meisel):

 

From Cirque Berzerk's website (photography by: Aaron Gautschi):

 

Here at Etsy, there are several sellers who have designs representing this fabulous style:

From TopsyTurvyDesign:

 

From Desirapesta:

 

From LukasAdrian:

Circus Couture wearable art pieces are extremely fun to wear, and somehow, being this gussied up injects a little extra magic into your day.

Check out more from these and other sellers below. I'm excited to wear much of these types of fashions on the playa this year. Only two months away!! Are you ready? Do you have some Circus Couture candidates you'd like to share with us?

Please comment and Happy Friday Everyone! :)

See more of our Trends posts!

Tags annettemusick, burning man, carnival, carnival couture, circus, circus couture, cirque berzerk, couture, desirapesta, lucent dossier, lucent dossier vaudville cirque, lukasadrian, lukas adrian, steampunk, topsyturvydesign, topsy turvy design
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32 comments     Login to add your own!

June 6, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. weirdwolf

Fun stuff Annette! Circus couture.. who knew? Steampunk is alive and well on Etsy!

June 6, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. Artsy

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

June 6, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. hellome

Love it!

June 6, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. topsyturvydesign

Wow! You used "MadMaxness" as an adjective! You are so beyond thunderdome!
Thanks for including my top hatties Annette!

June 6, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. Noxenlux

YEY! Topsy!

Needs more hats ;)

June 6, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. gothfoxdesigns

Great Stuff! Love Topsy!

June 6, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. RaeGun

all of this is so fun. I've got to say I really like this trend

June 6, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. dancingcircle

For those in the west - this looks like performances from the Oregon Country Faire or the March Fourth Marching Band - both totally too much fun!

June 6, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. tangerined

I'd have to disagree on the burlesque/punk circus revival being related to steampunk. :) Only because I know folks who've been doing it quite a while before I ever heard or saw steampunk...

I love this stuff though.

June 6, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. annettemusick

These styles are so similar in vein and often crossover, from the research I've done on this. I think the origins are to be debated for sure. All sources seemed to lead back to Burning Man. Neo-Victorian I would classify in this genre as well as Lolita or other Harujuku type fashions. Please see my other Harujuku article as well. :)

June 6, 2008 at 8:31 p.m. matouenpeluche

This is really classy stuff! A bit retro but very now at the same time :O) Love it! Many thanks!

June 6, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. BoudoirQueen

Utterly Divine Decadent!!!!

June 7, 2008 at 2:28 a.m. Aidabele

everything is fabulous!

June 7, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. undertheroot

...and etsy goes underground!
so much happening under there!

magnificent!

June 7, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. tangerined

"All sources seemed to lead back to Burning Man"

I probably would have to agree. ;) For background, I know of this style via the Dresden Dolls Dirty Business Brigade, Punk Cabaret, etc... So in my mind it's a little different vein, but yes, it definitely all seems to converge at Burning Man!

Off to check out your other articles, thanks! <3

June 7, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. CRychlee

Beautiful & Brilliant! Circus Couture, who knew? I'll have to add my own version in my get the look book.

June 7, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. vortextradingcompany

I love steampunk. You wouldn't know it from my Esty store banner but my physical store in Victoria, BC has a bit of a Steampunk Decor. It's decor is wood, brick and riveted sheet metal walls. My clothing racks are large crates, at the back of the store there's a giant riveted Jules Verne looking portal, which is the Vortex.

June 7, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. Wenchie

An excellent article! It's great to see someone who really knows/researches their stuff.

June 7, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. WickedFascinations

Great article!! I loves me some circusy stuff!

June 7, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. makemesmile

What a fun style!
=^x^=

June 8, 2008 at 1:40 a.m. boudoircompanion

Yes, yes yes! And I do think it stems from music too -- Devotchka, Dresden Dolls, Caetano Veloso etc. Love the links and pictures. Thanks for featuring this.

June 9, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. CRocka

LOOOOOOOOVE the look!

June 12, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. choklit

As a huge fan of both circus / vaudeville couture and neo-victorian / steampunk, I say huzzah to all of it! There's definitely some crossover. Fantastic!

June 15, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. yosemitevintage

I have this killer romper available with free U.S. Shipping and half price Int'l shipping.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

Oct. 25, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. brehanclaire

Check out my new Circus Couture shop. I have feathers, bows, beads, baubles, clowns, ruffles, ribbons...All handmade, with recycled and vintage materials! Thanks.

Jan. 21, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. scagesr13

My WIFE WOULD LUV EVERY THING ON THIS SITE, She Wants To Win TWO Of The CUFFS, So WE CAN SPICE UP Our LOVE LIFE.

Feb. 22, 2009 at 5:28 a.m. MicroCirqueRinka

Have a look in our chapiteau! If you love Circus, le Micro Cirque Rinka is for you! ;)

March 25, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. juliedole

As a former member of Lucent Dossier, I am still much inspired by the ruined Victorian / circus muse :) Come see my bejewelled leggings to rock your most debauched nights out... or to wear grocery shopping!

April 27, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. damselinthisdress

Heck yes to any fashions that encourage people to wear corsets! *grateful tear*

June 17, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. MinkaStar

I adore steam Punk as well,the style is so flexible you can dress it up or play it down and; it has old school overtones with new punch. I see the style making it to the streets big time - if designers know whats go for them ;)

Aug. 29, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. RockirRetro

TopsyTurvyDesign,
I put you on my blog, your hats are gorgeous.
It links you directly to HERE.
www.thefathatcat.vox.com
I think you should make a BLOG on vox, b/c MANY Thespians and entertainers are over there.

Oct. 9, 2009 at 11:50 p.m. kseaflux

What a wonderful article - *very* well done! As a performer, creator & dreamer meself, I absolutely love to see all of the beautiful things that the talented people in Etsy are creating - it does my heart good!

The circus, steampunk, and even ATS belly dance community definitely have a very thin veil separating them, and I happen to have put together something to celebrate all the amazing people - www.bigtopmagazine.com - something of a dream of mine to create it, and SO much fun talking to all my friends and making new ones in doing so!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Keep on dreaming, and keep on creating!

~ kSea

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