When real things happen to imaginary people

Isn't this interesting? From the L.A. Times "Fashion Forecast" article:

"All things Alice

Look for fashion/entertainment synergy to break new ground this year, including novel partnerships for on-screen placement and higher-profile designer collaborations. One of the first down the rabbit hole in that regard will be Tim Burton's live-action "Alice in Wonderland" remake, due to open March 5.

In addition to Disney Consumer Products' official high-style tie-ins with jewelry makers (Tom Binns, Swarovski) and clothing designers (Stella McCartney is among those rumored) set to roll out in conjunction with the film's release, Lewis Carroll inspiration is popping up like hallucinogenic mushrooms after an acid rain. The recent holiday window displays at Bergdorf Goodman in New York bore an Alice in Wonderland theme, and in March, Parisian department store Printemps reportedly plans to unveil window displays of custom "Alice" dresses by the likes of Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane.

Designers recently name-checking Lewis Carroll and his creations include Donatella Versace, Jason Wu, Kenzo's Antonio Marras, and Zac Posen. A self-professed lifelong fan of all things Alice, Posen has collaborated on a collection of Wonderland-themed jewelry and recently unveiled a pre-fall 2010 collection that he describes as "Lewis Carroll meets Paloma Picasso," which includes thigh-length, Alice-appropriate dresses in mad, mad plaids. He explained there are several things that play into the fomenting fashion fixation.

"First, there's a real sense of escapism and imagination to it that I think is important in popular culture right now," he said. "And Alice and 'Through the Looking Glass' have really become a part of the fashion vernacular." He pointed to everything from the familiar iconography of the tea party accouterments and playing cards to "the woman dressing as a little girl in a shrunken dress, and the black, white and red colors, and even the dandy tweed suit."

I'm sure a lot of the Alice-inspired high-fashion stuff will just make me roll my eyes and mutter about people who need to read the books, but I'll still be curious to see it. Tho' I'm already wincing at the notion of "thigh-length, Alice-appropriate dresses in mad, mad plaids".

On a much smaller level, I'm already starting to notice this happening. More strangers are starting to reference Alice In Wonderland when commenting on my clothes, even when I'm not wearing a top hat.

The signing on Saturday at Comics Dungeon was very low-key, probably in part due to the torrential rain that happened that day. But it was still a lot of fun, and I got to meet some nifty people.

The Mourning Market on Sunday was amazing. So many vendors I had never heard of before! So many pretty things I wanted to buy! Oh dear oh dear. I finally gave into temptation and purchased a hat I had been coveting from Noxenlux (clicky-link!), because really, a mini tricorn in b&w skull fabric will got with a LOT of my wardrobe. No, I am not being sarcastic.

There is talk of turning the Mourning Market into a quarterly event, and I very much hope that happens. It was lovely to browse the tables and catch up with people.

Tomorrow is turning into Crazy Media Day for me. I just got scheduled for an interview with a newspaper that is doing a "30 Years of Goth" article. Tomorrow evening, I'm going to hang out with the Seattle Geekly folks to record part of a Goth-themed podcast they're putting together. And then, I'm staying up all night, because I am doing a radio interview with The Menage on 1150 KKNW. A MORNING interview. I need to be at the studio at 6:20 IN THE MORNING.. Why yes, my sleep schedule has slid back to nocturnal, which is why I'm just going to stay up all night and go to the interview.

(They also will be a live webcast during this. I will be sure to get the URL, just in case any of you folks want to watch the hijinks.)

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/88015

The best line (IMO): "It's like the cover of Dracula BOP! magazine."

And yes, I probably would read Dracula BOP! magazine if it existed. It would be hysterical! Or it would possibly give me a headache, and I would have to go collapse on the couch, re-read Anno Dracula, and drink absinthe, all while muttering about "... kids today, no sense of tradition ..."