Welcome to Gaia! ::

Welcome, Designers, to the first challenge of Project Catwalk Cycle 8!
It’s time to stretch those styling muscles and get familiarized with your
models. To help us get to know you all a little more, we are tasking you with
creating a look based on your favorite song! Whether it’s a deep cut, radio
favorite, or even a one-hit wonder, this is a challenge to get personal with.
You can interpret your inspiration however you like, but remember, above all:
make it fashion!

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Walk Me Home

Album Cover: Hurts2Be Human (putting under a spoiler because my struggle with re-sizing continues!)

Challenge #3: What's In A Name
Designers, welcome back to your third challenge! While the first elimination
is never a laughing matter, the show must go on. With a few challenges under
your belt, you’ve probably realized that your model pairing can have a significant
impact on your styling choices… and this week we’re taking it a step further. For
this challenge, you will be limited to only using items that begin with letters
appearing in your model’s name! (Base features, including optional noses, will
not be included in this restriction.) You can do any sort of theme you like, but
us judges will still be expecting creative and original takes. Lastly, while equip
lists are usually optional, they will be required this week for your submission
to be considered complete. Good luck!

Equip List:



Let me start by giving everyone their flowers on this particular challenge because GAH is it a brain teaser. It really is an interesting premise to tackle. I know when I'm given free reign with the theme but another piece of the challenge is restricted, I tend to let Bobbi guide me towards how the outfit turns out.

My girl Bobbi forced me waaay outside of my comfort zone, but in the best way possible. She's got three B's in her name, and I knew I had to make each letter count. Ultimately, this explosion of color comes from the color schemes Bony, Obscure, Opalescent, and Iridescent (with a hit of Booming in the background).

This outfit is one that I would have honestly been so scared to enter. Hopefully would have worked up the guts to do it anyway! Looking at it, it's this pop of intense contrast, and this where I got some explaining to do.

I was directly inspired by the fashion designs of Rei Kawakubo for this look. Funny enough, I came across her work because of a runway challenge. Her opus was the theme of the 2017 Met Gala, and the runway was to choose a year from the Met Gala to bring to life in an avatar. Looking back, with a few more years under my belt now, I think I was drawn to this particular designer because of the way she intentionally goes against traditional proportions and customs. Looking at her designs, I saw a part of myself - the part that doesn't quite fit in, no matter how hard I try. The older I get, the more I appreciate intentionally leaning into what doesn't fit to a standard. To let myself be my own, weird, unapologetic creature (odd pieces and all).

In going for that type of Kawakubo-esque design, I think my fear if I was to submit the look in real-time competition comes from the fact that it exposes that vulnerable part of myself to criticism. At the end of it all, there is a beauty in just saying: hell with it! Might as well do it anyway, and be who I am, even if it tanked!

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I designed the outfit with another element backing it, to really make it feel true to me while also paying homage to the Great Rei Kawakubo. The concept of high | low fashion aesthetics has always spoken to me. IRL it would be like pairing Gucci with Walmart (and blending it so you can't tell which is more expensive!).

From that, the concept of Beatback Ballerina was brought to life! I took streetwear (the Bony Back2k, Obscure Sinister sister sweater, the belt from Obscure livestreamer) and layered it with Ballerina elements (high arts). I always feel like the opposite can be true - perhaps the streetwear is the more expensive, while the fancy looking Ballerina elements are cheaper?

I wanted the headpiece for Bobbi to imitate the headpieces Rei designs on her models, so I put together the Headband from Obscure Diamond of the First Water, the ribbons from Boned Viviennd and the Saintly Mantilla from Obscure Requiem. For the background, I wanted it simple and clear, but still playing into the high/low concept. Bobbi is right next to a trash can with the spotlight directly on her, but there is glitter & sparkle in the air.

So, here is Bobbi in all her glory. Non-traditional in every sense, but hey. It works!

Challenge #5: What Are Thoooose?

The time has come, Designers, for a Project Catwalk staple–one that truly tests
your skills as a stylist. Yes, that’s right... for the second challenge of your first Double
Header, we’re throwing you into the deep end with the infamous Ugly Item Challenge!
We’ve plundered the depths of Gaia’s item list to find something truly heinous to torment
you with. The rest of the outfit can look however you want, but for this second look, you
must sufficiently highlight Angora's Soft Side (Shoes). In the words of another certain
famous fashion competition host: Make it work!

"I Can Run in These Heels, b***h!"



The Equip List (for those curious on the items):



These shoes were designed to inflict suffering, that's really my only conclusion at the end of this challenge. So not to worry, we all suffered together dear designers! For me personally, I think the folks who did the best on this particular Ugly Item challenge managed to find a way to nail that aspect of the shoes in that it's both hard/soft at the same time.

There's the soft, delicate pink and cream color of the shoes contrasted with the hard point of the toes (I thought were teeth, in all honesty). I really ultimately just wanted to have fun with Bobbi for this challenge & look.

I remember in Cycle 7, it was the Skittles Rainbow Jacket. It almost drained the life out of me trying to make it work. I actually hung upside down off the side of my bed just to get more blood flowing to my brain! I am so happy with the end result, but I wish I would have allowed myself to have more fun in the process itself.

When I let my mind wander down the path of how to make Bobbi look both soft and tough, this is the end result! I found that a cream, pink, but most importantly elements of black really helped transform these shoes into something more palatable.

Have you ever watched the videos showing house parties where the theme was to wear that one piece of clothing (jacket, fancy dress) that you can never wear to a "normal" outing? That was the inspiration behind the look! I imagined Bobbi with a group of friends throwing a party like that at a club: one caveat, to wear that one thing you can't wear anywhere else. Bobbi would put on these ugly shoes, and do it up with some edge. She'd get drunk with her friends, and by the end of the night, she'd be threatening to run in these shoes just to prove she could do it.

I personally liked the bunny aspect of the shoes, but I didn't want to do something directly bunny, if that makes sense. More, bunny-like! The pink hairbow in the hair is a stand in for bunny ears. I wove fur elements in the legwarmers, in the dramatic fur collar and in the contrasting fur stole hanging off the side.

The black top (layered with the sheer top from Nice Bones) and the short shorts are giving a sort of black/white Nike vibe, with a gold cross chain right under where the shirt is cropped. I really liked the lacy garter/sheer stocking that I found, which fit nicely under the Bani Bunny legwarmers.

Hope you all enjoy seeing my take! 4laugh

Challenge #7: Not Just A Phase
Welcome back, Designers! This week, we're going on a bit of a nostalgia trip, and
ask you to think back to your rebellious teen years. What sort of music did you listen
to? How did you dress? Did you want to stand out, or fit in? Throughout time, young
people have forged identities from the intersection of music and fashion, and through
these modes of self-expression formed tight-knit communities based on shared aesthetics
and values. For this challenge, we're having you tap into the rebellious spirit by assigning
you all an iconic subculture style from various points in history to dress your model in. Be
sure to do your research, and show us what you've learned!


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Subculture: Gothabilly

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Girl from the Black Leather Graveyard




I have to give you lovely & talented designers your flowers this week. I really loved reading how each of you connected with your subcultures. The vibes were matched perfectly, and the outfits were fabulous. heart

Since I wanted to let everyone have their own journeys with each subculture, I asked our friendly neighborhood mentor, wishflower, to assign me a subculture to get into this week. wish gave me Rockabilly, which is honestly not something I know very much about! I started off trying to piece together how I would fit Bobbi into this scene, when I stumbled across something buried within Rockabilly: Gothabilly.

I cleared it with wishflower first, seeing as it's definitely more niche. With the go ahead, I plunged right in. What drew me in to Gothabilly was the band The Cramps. They are considered the origin of this subculture, taking the blues from Rockabilly and transforming it with piano/guitar to a slower, moodier vibe.

From my personal POV, I never was ...I'm not sure, brave enough? To venture into the goth world, either musically or stylistically. I struggled to find myself when I was growing up, and I still do now. Back when I was a kid, it was more a sense of I felt like I wasn't allowed to be curious know who I was / who I am. So much of my energy went into getting by day to day. It's kind of a tough thing to put into words! I can think about it now as getting to be curious. To ask questions of the world I didn't think I could when I was younger. Gothabilly was the opportunity to ask myself the question of how I would have designed Bobbi for this moment.

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I love how Gothabilly has this niche of almost vampire-esque elements, with more of the figure of women of the 1950s/1960s. It got me into exploring some of the more niche Gaia items too.

I got a massive wave of inspiration from these two images:


I loved the gothic, but make it sexy and deadly vibes of the comic. The animal print jacket from the cover photo of The Cramps was just too much to ignore. I decided a fusion was what felt most natural here to create this version of Bobbi.

The Zebra Print Dress was calling my name, but I knew the body had to be correct. So I went in an altered the top part with Latex Venus bodysuit, the black version of the Trixie Treat corset, the offblack Heartless Bustier for a more cinched center. The arms gave me a flashback, because I did use these arms in Cycle 7 too! I don't think I used them as best I could in that previous challenge (Clashing mesh fabrics and all), so I wanted to take a chance at a redo here.

Love the posing and mesh on the arms (Rusty Madame Guillotine), it was giving me very Rosie the Riveter but make it more devilishly sexy. The heels gave me that right amount of chic, which came from Sandy Keep Me on My Toes. I went the headband route with Bobbi, specifically because of her hair. It seemed like the better way to emphasize her features, but not leave her head empty. I'm kicking myself, because I can't remember the sparkling black piece I layered over the headband from Cutey Hunter (and the look got deleted from my avi builder, damn you Gaia).

Took me a hot minute to figure out how to stage Bobbi, but the zombie vibes from that second image gave me that burst of inspiration, paired with the Cramps song: "The Creature from the Black Leather Lagoon" (also altered for the title...because how could I not?). Bobbi in a graveyard, where things are starting to go bump in the night...but she looks so pretty, so why not join her?

Loved this challenge, hope you all enjoy my interpretation. heart

Challenge #9: Oh My Heavens!
While it's fun to ponder alternate universes, for the second half of your Double Header,
we return to the comfort of our own (including your original models, in case that wasn't clear).
The heavens above us have long served as an inspiration for humanity, inspiring both
mythology and scientific progress as we seek to understand our place in the cosmos. For this
challenge, you are to create a fashionable look inspired by a heavenly body within our solar
system. You can go literal or abstract, mythological or scientific with your interpretation, but
either way, be sure to dazzle us like the stars you all are!

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Fly High, Space Pegasi



51 Pegasi b - Bellephoron


Peep the Equip List!


I can never predict which challenges will give me the hardest time. I had a hell of a time with this look, mostly because it sits at the precipice point of so many things I love, and it takes more of a risk on the fashion front. But, sometimes taking the chance (no matter if it pays off or not) is worth it for being true to what I love.

For this challenge (another assignment of Planets!), the lovely Detrimentum assigned me a planet farther outside of our Solar System, so far out it has numbers in its name! Let me introduce, Planet 51 Pegasi b [official name Dimidum, unofficial nickname Bellephoron]. Discovered in 1995, (same year I was born, fated!) 51 Pegasi-b is a gas giant, orbiting closer to its sun in the constellation Pegasus.

One thing to know about me, if you mention Greek Mythology, Greek gods, and I lock on like a bloodhound locks in to a scent. Greek mythology was my sanctuary when I was a kid, and I still have love for it now. I particularly like the myth connected to the unofficial name for 51 Pegasi B, the myth of Bellephoron. Dimidum is cute, but like I said, I lock in lol.

Particularly, I love reinterpreting Greek myths. Many of the stories follow the trajectory of allowing pride to be the downfall of so many heroes. Bellephoron is similar to Icarus. He is a great warrior, accomplishes taming Pegasus (see where the tie in to the planet comes in, in the constellation Pegasus) and eventually tries to join the Gods of Mount Olympus, claiming Godhood for himself. Zeus strikes him down, ending his pride.

In so many ways, the exploration of space is similar. It feels daring, almost prideful to continually try to peer into the vastness of space and determine what exists beyond Earth. There is something incredible in the continual pursuit of a goal. There will be failures, setbacks, and miscalculations when it comes to what lies in the stars, but like Bellephoron, even in failure, there's something to continuing to reach forward even if you fail.

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With that in mind, I built this look for Bobbi with the envisioning of her as alike to the myth of Bellephoron, struck down by the Gods and plummeting into the gaseous surface. Hence, the bold choice to use the Shadowlegend Firestorm wings, as a nod to Pegasus encircling Bobbi's frame, but to also nod to the fiery color and nature of the planet itself.

The Ifrit color scheme worked for me, in the saturation of the planet's coloration. The arms from Ifrit Downfall Daze was perfect to convey the motion of reaching towards a goal, but watching as it falls away.

I wanted Bobbi to read as if she's not only falling, but also becoming a part of the planet itself. I removed the chain from Cherry Mirror Image, to have the fading leg effect. The layering on the body of the outfit drove me insane [affectionate], because I really craved for the outfit to look smoky, fiery, and sizzling.

Using the split skirt from Scholarly Wit and Wisdom, layering the tank from Bloody Shark Swim style, it gave the sheerness for the bottom portion of the outfit. Using the waist cincher from Witch of Bloody Mirrors, I worked upwards. The bodice from Ifrit Dancer and the Fierce Blessed Dragon shirt created that orange/red color shift I needed.

I came away from creating this look with a very real appreciation for the struggle this week. It's never easy, but I loved the different angles people took for their planets. heart

Challenge #11: Scream Queens
The summer vibes continue this week! While we love the beach, you know what else
this season has us in the mood for? A good ol' summer blockbuster! This may come as
a surprise to you, but this Head Judge (and many others on the crew, too!) loves a good
horror flick—from psychological thrillers to a fun, campy gore fest. Your challenge this
week is to create a fashion-forward look based your favorite female horror character,
whether she be the first victim, final girl, or even the villain or monster herself. Aim not
for a 1-to-1 cosplay, but rather an inspired look that injects your own unique flair.

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Flip the Script



heart



emotion_zombie

It took me a looong time to even consider watching horror movies. I'm a very late bloomer when it comes to watching blood/gore or even psychologically scary things. For those of you who also weren't big fans of horror and got to this challenge but tried your best anyways, I see you!

For this challenge, I would have gone with the iconic First Girl Out of the Scream franchise, Casey Becker. Not only does my girl Bobbi look staggeringly like Casey, I felt I could also take an opportunity here (since its not a one to one cosplay) to push myself out of my comfort zone in literally every aspect.

I tend to...hyperfixate and for me, the details in any outfit become the point of my fixation. Casey Becker's outfit in Scream is pretty unremarkable actually, and trying a direct cosplay of it would have been boring anyway! It forced me to rework without overwhelming with too much detail. I wanted to create an outfit that paid Casey her flowers while actually flipping the script on its head.

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This would have been a risk, but I had this idea of transforming Bobbi into Casey, but into a Casey who sees the killer coming. The setting of this look is focusing on Bobbi/Casey taking a selfie (sorry - I'm totally not recreating the brick phone Casey had originally with so much peace and love). I wanted a more modern take on how she would see the killer coming, and holding up the phone to take a mirror selfie also captures the shadowy killer figure coming up behind in the window.

Casey's OG outfit is basically a cream colored sweater, jeans, and sneakers (with a dark lippie, hello). I couldn't capture the dark lip because of the way Bobbi's mouth is; basically I can't add anything without her OG lips disappearing, and then well ...she wouldn't be my girl anymore!

So I kept the makeup more muted but still defined around the eyes. I'll leave my reasoning for the bow to the end, because it's not just there to look cute (though it is).

I kept the cream color in the top, but made it a tank top with one strap sliding off. I took the tank from Seven Sweetest Kisses and cropped it up with Alleycat's Glamor scissors. I chopped the jeans up into shorts too, layering Castaway shorts under the Starlit Guardian of Storms shorts to create a worn cut-off look. The CopyCat legs worked well, making a different impact than basic sneakers (and the legs were thicker, more proportionate).

This is a very simplistic look (for me) but I felt going too far overboard did a disservice to the OG Casey and probably wouldn't have looked too natural either.

Remember the bow? I took one step further on my flipping the script for Casey/Bobbi. I imagined Bobbi as wearing the bow intentionally, knowing another killer is coming for her. The killer would see the bow through the window and think...easy prey right? So innocent (which is a part of the OG Casey's personality). The Killer doesn't know there's already a body bagged up on the floor, because Bobbi's going through this before...and she's ready for the next fight.

I ended up enjoying this entry, even though I'm swinging wayyy outside my comfort zone. Hope you all enjoyed reading it. emotion_bigheart

Challenge #13: Diamond Of The Season Cycle
You've made it to the final challenge of the main competition, Designers, and for that,
you should all be immensely proud. Now, I don't know about you all, but I for one love
leaning on fashion history to inform my designs. To end this cycle on a grand note, we
are taking a nod from the ornate and whimsical costumes of Bridgerton, set in the Regency
period. Now, are these costumes historically accurate? Most definitely not. But are they fun
and fabulous? Yes, and that's what really matters. For your final challenge, we task you with
sending your model off to the debutante ball in her finest Bridgerton-inspired frock. To help you
achieve a period accurate-ish look, you are permitted to use hair extensions, provided that your
model's base hair still remains visible. Five ladies shall enter, but only one can be crowned
Diamond of the Cycle!

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Take my Hand, If We Be Friends



What a wonderful challenge to close out Cycle 8 (not counting the finale of course!). You designers all brought such special looks, truly the best. I'm a gown loving gal, and you all did not disappoint. I really and truly hope you all feel so proud, whether you ended up in the Finale, or go on to try again in another cycle.

Aha, I say what a wonderful challenge and here's my guilty secret. I don't know Bridgerton. Do not know her, looooove her energy though. It was one of those shows that came out which got shelved in my brain because I have hoarder tendencies with media. I save that what I think is good for a time when I'll really need it.

I'll become obsessed YEARS after everyone has moved on. Such is the suffering I cause myself.

That being said, I wanted to give this last look for Bobbi a touch of whimsy. Rather than florals (my god did I want flowers bad), I wanted this to be a ball of the summer, one inspired and influenced by Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. There may be confusion, intrigue, couples meeting Bobbi is surrounded by the moon and stars, on her way to make a statement (and an entrance like no other damn it!).

I can just see Queen Charlotte demanding whimsy, and the chance to sparkle. Who am I to say no to that?

gaia_moon

You may be asking why Bobbi is wearing a veil in this outfit. Which is a fair and valid question. To that, I would answer: Bobbi's hair. My girl has hair in the very specific yellow that's a part of the Concordia color scheme. Imagine me overjoyed at figuring out the color scheme. Cut to me enraged Gaia abandoned it years ago with basically no options for Bobbi, without changing her entire head of hair.

Solution for me became a starry veil, layering the Celestial Duchess in two shades together to get the blue/purple hue I wanted, with the Seeker of Light Tiara to bring in a moon motif around the forehead. The only cutter I used on Bobbi's hair was Agape Cut. It was the only thing that didn't make her look...well, not like her. Without the cutter, Bobbi was giving more flapper. While I adore those vibes, one has to pivot.

On building the gown that gave me more stress than I needed: did you know H&R Wesley has a gown called Noble's Set Her Gown? I saw that dress and immediately knew it had to be what I built the look around. Unfortunately for me, that dress also is immune to most modifications.

I love myself for being my own greatest challenge. Pivot! I used two of the skirt ribbon cutters from Dreamkeeper to create some visual interest in the gown itself, layering the legs from Early Twilight Consort to add to the star effect as the cutter opens the gown up a little more. The Candied Moon of Chang'e dress layered behind the OG, and gave this wonderful motion/dynamism. Bobbi looks like she's showing off the clouds/stars at the bottom of her gorgeous fit. The arms from Sleepless Serenity gave that puffy sleeve action I needed under the bows.

Thank you if you stayed with my crazy long descriptions, I really loved watching every single one of you tackle challenge after challenge.