There is something about the aesthetics of a vintage circus that has been really intriguing to me. The nostalgia, romanticised bohemian lifestyle, and the pure visuals of it all, left me inspired and itching to bring this imaginative world to life.
I spent the last couple of months researching all the ‘classic’ circus types - the Circus Director, the Animal Tamer, the Trapeze Artist - and I am planning to slowly bring them all into reality.
Starting today with: The Clown.

I chose the Clown as the first character in this series, as I am partial to all kinds of clowns and jesters (case in point: my fantastical/renaissance Fool costume). For me, it was a natural starting point; an easy place to begin with.
The general style of all the characters is going to be very eclectic, vintage-inspired, and overall very ‘collected’. I like outfits that look a bit haphazard and random, but there is a throughline and reason behind each piece: The more layered, the better.

The starting point for this first costume were the regency stays, which I had made prior, for a different project. I added lace-trimmed velvet tap shorts and a blouse with enormous sleeves - the fabric is a beautiful deadstock silk blend with a diamond pattern, perfect for my circus theme. Special mention goes to the knitted collar (made after a pattern by Lydia Morrow), but because a double-layered collar was not enough on its own, I added another one on top (eagle eyes may recognize it from my Elizabethan project). To finish it all off, I embellished some hairclips with an assortment of ribbons, pompoms, and sequins.

I do plan on bringing all my imaginary circus performers to life - there is even another clown in the works. I love the idea of slowly creating a menagerie of characters, that are all very much individuals, but are connected by a common thread. I am going to be pretty loose with my interpretations - no historical accuracy here! It is more about this feeling of whimsy and wonder, about paying homage to an idea and not necessarily to a real, bygone era.
For me, this is what costuming is all about: Creating a feeling of a time, stirring emotions, bringing characters to life. It does not have to be perfect, but it does need to have a soul - and a vision behind it.