Pretty Macabre

“Mademoiselle   LeBeetle, while never straying from being a poised lady….. swallows   the insides of her prey leaving a perfectly posed shell…. going about her usual business….. like nothing ever happened…”

This costume was originally inspired by the movie Beetlejuice, one of my favorites! I found this amazing black and white stripe fabric with floral pattern. I wanted her to be very tall and elegant…but still with a creepy grotesque-ness to her. I used a sheer netting for the top and used bias strips of the striped fabric around the neck and armhole with a little added ruffle. I hand sewed about 150 beetles onto the top covering the bust and trailing them down and through the skirt! The skirt I made high-waisted and fitted through the hips, bringing out the bottom with lots of tulle and lengthening the back for a small train.

Of course to shoot this i turn to my good friends Chaunsey L. Hildebrandt & Renee Keith! Renee started on makeup airbrushing the base pale grey color and adding black around the scalp and ears. Chaunsey then started on this gorgeous black detail around the edge of the face, then adding red shadow into the eyes finishing up with lots of lashes and the perfect evil lip!

Once we got her fully dressed, the final touch was adding an amazing wig that Chaunsey had styled. Using powder in the wig gave it this gorgeous dusty grey color that I loved! While glueing on the final beetle friends…Ria totally got into perfect character with a french accent bringing to life Mademoiselle LeBeetle!!!

Here is a bts video and some final shots from the shoot! Enjoy

Had so much fun with everyone on this amazing shoot!!

Photos: Renee Keith http://reneekeith.com/

Photo: Todd Keith

Hair/Mau: Chaunsey L. Hildebrandt

Model: Marianna Bouttier

When hinges creak in doorless chambers…. strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls….. candle light flickers when the air is deathly still….. It must be ….. “AN OCTOBER EVENING”!!! An October Evening is a SLC, UT event with film, fashion, dance, photography, art and music, all inspired by the spirit of Halloween and presented by independent/local artists,  Stephen Simmons and Christel Edwards. *( Christel’s corset & bustle skirt made by Pretty Macabre, Photo: Todd Keith)

An October Evening is my favorite event of the year!!! Its been just over a week and I’m already planning for next year !!! The perfect event for me to showcase my “Horror Couture” runway show! I have been a part in the show the last 3 years & look forward to many years to come! Stephen & Christel put on an amazing show! I’m so fortunate to be part of the October Evening family and in Stephen’s words “you are always welcomed back with creepy skeleton opened arms” hehe

This year I had 15 characters on the runway! Since I mostly do costuming for this show it’s always a lot of work to pull off each individual character! I love using performers and actors to really bring it to life!! As well as having many talented hair & mau artists working their magic behind the scenes!!

Every year I do a small performance opener for the runway! This year the lovely Katy & Lynsey played “Creepy Doll Ballerinas” and choreographed the perfect duet piece for the show!

Mau:Jillyn Neslen Hair: Amber Powell Photos: Ethan Killian & Todd Ellis

If you missed the show….Here is a peak into the madness!! Behind the scenes with blood, gore, sprinkles & more all the way to the runway finale!

“Cannibal Candy Girls” waiting bts to get laced up in corsets! Hair: Chelsea Laterza Mau:Amber Arcury Photos: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian

Heidi as the “Vaudvillian” she hooped on the runway!! Hair: Amber Powell Mau: Jillyn Neslen Photos: Ethan Killian and Todd Ellis

                                                                                Jillyn doing Mandi’s makeup for “Burlesque” Mau: Jillyn Neslen Hair: Chelsea Laterza Photos: Ethan Killian

Julia Sanders playing “Cupid” the stealer of hearts! Hair: Mario Siguenza Mau: Jillyn Neslen Photos: Ethan Killian

                                                                                          Stephanie Buranek as the “Indian Goddess” Hair: Chelsea Laterza Mau: Jillyn Neslen Photos: Ethan Killian & Todd Ellis

      “Bloody Mary” Shay Williamson Peck freaked everybody out!! Mau: Amber Arcury Hair: Chelsea Laterza Photos: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian

Snip Snip!! Brandi Lyn Petersen in my “Dress Form” piece! Hair:Mario Siguenza Mau: Jillyn Neslen Photos: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian

“Marie Antoinette” played by Nikie Warren!
WigStyling: Chaunsey L. Hildebrandt Mau: Heather Shelton Photos: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian & Rudy Van Bree

Katy looked Gorgeous as my “Skeleton Noir” and totally rocked the runway!! Mau: Amber Arcury Hair: Amber Powell Photos: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian

“Maleficent” the Mistress of All Evil!! Model: Julianna Janae Clay Mau: Amber Arcury
Photo: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian

Melissa Fei Lowe in the “Asylum”!! Mau: Heather Shelton Hair: Mario Siguenza
Photos:Ethan Killian

Christel Mermaid in her “Gothic Mermaid” Gown i made for her to wear in the show! She even walked the runway!! Photos: Ethan Killian & Todd Ellis

I am a huge fan of Beetlejuice!! As well as a huge fan of Hayley!!! I’m pretty sure she is my “Real Life Monster High Doll” no matter how grotesque I make her…she just looks exquisitely amazing and macabre!! Last year as my “Pin up Zombie” this my “BeetleLady” This was definitely one of my favorite pieces from the show!! Hand sewed about 150 beetles to her top!! Heather did an amazing job with the makeup..just enough beauty shining through!!  Hair: Amber Powell Mau: Heather Shelton Photos: Todd Ellis & Ethan Killian

As my finale piece..I got to do an amazing collaboration with Chaunsey L. Hildebrandt & Chris Richard Hanson!! Last year we brought to life “The Bride of Frankenstein” this year “Medusa” Gazing directly upon her may turn you to stone…..Chaunsey totally embodied the character and played her like no other could!! Chris did an amazing job building the snake headdress as well as her snake-like prosthetics and did all the airbrushing and details…I made her Grecian style gown!! Love working with these talented two!! Hope you enjoy! photos: Todd Ellis & random Iphone shots

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……& my favorite part of the night…surprise roses at the end of the runway from my babe & biggest supporter Will & his son Dravin! They are the best!

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Huge thanks to all the models, hair, mau & photographers!! I couldn’t have pulled it all together without this team!! What an amazing night!!

The Masonic Temple where An October Evening is held! Gorgeous building perfect for this once a year event!!

Viewed as the most powerful and sinister of the Disney Villains, Maleficent is the embodiment of evil!!! So of course this would be a character that I would love to recreate!! I was so excited when Julianna Janae Clay contacted me to custom make this for her Halloween costume!! When constructing this… I really wanted to bring a regal elegance to her!

I constructed the headpiece using a wire base, than paper mache to give it a little more structure. Covering the base of the headpiece with fabric and a braided trim…I used hair to sculpt around the horns giving them a nice shine with little texture!

The staff was made from a bamboo pole with wire twigs that I wrapped and twisted around. I really wanted a dark and twisty staff!! All that was left was attaching the amazing globe i found with metallic iridescent greens and bronze

I made a separate neck piece which I adorned with a little hand beading and some gorgeous black beaded appliques! The gown is made of black satin with an overlay of black sparkle mesh which is ruffled along all the edges of the four triangular tiers and up the leg slit. Embellished with beaded appliques and dangles along the shoulders.

We were so excited to shoot this creation and asked the amazingly talented Todd & Renee Keith!! Renee is also a master at many arts..so went to her for makeup as well! She did the airbrushing, makeup and photography for this shoot! Started with a light grayish, green color, then added smokey purple eye shadow, painted black eyebrows, and contoured some shadows with the airbrush. For her lips we used a dark reddish color which faded into a black liner. http://reneekeith.com/

Then the shoot!! It was amazing Here are some of the final edits and BTS!! Hope you enjoy!!

Come check out Maleficent on the runway featured at An October Evening Oct 20th 650 East South Temple SLC, UT!

Model: Julianna Janae Clay

Makeup/photography: Renee Keith

Photography: Todd Keith

“Zombie Ariel”

Kate Moir a SLC, UT based photographer had contacted me about modeling for a zombie series art show she is doing! Naturally I would say “Yes”!!! and how perfect it was when she asked if I would be Zombie Ariel from The Little Mermaid!!! I have always loved The Little Mermaid since I was a little girl Even now when little girls stare at my bright red hair, I tell them I am Ariel with my land legs!!! Heheh !! So i had a blast being able to add a little bit of my horror zombie-ness to my bright fantasy side! Kate did an amazing job with the makeup & got some awesome shots!!! Hope you enjoy!