Happy Snowdown: Intergalactic, the 39th anniversary of Durango’s premier town-wide winter costume festival!
This week, we offer a look at some costumes from my shop, Sideshow. I like garments that can veer with versatility between costume-wear and normal clothing. The strangeness of some vintage silhouettes and materials, combined with redesigned and embellished pieces and new accessories make for a fun costume where one’s personal style and aesthetic can still be seen. I promote costume pieces that can be worn again as party and festival styles, another costume, or even as intriguing daywear.
Next year’s Snowdown theme is Sports, so get your creative, glimmering, avant-garde Intergalactic freak on while you can. Here are some ideas:
Rocket Science! A white shirt with bright graphics evokes a cartoony, “Futurama”-style rocket scientist. Retro 1960s/’80s square “safety” frames with a biohazard-patched silver fanny pack and white jeans takes you into a groovy laboratory of the future. Do your hair nerd-slick, mad-scientist-wild, or pop out of the airlock in a space helmet. Top with a lab coat or a brightly colored puffy vest. This look could be combined with alien makeup or mask – who said all scientists were human?
Space Cowboy! For this western snap shirt, I fabric-painted drawings of Saturn and moons on the front and back yokes. Add a metallic bolo tie or a galaxy-printed bandanna. A raygun belt buckle tops star-stamped ’70s slim-cut trousers. Add silver spray-painted cowboy boots, a lasso, and you’re ready for bucking alien broncos. The shirt would be fun to wear this summer to a festival and re-rock the star pants (from Sideshow’s Elvis Knievel collection) for a funky disco party or on a day when you’re feeling particularly badass.
The Lady Adventurer! This woman cruises the galaxy like a boss. Turbotron helmet customized with flameball patches is worn with spiral X ray goggles. The ’90s gold-striped top is layered over a vintage ’60s black lamé turtleneck and steampunk-style strappy belt with star buttons. Vintage fabric arm gauntlets are layered again with snakeskin leather unisex cuffs. The pants are suede-fronted leggings and the boots are shiny patent leather 1960s go-go boots.
Alien-bright! Space wear isn’t always metallic, shiny fabrics. This outfit is Intergalactic-cute by-way-of the 1960s and ’70s with an orange and green scheme. Weird sunglasses can be worn instead of goggles, the gold headband has vintage jewels, or wear alien antennae. The orange and white top’s odd print seems alien-inspired and the jumper has an action-heroine look with patches added on. Shiny belts, green and silver flared cuffs, neon fishnet mitts (borrowed back from last year’s Snowdown) and gold leather boots launch this look into style space!
Heather Narwid owns and operates Sideshow, a vintage and modern clothing store for men and women, located in northeast Durango at 208 County Road 250. Sideshow is open 10-6 Tuesdays through Saturdays. Find Sideshow on Facebook and on Instagram @Sideshow411Vintage.
