Caravansary Outfits & Accessories

[Ashtar]

Let’s talk themed outfits!

It’s early, but early means more time to think and brain storm and prep and cut up old things and turn them into new things! This year’s theme is pretty much suited for wearing Burner chic in general, but I always love having at least one really on-theme piece.

After a bit of poking around the internet, I’m super excited about putting together some awesome traveling circus punk outfits and accessories. I’m looking forward to: high-neck clown collars, asymmetrical makeup, high-waisted shorts with rainbow suspenders, and making an epic patchwork out of a used tuxedo tailcoat and sari scraps.

Is anyone else planning on-theme playawear for 2014? What pieces are you most excited for? What’s your biggest challenge?

[Ugly Dougly]

What do you have in mind?

[unjonharley]

for on theme.. A theme facade for the shelter... A trike dressed for desert travel with a sedan chair attached.. For custom, vintage european traveler to the desert a.k.a. steampunk.. Have it all in the junk trunk already....

[Sunbeam56]

clown costumes? Are you kidding? Caravansary? Clowns?
Ummm... I'm having trouble with this.
Self expression --- yes. Self reliance --- yes... But Clowns?

please submit an essay on how this fits into the theme of the Silk Road. Or why you disregarded the theme. Minimum 50 words. Due by Monday. Be sure to indicate the class room and your name on the upper right hand corner of the paper.

[Eric]

clown costumes? Are you kidding? Caravansary? Clowns?
Ummm... I'm having trouble with this.
Self expression --- yes. Self reliance --- yes... But Clowns?

The OP is rather brilliantly broadening the sense to caravans in general, and Olde Tyme Circuses and Carnivals usually traveled by caravan - either wagons, or later, trains. Clowns would be part of both those groups. Hopefully more people get away from doing just vague "Arabesque" things as well. Like most themes, you can really subvert it if you think about them for a bit.

This is also why I hew to the eternal theme of "burn shit and blow shit up" - I don't have to worry if I fit a "theme".

[oscillator]

Did someone say clowns????



viewtopic.php?f=364&t=68296

[Sunbeam56]

That I like a lot...
Way to go Osci!!!

[EspressoDude]

Great painting Oscillator !! very Killbuck-ish

Eric; I love your motto, fits my philosophy exactly
"This is also why I hew to the eternal theme of "burn shit and blow shit up" - I don't have to worry if I fit a "theme"."

may I borrow it?... actually I think it is a FoxFur motto, one year he camped with us and put out about 200 T shirts with that stenciled on them

[Ratty]

Here you go Adri, 2,000 easy to make costumes. All of them can be 'on theme' if your mind twists it enough. (Pardon me if I'm repeating myself and pointing you towards the same link you've already seen).

[Eric]

Eric; I love your motto, fits my philosophy exactly
"This is also why I hew to the eternal theme of "burn shit and blow shit up" - I don't have to worry if I fit a "theme"."

may I borrow it?... actually I think it is a FoxFur motto, one year he camped with us and put out about 200 T shirts with that stenciled on them

I started it a number of years ago (at least 2009, I don't remember exactly when the original post was) - the original line, in a discussion of what the theme would be for the coming year, was "It will be some sort of incredible over-worded hippie prattle, attempting to disguise the Eternal Theme: Burn Shit And Blow Shit Up." Since then I've seen it used by Danger Ranger (the ultimate compliment!), goathead used it in his sig-line, FoxFur used it, and I'll reference it at least a few times every year. It's part of the internets now.

edit: correction, I first used it in a post in Dec 2012: "The only theme I have ever followed is "blow shit up and burn stuff", I see no reason to change."

[theCryptofishist]

Yeah, even when I like the theme, I'm not convinced it really has anything to do with the event.


I do love the way people subvert the theme. Like two of my favorite swag pieces are from the same year: "Fault of Kevin" and "Pole Vault to Heaven." Not super earthshaking or anything, but nice little digs, both of them.

And yes, the prose is awful, every year.

I did figure out why the theme was so late. If we'd known in December, camels would have been stolen off the lawns of so many churches...

[Ashtar]

clown costumes? Are you kidding? Caravansary? Clowns?
Ummm... I'm having trouble with this.
Self expression --- yes. Self reliance --- yes... But Clowns?

Ha! Carnies travel by caravan, and you bet there were performers on the silk road.

Last year my outfit/costume theme was "peacock", so nothing to do with the overall theme, but I like having a unifying idea in mind to help chose what to buy/make. This year, I feel like the theme lends itself particularly to costuming, however, I couldn't help thinking...



So I wanted to come up with an idea (or several) that wouldn't make me cringe. Thus, circuspunk.

unjohn- I love your take on the theme, too.

Ratty- thanks for the link! Here's my circus-specific board: http://www.pinterest.com/apolymorph/circuspunk-nomad/

[oscillator]

Great painting Oscillator !! very Killbuck-ish

Umm, that it is because it is Killbuck's - or at least embellished by Killbuck as only he can do.

Didn't intent to take credit!!! - thought the link to Sideshow would suffice.

[dragonpilot]

I'm just going to recycle my seatless chaps into the theme...like I've done for every theme.

[TT120]

Since I don't really care what you people think of me, (except maybe Savannah and Fishy) I have a generic Arab Nomad costume I will be wearing.

[unjonharley]

Since I don't really care what you people think of me, (except maybe Savannah and Fishy) I have a generic Arab Nomad costume I will be wearing.

In my best Monty BurnsExcellent

[unjonharley]

punk train.jpg

The Brit's were alway building RR in other countries in victorian times..

[theCryptofishist]

It gave them something to do.

[unjonharley]

They gone there asses kicked for something to do..

[nikki_lareinepetite]

Here you go Adri, 2,000 easy to make costumes. All of them can be 'on theme' if your mind twists it enough. (Pardon me if I'm repeating myself and pointing you towards the same link you've already seen).

YOU ARE A GODDESS!!! I adore you for posting this, and how you give quick tips on how to easily accomplish these things. You are AMAZING!! Thanks for helping a newbie burner

[nikki_lareinepetite]

So! I've found LOTS of cool ideas for burning man garb during the day, but I was hoping for some advice on cool stuff to wear at night to look rad and stay warm! Thoughts, What worked, What didn't, Go-to necessities etc... Share the knowledge!!!

[trilobyte]

The knowledge is already being shared. Spend as much time as you like actually exploring the boards - this place is packed with amazing ideas and inspiration. If you only focused on the stuff you felt represented the very top 1% cream of the crop, you'd never have the time to make it all, or the cash to go out and buy it all.

I think others have said it, but I'll echo anyways because I think it's well worth pointing out. The theme is only a guideline, or a jumping off point if you will. Embrace it as much or as little as you like, and don't feel like you'll lose some kind of cool points if what you choose to wear isn't somehow connected to the theme (and vice versa). The possibilities are endless, and as long as you're happy there really aren't any wrong answers.