For my second project I knew I wanted to make some crazy looking costume outfits. I made the outfits microcosms of three different futures:

• Distopian Ball Gown
  
  In this future Earth has been taken over by a group of powerful aristocrats that slowly suck all the goodness out of the planet and eventually move to the moon to carry out their lavish partying lifestyles without being around poor starving folk. The rest of the Earth is left polluted and starving and forced to work harder and harder to support the lifestyles of the Lunarcrats. This outfit is for a Lunarcrat woman going to a Lunarball.
  
  Inspiration for this outfit came from a Utada Hikaru music video, balloon fashion, and some paintings of french aristocrats wearing astronaut helmets I saw online somewhere but could never find again. I found the bodice at the Leopard Lounge in Houston some years ago and I made the skirt and balloon pieces. Adrienne kindly modeled this outfit for me at presentations.
  
  
• Tie-dyed Rags for a Sustainable Future:
  
  When faced with issues of resource depletion and poor distribution of wealth, the people of Earth pledge to work toward renewable resources and communal well-being. As the global community works together more and more, borders and other poltiical divisions break down. The world's populations form different sort of anarchist-type societies and sustainable specialized eco-villages. This outfit is a for an eco-villager foraging different resources.
  
  Inspirations for this outfit came from my friends in the eco-village reading group, the hippie scenes in Across the Universe. I found the tie-dye outfit at Treasure City Thrift. Brandon lent me the solar panel and I found the Easter basket in my apartment after my friend stayed over for a few nights. Laura kindly modeled this outfit for me.
  
  
• Traveling Gear for Universe Wanderers
  
  In the year 2035 the Earth is approached by several different groups of intelligent species. These aliens take over three of Earth's oceans and 60% of the land, mostly in former Africa and South America. The human nations are divided in their approach to the alien races. Some groups are wiped out entirely through human and alien war. Some groups learn to work with the other species, learning their technology. As the years pass humans take on space travel technologies and begin to leave Earth, searching for alternate habitats. The human race eventually is scattered among thirteen galaxies. Fragmentation of the species, disease, and alien attacks leads to the eventual dissapearance of communal societies. Only a few thousand individuals then exist, traveling and wandering about the universe searching for community or some other fulfillment.
  
  Inspiration from this outfit come from several different science fiction movies (Star Wars, the Fifth Element) and Kara Saun's fashion show at NY fashion week. I made the hat, toolbelt, and boot covers and bought the white leggings and top at Target. Priscilla kindly modeled this outfit.

Music credits: Au Revoir Simone and Of Montreal

Special thanks to: Brandon Wiley and Jo-Anne Somera.