Fashion Goes Down the Rabbit’s Hole
Lewis Carroll’s madly inventive Alice in Wonderland has long been a source of inspiration for artists and designers alike. Annie Leibovitz shot a breath-taking editorial photo shoot for Vogue in 2003 based on the novel. The recent release of Tim Burton’s twisted take on Alice has spurred a renewed obsession with the “curiouser and curiouser” tale. The wardrobe in the movie is wonderful, from the Mad Hatter’s masterful creations to the Queen of Hearts’ heavily bejeweled Edwardian frock. Fashion’s obsession with Carroll is really no surprise–after all, the story in itself is all about fantasy and imagination. Obviously, fashion and Wonderland are a match made in heaven.
The Mad Hatter was definitely on the mind of John Galliano, as his runway paid an ode to the humorous, wacky character, while Alice+Olivia presented shimmery waistcoats, more jaunty hats and flirty sun-dresses fit for a Mad Tea Party. Stella McCartney is designing a line of jewelry based on Alice in Wonderland, and you can’t forget the infamous, Madonna-donned, Louis Vuitton bunny ears–the white rabbit, anyone? Needless to say, you don’t need to look to high-end designers for some Alice in your life. Many stores are stocked with floppy hairpieces, over-sized pocket watches and tea party frocks to satisfy your needs.
