It feels weird, designing an outfit for what I think of as the Poster Girl for the Holiday season in the beginning of May. But I’ve got so many ideas for it, I can’t resist!
The Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker ballet has always been viewed as graceful, gorgeous, the epitome of the magical sugar world Clara finds herself in. So I was intrigued by Matthew Bourne’s vision, where Candyland is this toxically alluring realm, and the Sugar Princess is actually Clara’s rival. Here the Sugar Plum Fairy represents the dark side of sweets, it’s grosser aspects (it’s sticky texture, it’s artificial coloring in her hot pink gown.) It’s all so brilliantly reincarnated!
I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for the film Hansel and Gretel; Witch Hunters. The track ‘Don’t Eat the Candy’ is very chilling yet amusing with the sound effects of kids licking their fingertips.
Nikki Minaj is another inspiration for this character, with her vibrant color choices and girly rock frocks. When putting together my moodboard, I researched ‘Nikki Minaj Prom Dresses’, and was amazed with the results that came up! Pink was always the foundation shade for this look, and not that magenta shade I love, but a tackier pink-think that Barbie birthday cake you had when you were six. However, the ‘Plum’ aspect of the character calls for purple, which would add to the artificial coloring palette I want to invoke, suggesting all the food coloring used in the candy industry.
For my first sketch, I’d always envisioned using a lollipop swirl strip, looping around the bodice as if the dress is oozing off of the doll. But in the transition to the full length skirt, I remembered this Monster High dress design for Snow bite, how the top layer of the dress having this acidic dripping effect. That dripping effect would really present that sticky element. For the skirt, I’ve got a couple of things in mind, along the lines of candy wrappers being stuck on. Also I’ll be using pink and purple rhinestones to suggest that glittery detail in iced sugar.
I can’t wait to get started! It’s gaudy, tacky, yet whimsical and bright.
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