For a long time I had imagined turning a red corset into a can of Campbell's Soup. Maybe it was all those Neo-Burlesque shows I was seeing in Coney Island. When Halloween 2012 rolled around I decided to go for it. 

I felt that the concept of the costume could go in two directions: dressing up as flu remedies or dressing up as Andy Warhol's artwork. Maybe I'll create a tissue box hat and electric blanket skirt one day in the future, but this time I went with Warhol.

 

I'm not even a huge fan of his work, but in researching the costume I came to appreciate it more. He did a lot for commercial art and made graphic design more accessible and put it on the radar of many people who would otherwise have no interest.

 

Below: Here is the piece that inspired the corset (and the costume). The plain red corset was purchased from Orchard Corsets for $18 on clearance (it does have boning and lacing, but is a "fashion corset" instead of a waist cincher). The detailing was created with a combination of felt and paint.

Above: Here is the piece that inspired the front panel of the skirt. The skirt was two separate pieces by Warhol.

Below: Here is the piece that inspired the back panel of the skirt.

Scraps of corduroy and felt were hand-stitched (I didn't have a sewing machine in Brooklyn!) and some paint details were added.

Below: Here is the piece that inspired the cartigan. I bought a yellow cartigan from Forever 21, cut out a felt cow shape, painted the details in and stitched it on the back.

Above: Here is the piece that inspired the bag. The bag was also felt and corduroy.

Above: Here is the piece that inspired the make-up and hair. The face make-up was the most fun part. The colors don't look right in this photo, but my face was Pepto Bismol pink and my eyelids were turquoise!

 

To top everything off, I made a Velvet Underground pendant. Here is the piece that inspired the necklace.