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Category:
Costumes and Masks

12th century reliquary that looks like the Aurora shooter

I was looking through a book of art history when I came across this photo of a reliquary of St. Vitale, made around 1170. A reliquary is a container for holding sacred relics, such as the bones or body parts of saints. This reliquary, made out of bronze with encrusted enamel, held pieces of what were supposed to be St. Vitale's skull. The skull pieces "could be placed in (and removed from) the container through a concealed opening at the rear of the sculpted head." To be honest, I'm not sure which St. Vitale this is supposed to represent, because there are a couple of them.

But what really struck me, as soon as I saw the photo, was how much the reliquary, with its creepy staring eyes, resembled James Holmes, the Aurora shooter. Compare for yourself!

Posted By: Alex | Date: Sat Jan 12, 2013 | Comments (4)
Category: Art, Costumes and Masks, Death

How to Apply Blackface


Denison's make-up guide (1926) was a catalogue of the various products sold by Denison, but it also offered detailed instructions on how to use their products. Below is their guide for "blacking up" using their Superfine Minstrel Black make-up paint. There were similar how-to's for other ethnic types such as the 'Ghetto Jew,' the Japanese, Irishman, Chinaman, etc. See more images from the catalogue at UVA's online exhibit, Uncle Tom's Cabin & American Culture.





Posted By: Alex | Date: Wed Jan 09, 2013 | Comments (8)
Category: Clowns, Costumes and Masks, Racism, 1920's

Weird Contact Lenses

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Find these two, and many more, for sale at this site.
Posted By: Paul | Date: Sun Jan 06, 2013 | Comments (3)
Category: Body Modifications, Costumes and Masks, Technology, Eyes and Vision

Everything Changes



Make up your mind! Or not!
Posted By: Paul | Date: Tue Nov 06, 2012 | Comments (4)
Category: Costumes and Masks, Fashion, Hair Styling, Music, Performance Art, Parody

Follies of the Mad Men #189

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Ad campaign voted most likely to result in scatological jokes.

Also: see the "person" in the Persian Siamese cat "costume" in the top panel? Note how the shape of the cat head does not conform to the shapes of the human heads on display. The unnatural angle of the neck. And the cat is looking with its living "costume" eyes!

Plainly, this is a encoded warning against aliens among us!
Posted By: Paul | Date: Tue Sep 18, 2012 | Comments (15)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Costumes and Masks, Inebriation and Intoxicants, Excrement, 1950's, Alcohol

Anime Makeup



Never too early to start thinking about your Halloween look!
Posted By: Paul | Date: Tue Jul 24, 2012 | Comments (3)
Category: Cosmetics, Costumes and Masks, Comics, Asia

Devil Girl from Mars



If you're intrigued by the excerpt, watch the full film in the lower window!


Hitler and Mussolini Masks

Masks of dictators (as well as various other celebrities) could be purchased from the Johnson Smith Catalog back in the 30s and 40s. (Apologies to Paul for encroaching on his Johnson Smith series.) But what I found interesting was not only that they were sold, but that there are also images taken by photographer William Vanderson showing kids wearing them.





Posted By: Alex | Date: Tue Jun 12, 2012 | Comments (8)
Category: Costumes and Masks, Politics

Inflatable Latex Costume

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My eyes--oh God, my eyes! What is this creation supposed to signify? Could it possibly represent a glimpse of our post-apocalyptic future, when we must wear such outfits to protect us from the despoiled environment, while we masquerade among our new rulers, mutant equine kangaroos from outer space?

Whatever the answer, you can get yours here.
Posted By: Paul | Date: Mon Jan 02, 2012 | Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Costumes and Masks, Public Indecency, Fictional Monsters

Hollywood Party



Dig those telephone wire costumes!
Posted By: Paul | Date: Mon Oct 24, 2011 | Comments (3)
Category: Costumes and Masks, Movies, Music, 1930's
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All original content in posts is Copyright © 2008 by the author of the post, either Alex Boese ("Alex"), Paul Di Filippo ("Paul"), or Chuck Shepherd ("Chuck"). All rights reserved. The banner illustration at the top of this page is Copyright © 2008 by Rick Altergott.