The carousel in Schenley Plaza is more than a children's ride. It is the inspiration behind a fashion show.
Saturday's Madcap Masquerade Ball and Carousel Couture Fashion Show will feature dresses from 16 up-and-coming local designers who created apparel based on his or her interpretation of the carousel.
At a preview event earlier this week, we got a sneak peek at what you will see on the runway. One dress is made of newspaper, another features the Victorian Era of the carousel, a third is inspired by the horses of the carousel and a fourth represents one of the other animals, an ostrich.
They will all be unveiled during the "After 9" portion of the fourth annual ball, a zany Halloween party that will benefit the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. The catwalk will be under heated tents with clear sides, so guests can enjoy the illumination of the newly restored Mary E. Schenley Memorial Fountain. The light-up efforts of Pittsburgh 250's Festival of Lights also will shine over Schenley Plaza with the illumination of the Cathedral of Learning across the street.
"One of the most exciting things about holding Madcap Masquerade at Schenley Plaza is seeing what inspiration these talented designers have taken from the PNC Carousel," says Meg Cheever, president and chief executive officer of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. "The vibrant colors and shapes of the carousel animals should translate into some thrilling designs."
As an ode to her favorite carousel animal, the ostrich, designer Kiya Tomlin, wife of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, has designed a gown featuring jewels and ostrich feathers to evoke the beautiful mechanics of the carousel and its ornate and romantic, fantastical carvings.
"What is unique about this fashion show is it is all local designers," says show producer Tori Mistick, whose dress design was inspired by the circular motion of the carousel. "Each was asked to make one gown based on the carousel theme, and that way, they could concentrate their efforts on one gown. You should see how they have each incorporated the theme in their own way."
Eight of the dresses will be auctioned, and designers are willing to alter their work to fit the bidder. The proceeds will be split between the designer and the conservancy.
The idea behind a dress that is co-designed by Carnegie Mellon University juniors and Ohio natives Margaret Gerhart and Vanessa Koch is to support the conservancy's message of preserving the environment by using recycled materials such as newspaper, cardboard and plastic bags. Their appropriate tagline is Let's Get Trashed!
"We wanted to use as much natural material as we could," Gerhart says. "Newspaper is soft, and we thought the cardboard would be great for the bottom of the dress. We did use some fabric.
"We really wanted to be part of this because it gave us the opportunity to be as creative as we wanted."
The Victorian design of the carousel is what inspired Carl Williams Jr. of Cleveland, who recently graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He created an elaborately ruffled cream blouse and a fashionable high-waisted chocolate-brown silk skirt. He used a lot of stretch fabrics and woven twill tailoring.
"What I see when I look at the carousel is the Victorian era, which was a time when women were repressed, but we all know women are the foundation of fashion," he says. "I wanted to create feminine detail but also keep some of the men's influence. I really like this event because it allows me to be spontaneous with my creativity."
Designer Nicole Scarpone of Pittsburgh, whose line is dubbed Italian Made, created two outfits, inspired by the horses on the carousel. The first is a pristine champagne-colored, crepe satin gown with pearl detail, and a matching parasol with silk ribbons that is symbolic of the carousel. The other design is the polar opposite of the first: a form-fitting, risque ensemble in all black. Most of the pieces were hand-stitched.
"This event gives designers a totally creative outlet," Scarpone says. "It is a time for us to be able to create something that will entertain the people who come to the show. And then to be able to have someone bid on it, that would be very satisfying."
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