“What would a modern wizard wear?” Mother of London 2012.
Clothing designer Mother of London (previously on Coilhouse here and here, and many times in the print magazine) is getting ready to release a ready-to-wear line of clothing and an online shop. The new collection consists of the designs seen here, as well as limited-edition leggings and t-shirts that have not yet been photographed. The inspiration for this line, says designer Mildred Von Hildegard, comes from wizards. “What would a modern wizard wear?”
Much of the collection is unisex. “Gender plays a little bit too much role in the outside world,” says Mildred, “so I’m kind of dismissive of it [in my own work].” Some of the pieces are specifically cut for men or women, “but the men’s stuff in particular can be pulled over by either gender.” Like much of Mother of London’s past work, much of the clothing has a past-meets-present, out-of-time quality about it. There are feathered jackets, bad-ass biker-babe dresses with sleeves that resemble medieval suits of armor, skirts that look like they’re made out of a dozen belts, and wide-brimmed sorcerer’s hats. And if that wasn’t enough, Mildred is also working on a more elaborate, couture collection for 2012. No photos have been released, but Mildred refers to it as “Mother of London… on crack” and alludes to the fact that it’s highly tailored and detailed.
After the jump, more final images, concept sketches, and “making-of” shots from the new Mother of London collection. It’s amazing how much the concept drawings match the final pieces.
Models: Mal Love, Daniel Ribiat, Alexandra Matthews
Face: Jill Fogel
Photo: Allan Amato
A work-in-progress shot from the making of the Monkey Jacket, seen above. Mildred writes, “I built a clay sculpture over a mannequin and moulded the leather over it. Then I got a special effects expert, Jill Fogel, to help me hair punch the ‘skin'”.
December 22nd, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Sploooooooooge.
December 22nd, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I don’t buy it — actual wizards would want more practical designs with lots of pockets for charms, thaumaturgic ingredients, wands &c. Moreover, some of these outfits look like they’d limit arm movement, which would interfere with incantatory gestures, and the heeled shoes shown are inappropriate for many rituals (not to mention downright hazardous during expeditions to ancient tombs or remote places of Power.)
Also, “unisex”?! I’m a slender guy but I doubt my shape would fit any of those.
December 22nd, 2011 at 5:42 pm
December 22nd, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Ah, Jens, so many of your arguments can be rebutted with ‘magic.’
Impractical Footwear? MAGIC footwear. High Heels of Sure Footedness (+1 to Agility)
Pockets? One MAGIC pocket should be more than sufficient.
December 22nd, 2011 at 6:48 pm
I do so love Mother of London. It’s so D&D chic it hurts. Almost as much as typing that.
December 22nd, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Oh my god. That’s the perfect concept for an MoL editorial. TIGHT SHINY BLACK HAUTENESS + POLYHEDRAL DIE = MULTIPLE GOTHGASMZ
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Bullshit. There are no wizards that skinny.
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:54 pm
I see a mention of the men’s. And where might I find that for my eyeballs? There’s certainly not a lot here I could pull off…curious about the rest.
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:59 pm
@Diaghilev: Just because YOU’RE not skinny doesn’t mean you can forget all those literary wizards who toil at their alchemist’s benches and forget to eat.
Or, alternatively: You’re either implying that I’m fat or that I’m not a wizard. Which is it? Hmmm? I WILL slap you. In … twelve days or so. It’s coming.
December 23rd, 2011 at 12:22 am
May I just point out that there is a raging a wizard fashion debate happening up in here.
I am pleased.
December 23rd, 2011 at 1:59 am
December 23rd, 2011 at 1:59 am
HALP GUISE I CAN’T STOP MAKING MoL LOLS
December 23rd, 2011 at 2:26 am
Yay. :)
December 23rd, 2011 at 8:04 am
@Diaghilev – Ahem… Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander from the Sword of Truth series. That man is scraaawwwnnnyy, even though he eats everything in sight.
December 23rd, 2011 at 8:06 am
this is the best thread EVER. :goes to get her old character sheets:
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:12 am
love the Rickman lol…am I too ancient to put posters over my bed?
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:25 am
@Sam: and YOU seem to be implying that I am not a literary wizard. I have many wizard books!
WIZARD DUEL. BERKELEY. JANUARY 4. IT IS ON.
(incidentally, “fat wizard” gets ~33.7m hits on google whereas “skinny wizard” only gets 5.8)
PPS where are the dudes outfits : (
December 23rd, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Someone has finally made me some perfect clothes! Thank you. 93.
December 23rd, 2011 at 8:44 pm
In concur with many statements that only the waifish and slender gothboi wizard is suitable for these garments (though they do have some awesome “BEHOLD THE GLORY OF MY CHEST HAIR” potential).
I was looking forward to the androgynous wizard fashions myself, but I do think it falls a bit short for most of us mans.
Though I -would- wear that sleeveless open chested piece, which would totally show off the tattoo on my sternum (which is appropriately arcane looking) in a gloriously sexorific fashion. And the long gloves.
December 24th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
love love love the new stuff, mil! <3
and I LUFFS MER LOLS <3
December 24th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Gorge.
December 26th, 2011 at 7:17 am
MoL rolled a Nat 20 on these designs…
December 26th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Dear designer,
Please enter the “real” world where even wizards (male or female) do not wish to flash anyone as they are casting their spells.
Regards,
Wizard in training
December 28th, 2011 at 1:23 am
December 29th, 2011 at 8:19 am
Lovely, graceful, badass. Wizard or not, it would be nice to see more of these outfits about town. Not on everyone, mind you, or it would become commonplace and I would lose interest. But just here and there, enough to make the viewer gasp in delight and awe and whisper, “What was that?” as they disappeared around the corner into a misty alleyway.
Whoa, okay. See what her designs doooo to me?
January 2nd, 2012 at 3:03 pm
When, when, when? Ms. Von has kept us holding our breath for at least 5 years now!! Ack.
January 2nd, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Thank god! I have been waiting to actually own some of her clothing for years now. Its about time that she makes money off her own designs, god knows people have been ripping her off for years. I have no comment on the wizardry but this is amazing.
January 5th, 2012 at 10:10 am
[…] I ask myself this all the time, What would the modern wizard wear? […]