'You can never have too much sparkle': Stylist known for his incredible Mardi Gras costumes spends hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to bring his striking creations to life
Australian stylist Joshua Heath is known for his keen eye for fashion and is one of the most sought after corporate stylists in the country.
But when Sydneys Mardi Gras comes around Mr Heath swaps his suit for sparkles and wows thousands with his spectacular costumes. .
Ive been designing and making costumes for the best part of 20 years, I was a professional dancer for 15 of those so elaborate costumes were my life, Mr Heath told FEMAIL.
Last year my costume took four months to create, that is by far the longest Ive ever spent on one costume and the quickest was Green Witch in 2016 which I sewed together 48 hours before the parade.
Australian stylist Joshua Heath is known for his keen eye for fashion and is one of the most sought after corporate stylists in the country.
When Sydneys Mardi Gras comes around Australian stylist Joshua Heath swaps his suit for sparkles and wows thousands with his spectacular costumes.
Last year my costume took four months to create, that is by far the longest Ive ever spent on one costume, he said. Mr Heath starts planning his costume for the following year the day after the parade ends.
As I dissemble my costume from the night before I think about what worked, what didnt, how I can improve the next one and ultimately make it bigger and better for the following year, he said.
In 2017 my aim was to create a story. Our theme was Happily Ever After and I wanted to evoke a Guiding Light, a beacon of hope, leading the way towards equality. .
My costume was white and silver and adorned in crystals and lights. The four guys that walked beside me were the change in society, dressed in black with crystal crowns they wore bright blue contact lenses the same as mine.
They were a sign they had seen the Light, and a change was coming..
In 2017 my aim was to create a story. Our theme was Happily Ever After and I wanted to evoke a Guiding Light, a beacon of hope, leading the way towards equality, he said .
I am very resourceful and try to re-use as much as possible from past costumes but one thing I dont skimp on is quality crystals, you cant beat Swarovski and they last, Mr Heath said.
Although he does a lot himself, the costumes dont come cheap. Mr Heath said as he was wearing very little he wanted his body jewellery to be epic.
Emanuel from House of Emmanuele designed and made incredible pieces for me to wear with Swarovski crystals. His creations have been worn by Jlo, Madonna, Beyonce and Mariah Carey so I felt extremely honoured to be wearing his designs, he said.
Although he does a lot himself, the costumes dont come cheap.
I am very resourceful and try to re-use as much as possible from past costumes but one thing I dont skimp on is quality crystals, you cant beat Swarovski and they last, Mr Heath said.
In 2016, Mr Heath went as a devil and did all of his costume and make up himself . When the night arrives, Mr Heath spends hours on prep to ensure it all goes perfectly.
Joshua Heaths top tips for standing out * Lots of quality crystals * Lights, once the sun goes down bring your look to life * More crystals * The bigger the better, create a look people will see coming * Crystals, seriously you can never have too many * Stay hydrated, Its a massive day .
Some of the crystals like the large centre stone on my headpiece last year were from a costume I created 10 years ago for a show on a cruise line.
Many of the crystals on my briefs were old necklaces from various costumes over the years, cut, twisted and re-deigned to created something new. .
Last year my costume was by far the most expensive, lets just say it was pushing well into the thousands. My glitter boots were $190, I then stuck over $250 worth of crystals to them. You can never have too much sparkle..
When the night arrives, Mr Heath spends hours on prep to ensure it all goes perfectly. Last year I was so physically exhausted I could hardly walk home, he said (pictured).
Emanuel from House of Emmanuele designed and made incredible pieces for me to wear with Swarovski crystals. His creations have been worn by Jlo, Madonna, Beyonce and Mariah Carey so I felt extremely honoured to be wearing his designs, he said.
My make up takes at least four hours. This is largely due to the fact I have no idea what Im going to create until I start painting, all I know is the colour palate Im going to use, Mr Heath said.
Overall it takes me eight hours to get myself together, from a full body shave, to tanning and getting into costume.
I needed the help of two people to dress me last year, we then discovered my costume was so large it was a struggle to get out the door of my house and we needed to dissemble parts of my backpack so I would fit..
Despite this, the final look is never about comfort and while Mr Heath has learned this the hard way in the past, it will never stop him.
The quickest was Green Witch in 2016 which I sewed together 48 hours before the parade, he said . My make up takes at least four hours.
This is largely due to the fact I have no idea what Im going to create until I start painting, all I know is the colour palate Im going to use, Mr Heath said.
Last years costume weighed over 10 kilos, housed 55 meters of lights, four battery packs and was all balanced on seven inch spiked heels as I tried to navigate through bright blue contact lenses hindering my vision, and it was worth every moment, he said.
How I walk in heels for so long is the most asked question I get, and to put it simply I just suck it up! .
In 2015 I was wearing six inch heels, tripped and tore a ligament in my ankle while in the holding area before the parade started.
I didnt say anything to anyone at the time, I walked the entire parade, then home before taking my heels off.
This year is all about CHER for me, I dont want to miss her show! When I do the parade I dont attend the party as Im physically exhausted so this year I will watch the parade before heading to the party, he said.
I attended a Mardi Gras boat party last weekend which more than made up of my lack of costume this weekend. The theme for the boast party was mystical creatures and I went as a goat, he said .
Needless to say I spent several hours in emergency and the next month or so on crutches. When Im in costume I become the character, its a show and Im back on stage. .
The show needs to go on and when you hear 500,000 people cheering along Oxford Street, the discomfort of any costume quickly disappears. Last year I was so physically exhausted I could hardly walk home..
Mr Heath is also prepared for fashion emergencies.
I sewed a small pouch into my briefs each year to hold body glue in case my eyelashes came loose and some spare crystals. I dont carry anything else, I dont have anywhere to put it, he said.
Mr Heath said he is as excited to show his costumes to people as they are to see them. Mr Heath is pictured at a pride parade in Spain .
My neighbour sits out the front of her house with her friends each year and waits for me to come out on the day - last year there where cheers and screams, Mr Heath said.
My neighbour sits out the front of her house with her friends each year and waits for me to come out on the day - last year there where cheers and screams, Mr Heath said.
Ive participated in other pride parades around the world and have had people come and say theyve seen me at the Sydney Mardi Gras, The power of social media I guess.
This year Ill be attending Amsterdam pride, so watch this space and follow my on Instagram.. This year, Mr Heath debuted his costume early as he is not walking in the parade.
This year is all about CHER for me, I dont want to miss her show! When I do the parade I dont attend the party as Im physically exhausted so this year I will watch the parade before heading to the party, he said.
In 2013, Mr Heath went as a sailor to Mardi gras . Behind all the crystals, lights and makeup there is a serious part to why I march. Equality, he said (pictured in 2011).
Of course I will be wearing a costume to watch the parade, perhaps just not as elaborate as previous years. I did start creating this years costume sometime ago before I knew Cher was performing, luckily it didnt go to waste. .
I attended a Mardi Gras boat party last weekend which more than made up of my lack of costume this weekend.
The theme for the boast party was mystical creatures and I went as a goat purely because I wanted to wear horns my friend Miguel from @thy_kingdom_come created. .
They were 3D printed and adorned thousands with Swarovski crystals, the necklaces from my briefs last year were used to create a new mask. Despite all the prep, Mr Heath does it all for one key reason.
Behind all the crystals, lights and makeup there is a serious part to why I march, he said. Equality. .
For more infomation >> Chuck Woolery reacts to California's quality of life ranking - Duration: 4:20. 
For more infomation >> Cavuto on Business 03/03/18 10AM | March 03, 2018 Breaking News - Duration: 35:49. 
For more infomation >> North Korea news report on Amnesty's illegal funding - Duration: 0:53. 
For more infomation >> WBZ News Update For March 3 - Duration: 2:46. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét