He a t h e r Ho r ro r
Th e E n d u r i n g I n f l u e n ce O f V i c to r i a n Acce s s o r i e s by Ashanty Rivera
Heather Horror is a fashion designer who specializes in latex couture. She has an impressive resume, having worked with celebrities like Beyoncé and Lil Nas X. Horror emulates the dark and stylish aspects of Victorian goth with her luxury latex and oddities brand, Deathstetics. She strives to achieve the aesthetic of “necrophiliac at a funeral” and designs her pieces for any occasion. She says, “our decadent drapings can be worn anywhere: from the vampire ball to the club to your music video shoot and more.” Why does the Victorian era appeal to you when creating your signature latex pieces? Everything just feels so luxurious. The more extravagant the clothing, the higher the class. Deathstetics is a luxury latex line, so that adds to our cohesive branding. Everything from the architecture, fashion, literature— it's all so sophisticated and inspiring. All of the shapes, silhouettes, textures—aesthetically pleasing and well made. A time before mass production, which relates specifically to my brand as well, as each garment is made 100% custom by hand. Victorian fashion has such a variety of styles and attributes, so it's so easy to integrate into a lot of things. And then, of course, our line correlates with the mourning traditions. Do you have a favorite accessory from the era?
The Victorian era has been the inspiration for some of the most coveted designer pieces, such as Vivienne Westwood’s pearl choker, Alexander McQueen’s corsets, and some of Betsey Johnson’s vintage jewelry and handbags. Fashion is forever, and the accessories from the Victorian era are undoubtedly timeless. Here are two up-and-coming fashion business personalities on how Victorian accessories influence their work.
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The Lexington Line • A/W 21 • vol 8 • no 1
I love all of it, but I have to say I have always been partial to corsets! They give you an incredible shape, and they are beneficial for keeping proper posture to prevent back problems... sexy and sensible? Yes, please! My favorite piece from your brand is the Entombed - Latex Dress. I love the coffin shape cutout and the puffy sleeves! Thank you! I have to say that is my favorite piece from my line as well! That design was the first one I came up with and it was what got me most excited about creating my brand and seeing what I could do with it. I see on your website you have done freelance fabricating outfits for personalities such as Cardi B, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé. Tell me about these experiences.
