"With his infectious laugh and creative use of human hair, March became a star of "Project Runway's" fourth season. "Cry-Baby" producer Elan McAllister loved his clothes, and when the series aired a photo from his application portfolio, she knew she had to meet him.
The picture featured March dressed as Tracy Turnblad, the lead character in John Waters' movie "Hairspray." And it just so happens "Cry-Baby" is the latest Waters film to get the Broadway treatment. "
"I figured he could design something beautiful that still captured the spirit of the show," McAllister says. At their first meeting, she said she wanted to look glamorous at the theater and flamboyant at the after-party.
In response, March blended goth colors and loads of safety pins with a wrap that tastefully conceals the flair. "She's a bit of a wild child, but she also has to be sitting in the theater during the show, and meet with celebrities and cameras," he says. "So this is sleek and sophisticated with a bit of a twist."
March says McAllister was a "fantastic" client, though not everyone who calls him is ideal. "A lot of times, people are simply interested in seeing me because I was on television," he says. "They have this impression of me as a magical unicorn that has stepped out of the TV."
He adds, "Those are the requests that aren't interesting to me. You get a feel for whether a person is really interested in your work."
(Click on thumbnail for larger image)
The dress is nice. Not spectacular or anything, but nice enough. He really goes for that goth thing, doesn't he? We have to wonder how comfortable such a dress would be for sitting in the theater, though.
[Photos: Countess/WireImage - Screencap: Project RunGay]
57 comments:
Okay
I was wondering if the midriff was see-through. Thr original pic I saw was too small to tell if it was or just a corset
I agree not bad but very fitting for the tone of the evening.
Frank
The dress is really pretty. I'm glad Chris is doing well.
yay for Chris! I think as long as the safety pins don't pop open, it would be a comfortable dress. The top's a little on the "double boob sack" side for my tastes, but he's got a motif and he's working it.
"The picture featured March dressed as Tracy Turnblad"
Hmmm...I would have guessed Totie Fields.
--GothamTomato
P.S.- Nice article.
Ack! Is her breast exposed on the photo with Chris? Cute, a little bit of daring without offending anyone, except the left breast.
It's a cute dress. Congrats, Chris!
It's nice to see PR designers dressing celebrities. It helps the show gain more credibility in the fashion industry and it's an important marketing tool for the designers.
And BTW, the dress for Elan McAlliater: UGH!
Seriously, that ill-fitting sack is so hideous, it looks like it was made by SweetP.
It is just simply awful.
--GothamTomato
The overall effect is rather elegant, I thought.
But what really struck me was that there wasn't any styling with it. No jewelry? At all? Really?
Hmm. Love SissyBear, but do not like this dress!
The breast musettes are not particularly appealing, especially since it looks like one of them is trying to escape! And a necklace or bracelet for accessories wouldn't have killed her...
Hope he breaks free from the goth thing soon. Chris, show us what you've got!
Terrible, terrible dress. You can do better Sissybear!
I like the idea of safety pins on a dress. If a seam pops open, just undo one of those pins and pin it closed. Ditto the hem.
Now, if he could only sew a flask into the interior somewhere...those premieres would be much more bearable!
A little underwhelming. If *I* were to have a Chris March dress I would want a wig and the whole 9 yards.
There are a few things about the fit and design on the dress that are a little troubling. The with of the halter straps at the neck are too wide, I dont care for the skirt gathering at the waist on such a non-supportive bodice, and the body of the halter does not wrap far enough, it appears to stop at the sideseam and that is just not enough to hold it in place. That is why her breast is exposed in the pic with Chris.
I don't hate it though. Really.
~~~~~~~~
By the way, I myself am working on a Prom dress for my neighbor. It is brown and the girl is a little fullish in the bum (sound familiar?). I will post a picture later when I finish it and with her permission one with her wearing it.
As an old goth chick from way back, I have to say I rather like the dress. It isn't something I would necessarily wear myself, but if the client loves it - as she obviously does - then that's good enough for me.
I'm certainly glad to see Chris getting the exposure and the work. He *almost* makes me want to wear leopard print. :-)
Yay for Sissybear! While the dress wasn't particularly boob friendly if McAllister raised her arm (like in the photo of her with Chris), she does look awfully pretty. She should, however, make a note to try taping her titsen into place. That's what I'd do. Of course, I'd have to use a case of packing tape and get the whole shebang approved by the planning commission before I did anything...hmmm. Perhaps I've overshared.
Unfortunately, the musical version of "Cry Baby", itself, could not be more of a bore. Whether the dress was torture to sit in at the theater is debatable. The show, however, definitely was torture to sit through.
her boob is sliding out of its harness! and i hate that look of the open middrift. so gross.
I'd take this dress over the Ramilicious crapfest that Heidi was wearing in the pics the other day. At least this has sophistication and wit, and the fit is still superior to that draped napkin Ms Klum was almost wearing.
A little too thick around her neck, but it's a cute dress and she's clearly happy wearing it.
I LOVE IT. CHRIS ROCKS!!!!!
I wondered about the comfort issue as well, And after the show was over would she stand up to leave and have little pink marks all over her midriff from where the saftey pins were digging in?
It doesn't look uncomfortable to me, at least not in that sense--but I'd not be comfortable if the bottoms of my boobs were visible in a theater. Except for that, though, I like it a lot!
Who cares if her boob is showing, these are theater people attending a premiere, not a PTA meeting.
I think he did a great job. It looks elegant, and just different enough. I wish it wasn't bare in the back, but kudos to him for keeping it simple and straightforward. It doesn't even look goth to me; you probably have to look twice to realize those are safety pins.
A bit too costume-y but I guess that's what they were going for. The good news is that Sissy Bear is out there being celebrated as an artist.
I love it, it's better than those plain boring dresses Rami or Nick have designed for the red carpet. At least this one gives you something to talk about.
Chris is a magical unicorn!
Chris isn't as sweet as you boys think he is, and I'll leave it at that.
Great news! I love to read about Sissy Bear : )
The dress is beautiful and she looks amazing.
Anonymous said...
Unfortunately, the musical version of "Cry Baby", itself, could not be more of a bore. Whether the dress was torture to sit in at the theater is debatable. The show, however, definitely was torture to sit through.
Really? Oh, that's a shame. I love the 1990 movie version with Johnny Depp and fabulous Traci Lords.
I like it - it seems to have suited her. It looks like the safety pins are in front, separated from the back, so unless she kept her hands crossed over her waist the entire show, I can't see how it would be uncomfortable or leave marks. Accessories? He could have made her a matching safety pin bracelet!!
The dress did need a little more boob support and better fit in that area, but was otherwise okay. The safety pins were a whimsical touch and I doubt they were any more uncomfortable when sitting down than a dress with a row of buttons down the back. I also liked it a lot better than the Rami dress Heidi wore.
kitschtrain - the Cry-Baby musical does have some kick ass choreogrpahy going for it. We saw it last week. Story is weak, songs are a bit too generic, the leads are pretty & competent but not shooting off a lot of star wattage. But the dancing was terrific and a few of the supporting actors were excellent. It was a diverting but far from inspiring evening. If you had an interest in the show, I'd say go and you'll probably find something to like. But I wouldn't pay full price for tickets. If there aren't discounts now, there will be soon.
Thank you, Agnes! I thought she was looking a little, ah, saggy too. It happens, gravity calls. But you don't have to show it, eh?
I like it. Very Chris. And still very goth, but if that's his thing, then more power to him.
However, the big issue is whether his client loooooves his work and apparently she does. And in the end, that's really all that matters.
Go (!!!), SissyBear! Looking forward to seeing more of his work as he matures.
- edina -
In the pictures of her by herself, the dress looks very pretty. The one with Chris and the bottom boob action makes it look a little chip but whatever. At least her boob is nice and perky.
They have this impression of me as a magical unicorn that has stepped out of the TV."
LOL
I'm glad to see that Chris is doing well. I don't adore the dress, but the client loved it, and that's what counts, right?
We see more heinous garments walk the red carpet on a regular basis....worn by people who should know better.
I wish I was in the market for a mannequin, those are good prices.
When I was at Pratt I had a roommate that had an old broken 1880's dress form, that was for draping bustle dresses. I really wanted it, but she wouldn't give it to me.
Aw, Chris!
Any shot os the back fo the dress?
-- desertwind
Goth dress is OK.
Hate the red handkerchief Chris has stuffed into his pocket. Why can't he design something at least wearable for himself?
Love the dress - very pretty, somewhat goth/wild-child - and the client is happy. Job well done, I'd say!
It looks like something Rami made! Its great to see Chris going for a classy and elegant look!
"Anonymous said...
It looks like something Rami made! Its great to see Chris going for a classy and elegant look!"
What??? Please...do you see any draping, boring shade of some puke-y color or mismatched boobs? This LOOKS LIKE CHRIS' WORK!!!
I think that dress is very pretty. She looks great in it. Good for you, SB!
I wouldn't wear it but she is obviously thrilled with it so that is the important part.
Chris was happy too so it was a win-win.
Why is it goth? Just because it`s black and has some safety pins? *looks at closet*
Uh oh.
Kzspot
Love Chris. Love the dress.
Love seeing the "Project" back in "Project Rungay!"
MWAH!
I love Sissybear too, but I think the fabric looks chip. he's so cute though. I wixh he would dump the leopard for himself. I really liked HIS all black goth look. Oh, well, maybe that's his trademark.
btw, I love the new logo at the top!
bittybis,
The safety pins would not be digging into her skin. They would be just lying against her skin like fabric would unless they were made to be as tight as a corset. However, it's clear that this isn't the case.
I don't think it's goth at all. I actually think it looks very cheap/discount mall.
I love Chris, but this is not one of his better efforts.
--GothamTomato
Dear prs4contestant:
Get over it already. So you're not as popular as you thought you'd be. Big whoop. You can still have a good career. Stop crapping on everyone else -- makes you look veddy, veddy bad.
too much under-boob in the first pic. *waaay* too much.
I LOVE the gothi-ness and I love me some Sissybear :-)
Goth-rock couture is becomeing a genre into itself and I am really enjoy Chris's cool takes and original ideas...
It's kind of cool that a lot of designers who tend towards a Goth-rocker aesthetic have also been in costume design except the lady that does Thomas Wylde ( one of the most ROCKING new lines)...Also Giles Deacon is rocking my Universe.
That is where I am coming from too...
Love,
Milla
Wanted to love it, but in addition to the boobage showing, the material is a bit too shiny. At least he has a customer base. I would love to see the red dress from the finale be worn someplace fun. It deserves a good home.
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