FASHION
Tenfingerz Presents The Fabulon
The Melba Spiegeltent
Review by Hannah Kuhar

After partnering with VAMFF in 2015 to host her ‘Perfect: Runway Show’, Teneille Clerke a.k.a. Tenfingerz put her hosting and craftsmanship skills to the test. Curating another wildly flamboyant runway show, The Fabulon was a smaller event than last year, but by no means any less fabulous.

Standing outside Collingwood’s Melba Spiegeltent, it was hard to believe that the fashion show was inside, not outside in Melbourne’s crisp Friday night air. Although this area, between the eclectic Brunswick St and all-sorts Smith St, is known for its outrageous fashions, passersby were intrigued by the kaleidoscopic mass which adorned the tight-knit ‘underground art’ community: purple dreadlocks, blue spacebuns, ridiculously high neon orange platforms, flowers and pom poms and transparent leotards edged with fiery pink sequins. ‘I’m always this fabulous’ seemed to be the dress code of the night; casual yet outrageously chic, the smiley crowd looked like they had returned to their spiritual home.

Things were only to get wackier once Prophets, a trio of masked saxophonists, wrapped up their light set and left the runway to the fashionistas. A green-faced, a purple-dreadlocked woman in a piece by Sex Cake Monster opens the show with a shrill soprano number, later ‘giving birth’ to a number of other characters. Within a matter of minutes, the stage is filled with hairy-calved models and a naked (does glitter count?) compère. Eliciting a mixed reaction – some in hysterics, some deep in contemplation – it was clear that the show would be rich in narrative, and certainly not lacking in musical and stagecraft prowess, shock value and bravery.

Fashionwise, the ‘wearable art’, in conjunction with strong dance sequences, drew on themes such as androgyny, sex, and sexuality. Madame Buttons, the first designer, took the sexy approach: the sensual act of dressing and undressing, to the tune of Édith Piaf’s anthem ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’, placed particular focus on the textile of her garments. Floral oriental silks, edged with purple fur, almost seemed like a cheeky Willy Wonka collision between East and West.

Delicious milliner/jeweller Sarah Seahorse adorned her performers (Glitter and Snatch) in a bathbomb-like spherical explosion of fluorescent pink tulle. Reminiscent of a four year old struggling to put on her tutu, this runway depicted a beautiful reveal of femininity: first entirely consumed by the tulle, the performers exposed their ‘cameltoes’, then pointed nipples, before small nipple-lights stole the show. Moving in partnership, rather than unison, they reflected a strength in human collaboration and confidence in self.

Following a Star Wars-esque performance of violence and bronze, and Tenfingerz’ introspective ‘Shopping Network’ skit (previously performed for YouTube), Dandrogyny was out to convince the world that more cisgender men should wear gold skyscraper heels and pink wedding dresses. Physically breaking free from shackles (to the tune of Ariana Grande’s ‘Break Free’), Dandrogyny gave a literal middle finger (decorated with an oversized diamond ring, of course) before ridding themself of their clothing, a most majestic and raw performance. I do not kid when I say it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Presentations of mythical gold headpieces, crowns of carrots, Aztec-inspired loincloths and metallic unitards gave way to the ready-to-wear section of the show. An exclusive exhibition of GOOLiFE, a Melbourne label known for its gender-neutral cuts and fun, sketch-like designs, with the colours of a psychedelic lava lamp. The matching prints and contrasting cuts (figure-hugging swimwear with oversized hoodies) demonstrate the fun in coordinate ensembles, and will be available for purchase online in coming weeks.

Like a calming strategy in reverse, it takes a remarkable amount of chutzpah and self-belief to address an audience in the nude, especially having a history of body dysmorphia. Inciting an audience to do meditation, sing happy birthday and appreciate a fashion show is no mean feat: Tenfingerz and her friends have gone above and beyond in order to bring happiness and sparkle to their audience’s Friday night. Just like a little kid, wearing mismatched colourful costumes or perhaps nothing at all, singing a song to family and friends, this hour-long runway showed that growing up doesn’t mean we have to grow grey and boring.

To keep up to date on Tenfingerz events, follow the Facebook page here.

Correction, March 18 2016:

The editors apologise for the attribution in an earlier version of this article that GOOLiFE incorporated indigenous-inspired motifs in their collection. GOOLiFE does not use designs from indigenous cultures.