A New Year with SOTU

What a wild couple of weeks we've had!

Now that the dust has settled from our world travels and costume making frenzy, we finally have a moment to catch everyone up on the latest SOTU adventures...

From the moment we returned from Azerbaijan, where SOTU opened for pop star Tarkan at an incredible New Years Eve bash in Baku, we hit the ground running back to the studio to work on a collection of gorgeous new costumes for Nikon.

In preparation for the biggest electronics show of the year, CES 2012 in Las Vegas, we spent day and night bringing our vision for Nikon to life in a flurry of feathers, crystals and candy (yes...candy!)...

With our bags packed and pink cotton candy wig in hand, we were off to Las Vegas with our SOTU models Sarah, Jessica, Jillian, Torrey and Nofar...

Our 'Nikon 1 Ladies' were a huge hit at the Nikon CES booth this year, with crowds gathering to get a shot of our lovely models in SOTU vintage gowns, bird-inspired showgirl ensembles and confection candy costumes!

We all had an amazing time at CES 2012 with Nikon, and with all of the rave reviews we've received since, it seems that attendees loved the new Nikon 1 costumes just as much as we do!

As we wrapped up our week at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it was definitely time to let off a little steam in Sin City...

Now that we are back in New York City, SOTU is getting ready to launch our on-line boutique with fabulous clothing, accessories and home items inspired by our decadent live shows!

Stay tuned for updates on our website...

And don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook, where we have all of our most recent news, pictures, video and more!

Mannequin Madness with Wanderlust & Lifestyle Trimco

We have to admit...when dear SOTU friends and fashion bloggers Emily and Abigail of Wanderlust asked us to collaborate with them and Lifestyle Trimco for their upcoming 'Le Cirque' gallery show, we were already up to our eyelashes in costume design commissions and racing to book our trip to Baku for New Years Eve.

How could we possibly pass up this fabulous opportunity to work with Wanderlust and Lifestyle Trimco creative directer Sean Sager?
We could not!

Together we scoured the SOTU showroom for the best costume pieces to dress Lifestyle Trimco's remarkable collection of mannequins and dress forms. We chose a mix of classic SOTU looks - the Human Chandelier centerpiece, a turquoise pheasant plumage showgirl ensemble and our infamous red feather dress - with the debut of our most recent tour de force, the Bearded Lady...an elegantly surreal gown of hair created by the SOTU design team for the Detroit Institute of Arts.
We had a good laugh and flexed a little muscle during set-up for the show...
Who knew that mannequins were such good models? ;)

The opening reception for 'Le Cirque' was quite a night...

We loved chatting with new friends, catching up with familiar faces and keeping a distance from those dastardly jello shots (ok, maybe we had just ONE).
The Lifestyle Trimco showroom looked incredible!


We can't wait for our next project in this terrific space!
Fashion Week perhaps?

Making of a Museum Gala with SOTU

It all began with a braid...

SOTU began preparations for our annual collaboration with the Detroit Institute of Arts gala with a theme ("Arts Stars"), an inspiration board cluttered with images of 1930s circus performers, Marlene Dietrich, vintage couture gowns and more, and a roster of our amazing performers.

Inspired by the classic circus sideshow with a dash of surrealism, the SOTU design team got to work on the first piece of this exciting new costume collection...

our own Bearded Lady!

Our costume design interns were up to their eyeballs in handmade braids while we brought this gorgeous gown to life!

Things got a little hairy as we added the finishing touches.

*Ahem*

For our sensational SOTU talents, Amanda, Michael Saab, Rachel Rosenfield and Victor Sho, we envisioned a celestial touch of Swarovski crystals, mirrors, glitter and even a few LED lights to brighten up their amazing aerialist, fire breathing and strong man performances.

Costume design intern Susannah helped select crystals and sew these fabulous pieces at the SOTU studio in Brooklyn.

In an act of true dedication to her unbelievable Man/Woman costume (and our pastel color palette), Ami even dyed her hair to match!

Just wait until you see the completed look...

With all of our costumes packed, and Amanda's giant moon safely on the plane (try explaining that to an airplane baggage attendant), we made it to Detroit with plenty of time for set-up at the museum...thanks to our driver Chad and his epic limousine.

Makeup and costume prep started bright and early the day of the gala, with the museums Lecture Hall doubling as our private dressing room.

(Sorry about all that glitter!)

SOTU model Anna MacKinnon was a perfect fit for the Bearded Lady, complete with custom mustache and mini hair top hat!

These lovely SOTU "twins", Jaclynn and Samantha, were a hit with guests in our Flower Girl costumes...and certainly developed a knack for keeping a towering SOTU headdress in place!

Baby pink, lavender and pastel blue hair color (thank you, Manic Panic) was just the icing on the cake of Ami's fabulous Man/Woman ensemble!

The SOTU design team worked painstakingly to stitch together the lovely side de femme to the diviner side d'homme to create Pastel Laurent Armando Goodheart.

Samantha kicked off her stiletto heels backstage before her final costume change...

...into one of our favorite twin looks, the Dolls!

Victor Sho, our devilishly handsome Strong Man, took a break from tearing up the dance floor to pose with our lovely Dolls.

As I'm sure you can imagine, quite a few heads turned that night!

As museum guests partied late into the evening, SOTU aerialist Amanda Topaz had a dazzling performance on her moon suspended from the museums ceiling.

The gala came to an end, as all parties must do, and we bid adieu to the Detroit Institute of Arts until next year!

We can't wait for another spectacular SOTU night!

Picture Perfect SOTU

What does a three day affair with Nikon look like for us?

Early mornings, a bevy of SOTU beauties, a freak snow storm and a whole lot of gorgeous (and occasionally ridiculous) photographs!

Leaving the Javits Convention Center in a whirlwind of snow, thunder and rain on our last day was only the beginning of a crazy SOTU weekend...after a quick nap and a strong cup of coffee, we headed to The Standard hotel to prepare for a wild party at the Boom Boom Room!
SOTU added some magic & ambiance to the celebrity-laden affair and turned heads with a little liquid latex bodypaint, Swarovski crystals, and a Human Candelabra (of course).

We are still picking glitter out of our hair.

What costume did you wear for Halloween?
Send us a picture!