By Elise French
Since our cover story is all about food trends, we thought for the Style section it would be cool to find examples of how the worlds of food and fashion have merged…with some very interesting results.
THE SPAGHETTI DRESS WITH MEATBALL NECKLACE
Creator: American fashion designer Jeremy Scott
As part of his fall 2006 collection, cleverly titled “Food Fight,” Scott, known for his wacky themes, playfully paired a spaghetti dress with ~ what else? ~ a meatball necklace. It’s certainly a conversation piece! Thank goodness he didn’t go for a menswear look with spaghetti and sausage!
PETA’S LETTUCE LEAF GOWN
Creator: PETA
To promote meatless meals, feisty 82-year-old actor [and “DWTA” alumna] Cloris Leachman donned a gown made entirely of leafy green lettuce and red cabbage.
NIKE AIR MAX 90 BURGER SNEAKER
Creator: Swedish designer Olle Hemmendorff
“Just…Chew It?” As part of an exhibition, Hemmendorf designed the classic Nike Air Max sneakers using a sturdy sesame baguette, beef patties, pickles, tomatoes, and cheese for the iconic swoosh. Why did Hemmendorf choose the hamburger? He wanted to use “the most powerful, most durable, and most delicious material known to man.”
CREAM PUFF WEDDING DRESS
Creator: Ukrainian pastry chef Valentyn Shtefano
Can you have your croquembouche and…wear it, too? More than two months and 1,500 cream puffs later, Shtefano’s wife had a wedding dress made completely out of cream puffs ~ and it only weighed 20 pounds! Brings new meaning to, “Honey, you look good enough to eat!”
GERMAN CHOCOLATE BUBBLE
Creator: German bakery group Lambertz
Have we died and gone to chocolate heaven? Made of 100% solid chocolate, this edible bustier bubble dress was carefully worn by German model Alena Gerber for an annual show in Munich in January 2010.
ELEGANT ARTICHOKE HEART GOWN
Creator: Photographer Ted Sabarese with designers Daniel Feld and Wesley Nault of Project Runway fame.
In the name of art, this model stood for six hours as the designers sewed together each individual artichoke leaf covering her body.
BEEF JERKY CHANEL BAG
Creator: Artist and designer Nancy Wu
Made of 100% beef jerky, this take on the classic Chanel bag was created by hand-sewing sheets of the air-dried meat. It’s definitely as durable as any Italian leather, but we’re betting Coco would not approve ~ but wouldn’t it have gone perfectly with Lady Gaga’s infamous meat dress?
BEDTIME BREAD SLIPPERS
Creator: European designers R&E Praspaliauskas; sold at DADADA Studio
Keep your toes… toast-y… with these fully edible ~ and wearable ~ bread slippers. Now when you put your foot in your mouth, at least you’ll have something yummy to munch on!
CHRIS MARCH’S SLIMMING SALAD DRESS
Creator: Season 4 “Project Runway” finalist Chris March
A couture, one-of-kind dress made from just $50 worth of lettuce? If anyone can do it, it’s fabulously outrageous costume designer Chris March. The dress, among others, was requested by Wish-Bone to promote its line of spray-bottle salad dressings.
CARBO-HOLIC’S DREAM DRESS Creator: Photographer Ted Sabarese with designer Ami Goodheart of SOTU Productions
This bready dress is part of a series titled “Hunger Pains,” in which models wore clothes depicting their personal cravings. Ah, what a perfect outfit for the upper crust of society!