Ron Muncaster designed the costume to wear in the 1994 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. For the same year he also designed a costume entitled 'Lucille Balls' for his partner Jacques Straetnans to wear.

He works the design through in his head rarely using drawings. It usually evolves in the making as he experiments with the design and materials. Ron has no training in design or the making of costume so works very much on a trial and error basis, learning as he goes. He is constantly on the outlook for new materials that he can incorporate in his costumes and in particular ones that will support the elaborate and often enormous size of his forms. For example the large skirt of this costume is supported on a framework of roller blind material stiffened with fibreglass rods he found in a kite shop.

Made by Ron Muncaster. The Mardi Gras costumes often take months to complete and are elaborate both in their constrcution and finish. They involve a lot of handwork, each of the rosettes includes 7 metres of tulle onto which has been hand sewn sequins. Considering they are to be worn one night and are only fleetingly observed in the parade they are strongly made and finished down to the last sequin.

The costume was designed and made 1993-1994 and worn in 1994.

Worn by Ron Muncaster in the 1994 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It won the judges prize for excellence.

Costume, Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 'Cotton Blossom', mixed media, designed, made and worn by Ron Muncaster, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1994

Costume entitled 'Cotton Blossom', consisting of a white sleeveless, fitted sequinned dress to which is velcroed a full skirt of white tulle decorated with multicoloured tulle rosettes, the whole trimmed with sequins. The skirt is supported on a foundation of fibreglass rods and roller blind material. The dress is accessorized with an elaborate hat of white tulle, peacock and chinese cock feathers (mounted on surgical mesh), a fan of ostrich and chinese cock feathers, white elbow length gloves, a handbag trimmed with oversize pearls and a pearl necklace and earrings.

Designed: Muncaster, Ron; Sydney, New South Wales; 1993 - 1994

Made: Muncaster, Ron; Sydney, New South Wales; 1993 - 1994

Used: Muncaster, Ron; Sydney, New South Wales; 1994

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1993 - 1994

3250 mm

2400 mm

2400 mm