A little something for you to think about this weekend:

Cirque Dreams Studios is sponsoring a costume design contest. As the winner you will receive tickets to the Cirque and the excitement of seeing your creation on stage. The current contest is in New York, but is not limited to the Broadway bound audience. Each host city can participate in the event. Some of the past winners are featured on their site. Check their calendar to see if and when they will be stopping in your town. Unfortunately for me, I missed the show and the contest in my area.

Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy is an exotic encounter inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations that are brought to life by an international cast of 25 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians. The astounding feats performed in this action packed Cirque Dream are enhanced with over 150 spectacular costumes and set in a fantastical jungle ignited by striking visual effects.
—news release

You don’t have to be a designer to enjoy the Cirque. I encourage everyone to see a Cirque show at least once in their life. They are incredible shows. The colors are mesmerizing. The movements and flow of the cast are breathtaking. And the feats will amaze you. Kids will thoroughly love the show. Afterwards they may try some of the crazy stunts, so keep an eye on them, heh.

A few days ago, I read about the MET’s latest exhibition and wished I could experience it firsthand.

Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy
May 7, 2008 - September 1, 2008
“Featuring movie costumes, avant-garde haute couture, and high-performance sportswear, it reveals how the superhero serves as the ultimate metaphor for fashion and its ability to empower and transform the human body. “

For some reason, reporters focus on the celebrity guests and not the exhibit. Why? This is an interesting and compelling display of colors, shapes, and designs. As you move through the gallery you can explore the differences between a functional costume and a concealing costume. I think it’s neat. The exhibit is divided into themes by types, focusing on one particular well-known costumed hero as the example. The theme then builds on the example and explores why it works, why it doesn’t work, and how it’s influenced fashion.

So much of the character of a hero is modeled in their costume. Batman’s dark cowl is for fear and concealment. His loaded utility belt keeps weapons and tools handy. His outfit is designed that way because he’s just a man. By looking at the dark figure we can guess he’s a man with money and deep vigilante issues. That’s a fair guess. The MET exhibit explores those kinds of motivations by using costumes and fashion to illustrate the development of trends.

Kinda fun I think. You can use the ideas to create your own hero costumes. There’s no law that says you have to wear a costume for a character some middle-aged man created 40 years ago. Peruse the Project Rooftop blog for excellent re-imaginings of hero gear. Like this redo of Power Girl by Joel Carroll.

So, go to it.