What to Wear to Moogfest: Your Fantasy Futurist Wardrobe

Music, art, and technology festival Moogfest runs through this weekend in Sunday Shift's hometown of Durham, NC. But what to wear? Keeping with Moogfest’s mission to “Grow a global community of futurists who explore emerging sound technologies and design radical instruments for change,” we’ve put together a fantasy wardrobe of futurist fashion from across the ages. Time machine not included.

1920s Sun and Moon Costumes

Got some cardboard and some silver spray paint? You are approximately 8% of the way to these fantastic 1920s sun and moon costumes from a vintage French photograph.

Image source: Etsy seller redpoulaine

Sun Ra’s Tunic, Cape, and Headdress

Jazz great Sun Ra, one of the pioneers of Afrofuturism, believed himself to be an alien from Saturn on a mission to preach peace. He dressed the part, too.

Via Cool Hunting

1980s Thierry Mugler’s Silver Lamé Femme Fatale Dresses

When all else fails, pointy shoulders and silver lamé deliver.

Photo by Peter Knapp via from obscure to demure

One Word: Caftans

They’ve sort of come back re-branded as maxi-dresses, but there were chic, dramatic caftans in the late 1960s and early 1970s that somehow got mislabeled frumpy old ladies garb by more recent generations. Lanvin, Dior, and Patou here prove those youngsters fools.

Anything Pierre Cardin designed in the 1960s

Cardin’s space age fashions are simultaneously preposterous and delightful. You’ll look absurd, but won’t be able to resist dancing and having a really good time.

 

Duro Olowu's Regal Pattern Party

Take one half of that Lanvin caftan and one half of a Sun Ra getup, and you get this wild yet chic outfit from Duro Olowu's Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection.

Dada: Always in Style

Go weird or go home with geometric patterns, huge masks, and mittens first worn nearly 100 years ago by Sophie Tauber and pals.