Womens witch dress is a popular costume choice for Halloween and other costume parties. It typically features a long, flowing black gown with a plunging neckline and flared sleeves. The dress is often made from materials such as satin, velvet, or lace to create a mysterious and elegant look. Additionally, it may be embellished with details like ruffles, bows, or lace-up closures. The witch dress is designed to evoke a sense of enchantment and magic. It is typically associated with the image of a powerful and seductive sorceress.
My hope is that Voodoo Doll’s visual language tells a story that is universal. Art is a visual form of storytelling. This means that everything that goes into your artwork should be a deliberate choice as it has the opportunity to convey something. Some of the more important elements to consider when designing are shape, color, line and texture.
That s why the engine resided in my living room for several months where I could take my time hand engraving it with the appropriate symbols and references. While the use of bones may evoke the macabre, the hand painted illustrations, engraved spooks and words like Whammy, Voodoo Power, and Mojocycle are meant to keep it playful and appealing.
It is typically associated with the image of a powerful and seductive sorceress. The color black is often chosen as it represents darkness and mystique, while the flowing silhouette adds a sense of drama and elegance to the overall look. The neckline and sleeves are usually designed to be eye-catching and dramatic, adding to the allure of the costume.
“Voodoo Doll”
COME SEE VOODOO DOLL AT THE HANDBUILT SHOW IN AUSTIN, TX, APRIL 13-16.
Charlie Giordano’s newest work focuses on one thing: The magic of motorcycles. I wanted to create a work of art that emphasizes the emotions, magic, and voodoo that only seem to exist within the art of the motorcycle.
Motorcycles are the perfect medium to explore the world around me and express myself. Voodoo Doll represents the physical embodiment of the magic I experience when riding motorcycles. I wanted to explore and share this magic with the world.
To do that, I needed to design and build Voodoo Doll with specific aesthetic and engineering principles and have absolute control over its production. Every aspect of its fabrication was performed by me in my West Tisbury studio. Over the last two years I focused on understanding magic, voodoo, motorcycles, and my relationship to them. I focused on how to express that relationship in an object that is standing still but meant to be moving. And then I built it.
My hope is that Voodoo Doll’s visual language tells a story that is universal. Art is a visual form of storytelling. This means that everything that goes into your artwork should be a deliberate choice as it has the opportunity to convey something. Some of the more important elements to consider when designing are shape, color, line and texture.
I also needed to understand and incorporate actual parts of the Voodoo tradition like good luck charms and other iconography into the piece. There are no recipes or formulas. I rely on experimentation, theory, experience, and feeling.
Voodoo Doll Specifications
• Voodoo Doll is fully functional and street legal which was one of the most difficult aspects of the build. It is complete with high and low beams, blinkers, running lights, tail and stop light, horn and GPS speedometer, and a vanity license plate that reads “HUDU.”
• The major elements are built by hand including the gas tank, bodywork, etc. Both steel and fiberglass were used in the construction.
• Every aspect of its fabrication was performed our West Tisbury studio.
• Hand engraved 883 engine made by Harley-Davidson.
• Voodoo Doll is currently available for purchase. Its unique design and attention to detail make it ideal for a top collector or enthusiast. Please inquire for pricing and details.
Charlie Giordano, Tailgunner Exhaust
Email: [email protected]
Iconography and Artifacts
Voodoo is over 6,000 years old, and comes from places like West Africa, Haiti and New Orleans. It’s hot, gritty, and often poor. It’s both malevolent and benevolent. Voodoo has a rough texture. That’s why the engine resided in my living room for several months where I could take my time hand engraving it with the appropriate symbols and references.
I also needed to understand and incorporate actual parts of the Voodoo tradition like good luck charms and other cultural? Meaningful? Significant? It’s fine w/”other” but could put something else in here if you have time… iconography into the piece.
There is a scene in The World’s Fastest Indian where the camera slowly pans across a long shelf of defunct and discarded pistons forged by legendary Land Speed Record holder Burt Munro. In wobbly, hand painted letters above the shelf it reads “Offerings to the Gods of Speed.” People try their best to deal with spirits by appeasing them and, if possible, using them to their advantage. Among other things, they turn to the spirits for power, protection, guidance, and healing. And one way they manipulate the spirits is through the charms, amulets and talismans they wear.
Jewelry isn’t always just an accessory; it can be filled with power. Motorcycles can and should be dangerous, so I’ve incorporated charms to express that and protect the rider from harm and bring them luck.
Note the Mercury dimes that hang from around the leather saddle. In the Voodoo tradition Mercury dimes are used in a variety of ways. They are firstly a form of protective magic wherein a hole is drilled through dime and it is worn on a string around the ankle where it is believed to absorb any harmful magic or tricks laid down for the bearer and turn black if exposed to a hex or jinx.
The Voodoo Doll comes to life by shifting the heavily engraved Mojo Bone to the forward position, whereby the Victorian age, double-ended, perfume bottle then glows green as does the engine. This lets you know it’s alive. A Mojo bone is a type of lucky charm used in the magical tradition of Voodoo. It is thought to ensure a variety of positive effects, such as invisibility, good luck, protection from malevolent magic, rebirth after death, and romantic success.
The bone theme continues throughout the bike and is most dramatically expressed in the human skull that serves as the headlight housing. Painstakingly hollowed out and clasped together with a one-hundred year old heart shaped lock, it contains an LED light in each of the eye sockets and is engraved in Ouija board style lettering to help summon spirits.
Figureheads are the carved wooden sculptures that decorate the prows of sailing ships of yesteryear. In the perilous life of an ocean-going ship, figureheads embodied the spirit of the vessel, offering the crew protection from harsh seas and safeguarding their homeward journeys. To safeguard against bad luck Voodoo Doll’s bowsprit is adorned with a priestess or “Mambo” carved by hand from 3/8” aluminum plate. One side reads “Bon Chans” and the other “Pran Chans,” which is Haitian Creole for “good luck” and “take a chance.”
Another design consideration was the style in which Voodoo would be represented. Voodoo as a theme exists in many forms ranging from very dark to silly Hollywood kitsch. I wanted to represent voodoo by paying homage to it and also having fun. While the use of bones may evoke the macabre, the hand painted illustrations, engraved spooks and words like “Whammy,” “Voodoo Power,” and “Mojocycle” are meant to keep it playful and appealing.
Design Components
Shape was considered when building the frame, gas tank, and other body parts. I had to determine how long, wide, tall, sharp or smooth and what angles should be used to evoke the feeling of something magical and potentially dangerous. The same is true for each hand made component like the gas tank, and other body parts. Steel and fiberglass is malleable, but only with considerable effort, so good design before construction is important.
One of the best ways to elicit emotions and reactions from viewers is through the use of color. Color tells you about expresses character. The Great Russian painter and art theorist Wassily Kandinsky argued that artistic experiences are all about feeling, and that different colors affect mood. Voodoo is green. Like a science fiction movie poster from the 1950s or Scooby Doo’s Magical Mystery Machine. But not any green. This particular green with heavy metal flake (the magic.)
Artists use texture to create a specific feeling. Smooth or shiny textures, including metals like chrome, reflect more light and create a more contemporary finish.
Rough and coarse textures have more “visual weight” and create a rustic aesthetic. Given the nature and origins of Voodoo I chose the latter.
• Voodoo Doll is currently available for purchase. Its unique design and attention to detail make it ideal for a top collector or enthusiast. Please inquire for pricing and details.
Charlie Giordano, Tailgunner Exhaust
Email: [email protected]
In addition to the dress itself, women often accessorize their witch costume with a variety of items. A pointed black hat is a classic accessory that is synonymous with witches. It adds a whimsical touch to the outfit while also serving as a symbol of witchcraft. Other accessories may include a broomstick, a cauldron, and a spell book. These items help to further enhance the witchy aesthetic and complete the overall look. Overall, the womens witch dress is a timeless and iconic costume choice. It allows women to embrace their inner enchantress and embrace the magic and mystery of the witch archetype. Whether it's for Halloween or a costume party, the witch dress is sure to make a statement and create a captivating and bewitching presence..
Reviews for "The Intersection of Witchcraft and Fashion: Womens Witch Dress as Ritual Attire"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the quality of this women's witch dress. The fabric felt cheap and scratchy, and the stitching was poorly done. The fit was also very strange - the dress was tight in some areas and loose in others. Overall, it just didn't look flattering on me. I ended up returning it and finding a different witch costume that was much better in terms of quality and fit.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - This women's witch dress was a complete waste of money. When it arrived, it looked nothing like the picture online. The color was faded and the design was not as intricate and detailed as shown. The sizing was also way off - it was too tight around the chest and too long in length. I would not recommend this dress to anyone looking for a high-quality witch costume.
3. Michelle - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for this women's witch dress, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The material was thin and cheap, and it ripped easily. The fit was also awkward - it was too loose in some areas and too tight in others. The overall appearance was not as glamorous as I had hoped, and I ended up having to make several alterations to make it work. I would not purchase this dress again.
4. Lauren - 3/5 stars - While this women's witch dress was not terrible, it was not great either. The quality was average - the fabric was lightweight, but it did not feel very durable. The fit was also not the most flattering - it was a bit boxy and made me look shapeless. The design and color were decent, but overall, I was not overly impressed with this dress. There are definitely better options out there for a witch costume.