wher_the_wild_things_are_costumes

Where The Wild Things Are Costumes designed exclusively for Urban Outfitters by Christian Joy Christian Joy was created by Brooklyn-based designer Christiane Joy Hultquist back in 1998. Born in Marion, Iowa, Hultquist grew up in a born-again Christian household and her fashion line is a playful nod to her religious upbringing. Her first collection of deconstructed prom dresses and statement t-shirts attracted a lot of attention while she was working as a shop girl at Daryl K. The same year, Hultquist met the now globally recognized front woman to the rock trio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O and embarked on the first of many outfits for the singer. These designs have now become a definitive part of Karen O's onstage persona. Taking time out from designing for both Karen O and British nu-rave band, The Klaxons, Hultquist created exclusive one-of-a-kind costumes as part of the installation for Space 15 Twenty's Where The Wild Things Are Pop-Up Shop. "I was finishing up two of Karen's costumes for the Reading and Leeds music festivals so by the time everything was settled I had about two weeks to work on them," says Hultquist. Taking the personality of each Wild Thing character, the costumes are a heady mix of neon scrawled prints, pop-pom or fringed kickers, and silver strand fur. "I tried to use the flowers to represent parts of the monsters personalities," she adds. "I think the girl monster looks kind of shy so I gave her a more muted flower print mixed in with the fur graphic, but the chicken is more proud and jovial so I gave him bright flowers." A percentage from the sale of each costume will go to 826 National, a non-profit organization co-founded by author and publisher Dave Eggers, who co-wrote with Spike Jonze the screenplay for Where the Wild Things Are. 826 National is a family of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with expository and creative writing. Their mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. Each 826 chapter offers drop-in tutoring, field trips, workshops and in-schools programs-all free of charge-for students, classes and schools. Available exclusively at the Where The Wild Things Are Pop-Up Shop at Space 15 Twenty from Saturday September 19, 2009.