Bright Young Thing Wear-a-thon, Anne-Marie Goco
To see Anne-Marie’s wear-a-thon, click here.
Each year for one month, over 50,000 people go out to the middle of the desert with only that which they can carry to work with, to build a 5 mile wide community of artists, crafters, performers, idealists, and performers to come together in a huge creative melting pot they call Burning Man. This group of people do not use or take money with them, but rather trade their skills, crafts, or items that they have brought for survival. When our friends over at Love & Trash first approached us about doing a Burning Man Wear-a-thon/style off, we were so thrilled. Where else could we get daily inside coverage on the world’s biggest “gifting” and sustainable trade community in the world? This is how Anne-Marie Goco, a.k.a. Sgt. Slaughter, got enlisted as our first Burning Man wear-a-thon. We wanted to know a little more about her before she started her challenge…
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I spent the first twelve years of my life on the East Coast, first in Cheshire, CT, then Norfolk, VA. I currently live in San Francisco, and have been in the Bay Area since 1982.
WHY ARE YOU DOING A WEAR-A-THON? I was happily surprised when I was asked to participate. I didn’t come to Burning Man prepared to do this, so it’s a fun challenge to see what I can put together from the clothes I brought with me. Luckily, I packed way more clothes than I need and there are a lot of wonderful gals out here who have also lent some of their own creations to the project—tutus, furry stuff that isn’t usually my style, but I think the contrast of fabrics and colors look great with the LBD. This is a wonderful project and it makes me think about how I can spice up my everyday wear back home. I’ve been low on funds the last two years, so I haven’t been able to buy a lot of clothes and have fallen into wearing just a few pieces day after day, which becomes incredibly boring when you’re someone who’s into fashion.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? When I’m not wearing the default pieces I mentioned above, my style is informed by the 30’s and 40’s, usually a vintage hat mixed with designer pieces or thrift finds. I like to create a modern version of an old look, rather than full vintage from head to toe. I never want to look like I stepped out of a time machine. I don’t like anything too precious or girly, and I like my look to have some edge to it. Favorite designers in my wardrobe: Hussein Chalayan, Christian Lacroix, Commes des Garcons (‘80’s Rei Kawakubo-era), Plein Sud, Gucci, my brother Zaldy (has designed under his own name and for L.A.M.B. in the 2nd and 3rd year, I believe.)
WHAT’S YOUR SUMMER STYLE ROUTINE? Since the average temperature in SF is 64 degrees and we get the worst of our fog during the summer, my summer style routine usually involves layers. I can start out with a dress but I’ll have to take a sweater and a jacket with me, because it gets cold in the afternoon. We only get about three weeks of actual heat, generally around the end of September through mid-October. I’m a summertime gal, and it pains me that I can’t wear sundresses more often.
WHAT ARE YOUR MUST HAVES OUT AT BURNING MAN? Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, goggles, bandanna (as a dust mask), moisturizer, water, electrolytes and food. That’s for survival, in case any of you were thinking of coming out here. For clothes, I like to bring pieces from my closet, nothing overly costume-y, just things that I like to wear at home that I think look great out here, too. It’s a risk, because the playa dust gets everywhere, but I like the idea of looking glamorous in this environment! I bring all of my hats and jewelry, too. Leggings or fun pantyhose for nighttime cold, motorcycle gloves, a great tutu that my friend made, and boots. I also am partial to my camouflage adult fleece onesie for cold nights, an army belt with grommets for attaching carabiners to carry keys, water bottles, etc., and my Minnie Mouse ears.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ACCESSORIES AND WHERE DID YOU GET THEM? My vintage hats and jewelry—many bangles and bold necklaces. I’ve had them for years, collecting them since the ‘80’s. As with most vintage, I purchased them here, there, everywhere—thrift stores, vintage stores, vintage fairs. Some of the pieces were gifts and I pulled one Tibetan necklace off of a statue that was in our house for years. My mom collects antiques, and one day I walked by the statue as I’d done many times, but it was the first time I paid much attention to the necklace. I thought, “Um, why haven’t I been wearing that?” and I took it off the statue then and there. There was a period where I wasn’t wearing my hats and jewelry as much, but I rediscovered them a few years ago and love having them back in rotation.
WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING PART ABOUT DOING A WEAR-A-THON FOR YOU? Again, the challenge of putting it all together out here in this crazy, hot, windy, dusty desert out in the middle of nowhere, and pulling it off successfully. I also like the idea of showcasing the outfits against the great art pieces and installations that are out here.
HOW LONG IS YOUR WEAR-A-THON GOING TO BE? Thirty days.
