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Janelle Monáe Hosts Wondaween Halloween Party in Los Angeles

Janelle Monáe has solidified her reputation as a Halloween icon with her own event, Wondaween, in Los Angeles, alongside fellow celebrity Heidi Klum's "Heidiween" bash in New York City.

Janelle Monáe on Transforming Into ‘Phish Boy’ for Halloween
Source: Vogue

Janelle Monáe has solidified her reputation as a Halloween icon, alongside fellow celebrity Heidi Klum. While Klum hosts an extravagant bash in New York City, known as "Heidiween, Monáe leads the festivities in Los Angeles with her own event, dubbed Wondaween. This year's Wondaween theme was Creature Carnival, where guests were encouraged to dress up as circus-inspired freakshow attractions.

Monáe had expressed excitement about embracing a new character for Halloween, and was eager to share it with the community of Wondaween enthusiasts. She revealed that her own costume would be inspired by this theme. With its abstract concept, Phish Boy is an original creation born from Monáe's collaboration with long-time collaborator Sasha Glassier.

Monáe had been feeling inspired to bring a unique character into being for Halloween, one that might initially puzzle people. This was the starting point for her latest creation, known as Phish Boy. According to Monáe, she and Glassier worked together to develop this new concept. The result is an intriguing, original character that fans will be eager to see come to life.

Monáe's Wondaween event, with its Creature Carnival theme, has set the stage for a spectacular Halloween celebration in Los Angeles. With her own costume as Phish Boy, Monáe continues to push boundaries and innovate within the world of entertainment. As the night unfolds, fans are sure to be captivated by the intricate details of Monáe's latest creation.

Monáe's concept for 'Phish Boy' was inspired by a carnival or circus character, blending human and fish elements in a unique way. This idea took some time to develop into a fully-fledged costume. Monáe typically starts planning her costumes 2-3 years in advance, allowing her the freedom to experiment with different designs.

When she settled on the Creature Carnival theme for her party, Monáe immediately began collaborating with her team to bring 'Phish Boy' to life. She enlisted Sasha's expertise in designing the iconic creature, and together they started conceptualizing the look. This involved painting, sculpting, and baking specific elements of the costume.

Monáe also relied on her long-term costume maker Alex Navarro to help execute the uniform's distinctive features. Chelsea Delfino and Malina Stearns were brought in to assist with painting, sculpting, and baking aspects of the design. This collective effort was crucial in realizing Monáe's surreal aquatic vision.

The intricate details of 'Phish Boy' are sure to captivate fans as the night unfolds, showcasing Monáe's dedication to crafting an unforgettable costume.

Monáe's costume design for 'Phish Boy' features a striped black-and-white tuxedo vest and cropped trousers, paired with a white shirt, red necktie, knee socks, and brogues.

The intricate details of the uniform give it an old-fashioned performer quality, reminiscent of a classic stage introduction. Monáe notes that the addition of a white shirt and red necktie adds to the vintage carnival-inspired aesthetic. The striped vest is also a key element, as it gives the overall look a sense of whimsy and playfulness.

The star of the costume, however, remains the life-like fish prosthetics, complete with scales, big bug eyes, and ridged fins that bring 'Phish Boy' to life.

Janelle Monáe's Halloween spirit extends beyond her elaborate costume as Phish Boy". She finds freedom in immersing herself in a character and letting go of her own identity.

Monáe reveals that beneath the prosthetics, she envisions Phish Boy having his own personality, complete with its own thoughts and actions when no one is watching. This creative approach allows her to tap into her imagination and come up with unique creatures for future costumes. Her love for Halloween is evident in how she plans to spend the evening.

This year's festivities will continue well into the weekend, with Monáe looking forward to another costume reveal. She cherishes memories of trick-or-treating as a child and aims to bring joy to those around her by handing out candy to visitors.

Facts based on reporting originally published by Vogue.

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