Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5126
Title: Elanthian Vogue: V (Jastatos 5126)
Author: The Looking Glass
Editor: Rohese Bayvel
Editor's Thoughts
As autumn settles across Elanthia and our thoughts turn towards the Ebon Gate Festival, we begin to consider more than what we wear: we consider who we might become when a mask goes on. Nowhere is that question more intriguing than in Naidem, the Place Between, where perpetual twilight casts the world in dusky blues, shadowed purples, and the occasional startling flash of pink.
This Jastatos, V takes inspiration from a new book that has appeared on the shelves of Whispering Pages entitled "Of Masks and Marionettes". Its unsettling tale of the Dark Carnival, the Living Stage and the di penates who become trapped in a world of endless performance provides a fitting introduction to this month's exploration of masked fashion.
For those wishing to bring a little of that mystery into their Ebon Gate wardrobe, Filigree and Whorls, in Evermore Hollow, offers an intriguing collection of Naidem Masks that invite both personal expression and a touch of theatrical transformation.
The Mask of Twilight
The inventory at Filigree and Whorls offers a starting point for almost any interpretation of the season, from the elegantly mysterious to the frankly unsettling. Its masks range from simple materials to elaborate, characterful designs, making it possible to build an ensemble around the mask rather than treating it as an afterthought.
What makes the Naidem Mask especially interesting is that the initial design need not be the final one. The masks are customizable, allowing their appearance to develop through the use of selected materials, which opens up some particularly appealing possibilities. A foraged botanical detail can introduce a woodland element, an ore-based filigree overlay can provide a metallic accent, a suitable gemstone can shift the mask's colour or surface effects, and the addition of a ribbon allows the ties to be changed. The precise result depends on the material selected but the principle is clear: the wearer can develop a design that feels personal rather than simply choosing a ready-made appearance. The mask becomes not only an accessory but a work in progress, shaped by the wearer.
Here are just a few examples created by our in-house designer:
The Midnight Masque
A glossy black porcelain mask with midnight belladonna silver filigree and twilight-purple ribbons offers a dramatic foundation for evening wear. Pair it with a black velvet gown or tailored coat, silver jewellery and a pair of shoes in muted tones. The mask's stark and polished appearance provides contrast against softer fabrics, while the dark palette suits Evermore Hollow's shadowed streets and the more sinister undertones of the Carnival. The Pale Enigma
The bright white porcelain mask without any adornment provides a striking alternative. Set against dusky blue velvet, charcoal wool or berry-pink silk, its pale surface recalls the contrast between Naidem's dim landscape and the strange lights of the Dark Carnival. Keep the rest of the outfit restrained and allow the mask to command attention with its simplicity. The Woodland Player
A carved cocobolo mask dusted in magenta or tawny wispstone introduces the warmth and texture of natural wood. Pair it with a dark brown coat and a grey jacquard waistcoat backed in berry-pink silk for a look that hints at the forest glade where the carnival first appeared. This is an excellent choice for those who prefer a more organic, less polished approach to masked dressing. The Unruly Reveler
For a more theatrical interpretation, consider the leaf-crowned grinning mask overlaid in laje Bittermere lichen filigree. Its combination of woodland imagery and an unsettling expression makes it a natural choice for a carnival-inspired ensemble. Layer textured fabrics in dusky blue and twilight purple, then introduce a brighter accent to suggest the carnival's deceptive promise of colour and merriment.
Other options available in the shop include the horned demonic mask, the plume-crested angelic mask, the flame-edged expressionless mask, the sharp-beaked avian mask and the whiskered feline mask. Each offers a distinct character, whether the intention is to suggest menace, otherworldliness, anonymity or animalistic whimsy.
Aside from the unusual palette shaped by Naidem's perpetual twilight, there is an additional inspiration in "Of Masks and Marionettes": its account of carnival glass, a rare, mirror-sheened grey-black material associated with the Dark Carnival. Its surface can show drifting, spirit-like forms, while its reflections are distorted like those of a funhouse mirror. The text also describes carnival deadglass, a translucent material with ghostly white markings that can occur in vivid shades including pink, orange, yellow, violet and turquoise.
These materials offer a useful colour reference for Ebon Gate styling, even when they are not part of a particular garment or mask's construction. The contrast between mirror-dark surfaces and startlingly bright carnival colours captures the peculiar atmosphere of Naidem: a place where beauty and unease can occupy the same reflection.
The story's most compelling fashion lesson is that a successful costume does not need to explain itself. The Dark Carnival draws its visitors into a spectacle of light, music and movement; its performers are memorable because every element contributes to the whole.
The same principle applies to masked dressing. Start with the character you want to suggest, choose a mask that communicates that idea, then build the outfit around it. The important thing is not to reproduce the carnival's excess in every detail, but to understand how it works: mask, silhouette, colour and movement should tell the same story.
So, this month, V invites readers to look beyond the traditional autumn wardrobe and embrace the possibilities of the mask. Filigree and Whorls provides the tools; "Of Masks and Marionettes" supplies the inspiration.