A Trend, (Un) Masked

By Robert Cordero
January 25, 2010

Masks above designed by Andreas Eberharter of AND-i, who also provided the images.

Masks are no longer just for Halloween or a masquerade ball. They’ve ventured out of the costume party circuit and onto runways, the concert stage and even the closets of the very fashion forward. Though the trend has gained steady traction over the past year, it isn’t an overnight success story. Back in September 2008, when the editors of Interview magazine put Kate Moss on its September 2008 cover wearing a black mask by Indian designer Manish Arora, many in the fashion world took notice. There were a slew of editorials that confirmed its arrival as a style accessory, while the runways also proved to be a fertile place for the trend to flourish.

The following February in New York, designer Erin Fetherston (who we've previously profiled here) punctuated her enchanted autumn/winter ’09-’10 outing with cat masks worn on the sides of models' heads. While these were cute accessories, in other designers' spring/spring summer '10 collections, the mask-like look mutated into more outrageous headgear. Case in point: Hussein Chalayan (above left, photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images) showed visor-like masks attached to wide brim hats; Ann Demeulemeester’s (above center, photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images) models appeared to have wires wrapped around their heads; and Gareth Pugh’s (above right, photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images) dark iteration of the trend was large grey bird-like creature with expansive wings that looked like it had landed on a model’s face. More recently, Giles Deacon’s pre-fall '10 showing in Florence, Italy featured over-sized paper clips and wrenches that covered the faces of two models.

In the realm of Leigh-Bowery inspired performance art, Lady Gaga has worked a variety of eccentric masks into her headling making looks over the last year. (The look shown here of Gaga at the 2009 Video Music Awards in September is just one of many examples (photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)). Now the trend now has a cultural icon as its willing promotional vehicle. “Lady Gaga has a good feeling for new trends and designers, says Andreas Eberharter, the jewelry and accessories designer of AND-i, whose mask was featured in Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi video. “She is an amazing medium to wear my pieces.”

Though the Austria based Eberharter is pleased to have received this level of exposure, the trend is rooted in something larger than the songstress’ outsized persona. “I love it because it covers certain parts of the body and it is exciting to see just a part of the face so you can imagine the hidden section. It is also a kind of protection,” explains Eberharter. “In these [difficult] times, protection matters; those masks capture the zeitgeist.”

[Editors' note to Lady Gaga fans: This Lady Gaga Super Deluxe 2 CD Box Set just sold for $1,651 after 19 bids. It's the #1 CD from a lot of only 10,000 that were made. According to the seller, this set is includes not only Gaga's "brand new 'The Fame Monster' EP, but also her debut CD 'The Fame,' a lock of Gag's wig (!) and more. If you missed it, there are 30 others available for sale among the almost 4,000 Lady Gaga-related items available right now on eBay, where there has been an approximate 12 percent increase in Lady Gaga items in the past 30 days vs. the thirty days prior.]

But before you partake in the trend, there’s a specific time and a way to don a mask. “It is best to wear them on special events, I like it most worn together with an elegant, chic suit or evening dress. Then you are sure to be a special attraction,” advises Eberharter. So to make a daring style statement, here are five options for you to consider from the 48,000 related items on eBay.

1. Channel Lady Gaga's inspiration, Leigh Bowery, with this rubber latex mask from Skin Two Magazine #33. (buy it now price, approx. $16) 2. If you want to make an impression of the Vegas showgirl variety, then this feather-adorned mask is right for you. (buy it now price, $12.99) 3.This sleek leather mask proves that the less is more style tenet doesn’t just apply to clothes. (sold for $17.58) 4. If your aim is to scare people rather than make a statement, then this goblin mask is your go to armor. (buy it now price, $44.50) 5. There are sunglasses in the market that look so large they appear like masks, and this novelty party pair is right on trend. (buy now price, $9.95) 6. A phantom mask is chic, but worn with the right outfit, this brown leather number can put you in another style category. (starting bid, approx. $32)