WOW Wearable Art Costume Dress & Detachable Feather Details

This striking wearable art black costume dress was handcrafted in Wellington, NZ, and is believed to have been created as an entry for a wearable art awards competition, most likely between the early 2000s and mid-2010s.

Designed as a dramatic, theatrical piece rather than a conventional garment, the dress showcases considered costume construction, combining machine sewing with hand-crafted detailing throughout.

The bodice features a corset-style lace-up back and a side zip closure for structure and fit. The skirt is fully lined, softly curved, and falls slightly longer at the back, adding movement and visual weight when worn or displayed. The sleeves feature tied detailing from shoulder to cuff, creating intentional openings along the arms.

Two sculptural feather elements accompany the dress:

A detachable feather collar, worn at the neckline

A detachable feather bustle, secured with dome snap attachments at the back

Both feather components are removable, highlighting the modular nature of the original design.

Based on proportions, the dress is estimated to fit a Small to possibly Medium, though exact sizing is best determined by measurements due to its one-off construction.

Approximate Meaurements

Length: 145cm
Bust: 85cm
Hip: 90cm

This is a one-of-a-kind piece, created as an artistic costume rather than a mass-produced item. While full provenance details are limited, the quality of materials, construction methods, and overall design strongly reflect Wellington’s wearable art scene of the period.

A rare opportunity to acquire a New Zealand–made wearable art garment, equally suited to collectors, display, costume archives, or private collections.

Shipping

Vault items ship via tracked, insured courier.

This item forms part of The Vault — Planet Retro’s curated selection of rare, story-driven pieces. As such this item is sold as-is. Please review all images and measurements carefully before purchasing.

👉 For background, context, and additional detail, please see the accompanying Collector Note for this garment.