Finally someone who is doing something for men--giving them better latex. Melissa Coffey took some time before launching her new sites, her new line of latex, and prepping for the German Fetish Ball to allow me to pester her.
PD: The fetish fashion scene, with the models, the photographers, and the magazines can be such a land o’ drama, no? How do you deal with that?
COFFEY: I guess I dodge in and out. I am a business, so I have to make money. Unfortunately, there are those unknowns in business that lead you one way or another, and I guess I may be stingy sometimes, but I also give too much at other times. I mainly give too much of my time to stay perfectly balanced in my life.
With the amount of photographers and models, jeez. I lend and loan as much as I can. The samples end up haggard and roam the world sometimes. I cut back on it when things turn up missing, but keeping the samples where they need to be was very important until now, where I may have more inventory!!
A secret--pay shipping for the samples to be loaned and wash them after use!!! I hate washing smoky yucky stuff. I don't care how fab you are
PD: Have you found some people to work with that you particularly like?
COFFEY: That is always in flux. Too much, if you ask me. I recently found that model turned photog Carla Allen has me absolutely on my knees for her work.
PD: What first interested you in fashion?
COFFEY: I started drawing as a tiny kid. One of my Cinderella books was drawn by Hillary Knight. I loved illustration and I loved the idea that clothing could transform you. I spent most of my time in my mind and at a drawingtable, but somehow I was always drawing figures in clothing. Thank goodnessthere are careers in fashion illustration.
PD: What kind of education did you find to help you learn about fashion?
COFFEY:Bachelor of Fine arts in Fashion design and Marketing. When I was 15, a fashion maven in Atlanta made me meet Betsey Johnson and ask her what to do. She, of course, said, "go to school and get to know your machine."
PD: Which was first fashion or latex?
COFFEY: The idea of the costume or clothing empowering the person, then fashion and then latex. I started wearing latex at 15 years old--scary. I had been wearing clubby clothes and really fell in love with dancing, and had been exposed to concerts my entire life, but never clubs. Oh my god, I'm still addicted to dressing up and dancing all night..
PD: How do you keep from being repetitive or being too much like other
designers?
COFFEY: I just do what I want. Maybe it is repetitive. Maybe it's too much like others. I offer something and some people like it. I have themes that are recurrent in my style and I have no problem with them repeating. I have so many themes and obsessions that it keeps creation flowing. I do get frustrated occasionally. Then I develop a new technique and try to stay a little bit ahead. I tinker with everything from airbrush, sculpting, printing, fabric creation, anything I can get my hands on.
If you don't want to look like others, however, you must refuse to look at
their work.
PD: Do you have fashion shows and if so at which events?
COFFEY: I mainly have done local events, some out of state. This year we will present at German Fetish Ball and I am very excited. I don't know if it will be too difficult but I will take a stab at it with a well sharpened knife. I always try to support the local and projects I like, but mainly it turns out to be who asks or begs at the right time. the Buckle Ball was my last event and it was by far the best event I have been a part of--absolutely amazing, and it was so well organized. Thirty models with full makeup and hair extensions all onstage at once. I had clothes I hadn't fitted yet and it all came off so well.
PD: What’s the nuttiest thing that’s happened to you with a model or event?
COFFEY: Well, I often polish up male models and then realize what's in their pants. I'd say that would be "nutty." I often have to readjust things and it makes me nervous and sweaty every time! I am so shy! I am pretty clinical about tucking a thong in just right for a photo but somewhere in my mind I know I am thinking something fleeting, maybe.
PD: What are the five attributes of a fabulous fetish fashionista?
COFFEY: 1. "she" --I say that in the loosest gender i can--has assistance when she dresses. Her helper adores the service
2. The fashionista understands what makes her look good, how to show up at an event and turn the entire scene up a notch.
3. If she wears the same thing twice out of rotation, she looks just as good the second time around.
4. She looks fabulous at non-fetish events. To be truly fashionable is a way of life. You must operate with a sense of style
5. The fabulous fashionista has confidence from within, poise and some social grace, and loves to play and party!
PD: If I were a latex catsuit, how would you shine me?
COFFEY: Well if you were a catsuit, I'd pour pour bodyglide into you and squish it around with my hands. However, if you were a hot boi or chica inside a latex catsuit, I'd shine by putting silicone lube in my hands to warm them up and, standing behind you, firmly grab your arms .
pressing them into your body and slide down with my hands making you watch in the mirror. From the arms to the waist and up the chest into an embrace with my hands at your shoulders and back down wiping side seams to the ankles, around the legs and up between them, requesting a little bend at the hips to rub your crotch with one hand and polish up the butt and the back with the other. Then we put shoes on...
PD: Beads and latex???
COFFEY: What?? At least I didn't embroider it! The beads are awesome for the showgirl within. There's nothing like taking one element to another level. Beaded panties and corsets make your swinging hips into a percussion instrument of delight
PD: Where do you sell your clothing lines? Just on-line, or are there stores that are blessed? Are there stores that need to get it where the sun don’t shine because they’re have apprehensions carrying a newer, non-European designer?
COFFEY: Non-European makes me laugh. hard. is is true? there is only talent in the continent of Europe? Hail Europa.
I sell online and anywhere you can find me in person, but for now I am giving precedence to Liberator.com while the rest of Vesperi is being shot and vesperi.com is being finished. if you didn't know yet. designing lingerie is my career. I sell silk, leather, pasties and latex via Liberator.com They are all my work.
PD: What other fabrics do you use?
COFFEY: Vesperi currently only sells latex. I do combine with fabrics at times, but all latex centric However as the designer Melissa Coffey for Liberator, I sell items made of leathers, silks, mesh, swarovski's, sequins, etc.
PD: Most of your designs center around gussied up lingerie sets. Are you inspired by burlesque fashion?
COFFEY: I am. I love being able to zip off into other layers. I love a woman being decorated and people looking layered and sharp! I always loved the retro circus as well. Contortionists, aerialists, might as well throw in some carousel horses. I'm such a girl. I can be boy too, but my boy right now is still gussied up as a dandy of some sort. I think the dandy and the woman who gets on stage has the same confidence and prowess.
PD: I have yet to see any good latex for men. Really. They just look silly in it. Opinions on that?
COFFEY: They do not! just wait, I'll send you some photos of my menswear. I dislike latex that simply looks like seamless second skin, unless you intend to look naked. I feel that's where menswear has been stuck.
PD: Ever see a model or partygoer in an outfit that you just wanted to rip of and have them start all over again?
COFFEY: 80% of them, but usually their hair, makeup and poise looks just as dumb. It's very tragic to see someone who has it all together except their latex and it doesn't happen too often. When it does, i go talk to them and i give them a discount, they are often new-ish models that just need a wardrobe.
PD: What makes a piece good for you? How many times do you redo a design until it’s perfect?
COFFEY: I don't redo much, twice if any. I always fit my custom customers and alter if necessary before it is finished. For my own wardrobe, I always have to take in a seam.
PD: What’s ahead? When does your new line come out? And do you give out samples to nice web interviewers?
COFFEY: What is ahead is here almost. Liberator.com first, then Vesperi.com will be finished. Then I am on my way to Berlin German Fetish Ball.
Vesperi has a very strong full menswear line and women's as well. I will be creating some things for German Fetish Ball that are new and I am still stuck in this glittering starlet phase with all the beading. I'm not sure. I want to offer pieces that someone doesn't ever pass up in their closet. I hate that. I want my clients to just clench their jaws while they wait for the opportunity to put an outfit on. I want them to find themselves wearing it in the house with their lovers and dressing up and snapping photos and cracking whips.
If you're intersted in finding out more on all her projects and perhaps doing a bit of shopping, Coffey has plenty of ways for you to reach out and touch her.
Melissa Coffey
Designer/ Head of Apparel
Liberator.com
Vesperi.com
info@vesperi.com
