Christian Joy
Encyclopedia
Christian Joy is an American fashion designer best known for her stage costume designs for Yeah Yeah Yeahs
lead singer Karen O
. Using found articles and occasionally eschewing thread and print for glue and marker pens she has influenced contemporary fashion with punk
and DIY stylings.
Joy was born in Marion, Iowa
, USA. She started designing in Brooklyn
, NYC
in 2000. With no formal training in fashion design, she started creating one of a kind hand-painted/hand-sewn t-shirt
s and re-designing old prom dresses
. She met Karen O in 2001 and the aspiring singer soon became her favorite model. As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs began playing shows Joy designed a fresh outfit for each occasion. As the band's fame grew so did Joy's reputation and, in Sep 2002, she mounted a solo show Brat Style during NYC Fashion week.
As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs achieved international success Joy was able to pursue her designing work full time.
In 2007 her costume designs were featured at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as part of the New York Fashion Now exhibit.
In 2008 Joy took on dressing UK band The Klaxons
persuading them to give up their trademark neon outfits. She collaborated with TopShop
on three limited-edition collections, and released her first personal ready-to-wear
garments.
In Feb 2009 Joy had her first solo exhibition, The Visitors Must Be Amused, at the AVA gallery in NYC. Joy asked associates to write a description of a female being and then designed a costume representing each definition, including one of an alien goddess gown with a whip.
In September 2009 Joy costumes were featured in a Where The Wild Things Are
pop-up shop in Los Angeles.
In 2010 a documentary about Joy and her husband Jason Grisell, directed by Rhett Wade-Ferrell of Australian art/film collective Moop Jaw, will be released.
In January 2010 Joy began selling direct to the public via Etsy
.
magazine in a feature article - 'Even Odds' written by Johanna Lenander - on her Karen O wardrobe. In August 2003 Joy, in a Time
profile, scoffed at her It girl
status. In July 2004 Joy and her designs were a key element of a New York Times Sunday magazine feature about the growing influence of Indie Rock
on fashion. In June 2005 Joy was again featured in Nylon in an article entitled 'Quiet Riot'. December 2005's ELLEgirl
introduced Christian Joy as a guru of 'DIY' Fashion. A follow-up piece in April 2006 re-inforced her status.
In 2008 Joy contributed to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb, mentioning John Waters
as a style inspiration.
In January 2010 Joy's costumes appeared in a photo spread in The Block
's Fame issue. In the accompanying interview, Joy discussed abandoning mass fashion for the DIY approach of using Etsy as her exclusive store. She is also featured in German fashion blog Two For Fashion.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
lead singer Karen O
Karen O
Karen Lee Orzolek , better known by her stage name Karen O, is the vocalist for New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.-Early life:...
. Using found articles and occasionally eschewing thread and print for glue and marker pens she has influenced contemporary fashion with punk
Punk fashion
Punk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications of the punk subculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including...
and DIY stylings.
Career
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, USA. She started designing in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, NYC
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 2000. With no formal training in fashion design, she started creating one of a kind hand-painted/hand-sewn t-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s and re-designing old prom dresses
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
. She met Karen O in 2001 and the aspiring singer soon became her favorite model. As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs began playing shows Joy designed a fresh outfit for each occasion. As the band's fame grew so did Joy's reputation and, in Sep 2002, she mounted a solo show Brat Style during NYC Fashion week.
As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs achieved international success Joy was able to pursue her designing work full time.
In 2007 her costume designs were featured at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as part of the New York Fashion Now exhibit.
In 2008 Joy took on dressing UK band The Klaxons
The Klaxons
The Klaxons were a Belgian accordion based band who had a minor UK hit in 1983 with "The Clap Clap Sound", which reached number 45 in the UK charts...
persuading them to give up their trademark neon outfits. She collaborated with TopShop
Topshop
Topshop is a British clothes retailer with shops in over 20 countries and online operations in a number of its markets. Its sales come primarily from women's clothing and fashion accessories...
on three limited-edition collections, and released her first personal ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear or prêt-à-porter is the term for factory-made clothing, sold in finished condition, in standardized sizes, as distinct from made to measure or bespoke clothing tailored to a particular person's frame. Off-the-peg is sometimes used for items which are not clothing.Ready-to-wear has...
garments.
In Feb 2009 Joy had her first solo exhibition, The Visitors Must Be Amused, at the AVA gallery in NYC. Joy asked associates to write a description of a female being and then designed a costume representing each definition, including one of an alien goddess gown with a whip.
In September 2009 Joy costumes were featured in a Where The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are (film)
Where the Wild Things Are is a 2009 American fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book Where the Wild Things Are. It combines live action, performers in costumes, animatronics, and computer-generated imagery...
pop-up shop in Los Angeles.
In 2010 a documentary about Joy and her husband Jason Grisell, directed by Rhett Wade-Ferrell of Australian art/film collective Moop Jaw, will be released.
In January 2010 Joy began selling direct to the public via Etsy
Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. These items cover a wide range including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, edibles, bath & beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks and toys. Many individuals also sell craft supplies like beads,...
.
Press
Joy received her first major press in the June–July 2003 issue of NylonNylon (magazine)
Nylon is an American magazine that focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel...
magazine in a feature article - 'Even Odds' written by Johanna Lenander - on her Karen O wardrobe. In August 2003 Joy, in a Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
profile, scoffed at her It girl
It girl
"It girl" is a term for a young woman who possess the quality "It", absolute attraction.The early usage of the concept "it" in this meaning may be seen in a story by Rudyard Kipling: "It isn't beauty, so to speak, nor good talk necessarily. It's just 'It'."...
status. In July 2004 Joy and her designs were a key element of a New York Times Sunday magazine feature about the growing influence of Indie Rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
on fashion. In June 2005 Joy was again featured in Nylon in an article entitled 'Quiet Riot'. December 2005's ELLEgirl
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
introduced Christian Joy as a guru of 'DIY' Fashion. A follow-up piece in April 2006 re-inforced her status.
In 2008 Joy contributed to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book Cherry Bomb, mentioning John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
as a style inspiration.
In January 2010 Joy's costumes appeared in a photo spread in The Block
The Block
-Places:231 North Vandeventer Saint Louis MO, 63108.Australia* The Block , the first Aboriginal land handbackUnited States* The Block at Orange, an open-air shopping and entertainment mall located in Southern California...
's Fame issue. In the accompanying interview, Joy discussed abandoning mass fashion for the DIY approach of using Etsy as her exclusive store. She is also featured in German fashion blog Two For Fashion.
External links
- christianjoy.us
- CHRISTIAN JOY NEWS!
- Photos of some Karen O costumes
- Urban Outfitters Where The Wild Things Are costume pics
- Designing Minds: Christian Joy Video interview, March 2009
- Alison Miller video interview Jan 2010
- Christian Joy Fashion film by Claire Carré
