Viking Women Had Bra Fashion Shows, proclaimed Keith Mcleod in Britain's Daily Record. It seems that "lift and shape" was the norm for bra design centuries - if not millennia - before Playtex even thought about the business of women's undergarments. Apparently these fashion shows were held fireside and colorful bras were designed specifically for the effect they would have before a flickering flame. Archaeologist Annika Larsson is the quoted authority on this ancient Swedish practice:

"It was thought these were shoulder protectors for women carrying heavy loads. But comparing them with figurines found at the site, they seem to have been worn as a metal bra. Vikings took oriental influences and combined them with Nordic clothing. Colours in cloth found in the mud were designed to be shown off in firelight. So the garments had an aesthetic lingerie effect as well as providing support."

Haven't you seen Die Walkure? Those valkyries were carrying heavy loads Annika.

Luella Bartley's recent presentation of her 2008 Fall collection has been making the rounds of the Pagan blogosphere: The White Witch, Sexy Witch. The Wild Hunt has YouTube video of the runway show.

First we had Alexander McQueen's witch-themed collection for Fall of 2007 (my personal coverage: From Coven to Catwalk) and then at Prada this Spring it was faeries everywhere you looked (The Fey at Play at Prada).

Luella wanted "something a bit raw and pagan," she said, and the result is a fantastically fun bunch of dresses, skirts and jackets that make this particular witchy fashionista veritably weak in the knees. Of course I love the iconic outfit with it's black dress and white blouse, whose sleeves give a cheeky nod to Pilgrim garb, worn over bright orange tights and clunky shoes. Would I wear this outfit? You betcha. I might save the pointy hat for Samhain, though.

I also love the ensembles she chose to top off with a woolen faery cap. There were a few of those to choose from, my favorites being the electric blue satin skirt under the grey toggle coat with a blue plaid ruff and the combo of witchy black skirt and green floral jacket. There's that ruff again. Luella must be anticipating that we Pagan girls will be getting lots of action wearing these hot little numbers and will have love bites to hide. Vampire fashion, anyone? Seriously, I could see those LA girls vamping down Sunset Strip wearing some of the dresses from this collection.

And take a look at those red shoes. You could click your heels and go anywhere in those. Thanks Glenda . . . oops, I mean, Luella.

I'll leave the social commentary to Jason Pitzi-Waters, but whatever has gotten into designers these days, I like it. I can literally wear my spirituality on my sleeves and the only questions I'm going to get are going to be "Where can I get one?" and "Do those tights come in green?"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 5:10 PM