Webelow Wear

Jeri Ellsworth in Diana Eng's LED Lashes

The world of Wearable Makeup has added some competition for Soomi Park’s show stopping LED Eyelashes. We were very impressed with Park’s fashionable wearable lashes, but we are excited to see the latest improvements to the idea.

Diana Eng, of Bravo’s Project Runway Season 2 fame, continues to innovate the fashion world with wearable projects, and has added LED Lashes to her long list of accomplishments.  Eng created these upgraded lashes for Jeri Ellsworth, winner of the 2012 Makey Hero Award, at the 2nd Annual Makey Awards at World Maker Faire.

Coin-cell battery pinned behind Jeri's ear

Eng’s lashes are a bit more dramatic with the use of feather lashes, and there’s no inclination sensor like Park’s lashes.  We found most notable, however, the consideration to decreasing the footprint of the project. Powered by a coin-cell battery, the wires between the LEDs and battery are much more subtle than Park’s project. Additionally, the idea of pinning the battery (wired to the LEDs)  behind the Jeri’s ear with wig tape and masking the pinned battery with Jeri’s hair is creative and clever.

We wonder if the next iteration of LED Lashes will be a wireless pair?

MACHINA's Midi Controller Jacket v1.0

MACHINA, a group of independent developers and designers living in Mexico,  has created the Midi Controller Jacket ($285-$2600), an advanced functional yet fashionable wearble, that transmits music notes to a speaker based on the user’s movements and interactions with the jacket sensors.

[Insert sped up record rewind sound here]

This means beat makers with dancing skills, or dancers with a penchant for music making can create killer beats with the pop-and-lock of an arm. Potentiometers, four push buttons, a flex sensor, and a joy stick can be configured by the user through a mobile app.

Making music not really your gig? No worries, because their fully funded kickstarter video explains that MACHINA is also working on a HACKSTORE with open source code, where users can upload their own presets and programs to add more functionality to the jacket like mixing videos or interacting with a Kinect.

With a ton of other products under their belt, including thermochromic t-shirts (that remind us of this interesting Polar Ice Cap Shirt), MACHINA is definitely a group of wearables celebrities we’ll be looking out for.

Check out their demo video below for more information.

Neon Nancy "Pink Squiggly" Light Up Bra

Neon Nancy offers a variety of in-your-face wearables for the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) fan and dares you to dance.

The designers use very simple wearable technology, but tap an already huge market that grows every time a newly released pop song adds that fist-pumping  sound you thought only came out of dark and sweaty rave clubs.

The Light Up Bra ($65 – $70) uses hand sewn EL wire, 2 AA batteries, and has 3 visual settings for a steady, blinking, or strobe light look.

The Sound Activated Light Up Bra ($80) takes the standard – if you can call it that – light up bra to a new level and supplements the bass throbbing music with your own personal coordinated light show.

But if this isn’t creative enough for you or if product names like Squiggly, Hypnotize Illusion, and Wavy don’t really define your personal style, try their custom light up bras starting at $80.

And let’s not forget the fellas. There is a line of tanks and tees, but we are most interested in the Laser Reactive collection ($25.50 – $34). These shirts are covered in glow ink and allows the wearer to “write” a temporary message with the included LED pin light.  You can check out their demo video here.

We will continue to watch for new Neon Nancy products and invite you to read their blog for all your EDM needs.

Add the Arduino powered laces and Kayne, Weezy and Ricseasons  come to mind as  a few people we can see sporting these.

Check out these creative creations by Creative Recreation.

Via [Fashioning Technology]

MUST…HAVE…THESE…

Fiber Optic Heels??!!!  Jimmy Choo, please sit down.

Via [Ecouterre]

It was a battle of the wearable outfits on last night’s MTV Movie Awards. Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera both sported an LED design and literaly lit up the stage. At first glance we weren’t sure if Perry was keeping up with her last wearable design, but upon closer inspection she was just keeping it simple. Light up daisy dukes and pink top? Why not! Glitter is so passé.

Xtina may have taken the top and very naughty position however. While a bit more subtle with just a simple white light in the palm of each fingerless glove, it was the growing heart crotch shot that may have gotten your attention. Considering her new album name – Bionic – we may see a lot more wearable designs from Xtina. We cannot wait!

Check out both performances and outfits after the jump!

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Valérie Lamontagne of Electromode has a fabulous DIY LED Dress on sale for $250 Canadian Dollars. The symetrical or asymetrical designs use sensors that respond to changes in light, temperature or acceleration and activate a series of lights on the dress.

The kit includes:

• Dress pattern and graphics printed on 100% cotton
• Lining pattern and circuit guides printed on Polyester Blend
• Conductive zipper
• Programmed lilypad arduino
• 15 LEDs
• Conductive thread
• Batteries and charger included

We think this is a great project for students or rising enthusiasts to have hands-on experience in inetegrating werable technology into clothing.  This will inspire and hopefully motivate those DIY-ers to create other innovative wearable designs.

Via [FashioningTechnology]

Janet Hansen is President and Chief Fashion Engineer of Enlighted Designs, Inc., a California based business that creates custom illuminated clothing.  With over 10 years of experience, she founded the business to create her ideal position as a light-up clothing designer and it has taken her further than she ever anticipated. With a growing celebrity clientele that includes Kanye West, MIA, Daft Punks and Katy Perry (just to name a few) Hansen has mastered illuminated clothing for the stage performance. Janet is a one stop shop for light up clothing.  She makes her own controller circuits and seems to have a real pulse on making solid light-oriented wearables. Her company offers everything from ready-to-wear limited edition pieces like hats, ties and bras,  to more Lady Gaga-esque custom orders that fulfill your every visual need.  

Interested in learning how to light up your own pieces? Check out Janet’s Instructables on a LED and EL based designs.

Via [MrLightPainting]

What’s a wearable upgrade?  It’s taking any clothing or accessory and adding some element of wearable technology to the design.  Still not clear? Take Rhianna’s Alexandre Vauthier jacket and dress illuminated and developed by innovative fashion designer  Mortiz Waldemeyer .

The couture dress uses a combination of compressed gas systems  and video capable LED circuits to light up the stage (and her dress) with a moving light sequence . 

Just a week after Katy Perry’s CuteCircuit gown, Rhianna may have upped the ante. 

Via [FashioningTechnology]

Biggest red carpet faux pas: wearing  the same outfit as someone else.  Katy Perry, of course, had nothing to worry at last night’s MET Gala.  Infact, the spotlight was on her CuteCircuit couture gown with flowing silk chiffon and over 3000 LEDs creating a rainbow of colours shimmering around her.  

Our vote: the best way to show up the celeb-competition at the Oscars of Fashion.

Read more about CuteCircuit after the jump!

Via [TheSuperficial]

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