Inspiration

"Inspiration is an awakening, a quickening of all man's faculties, and it is manifested in all high artistic achievements." ~ Giacomo Puccini

Ancient Greeks believed that Inspiration was a blessing from the muses, who instilled a sort of poetic madness... In Norse mythology, Inspiration was a gift from the Gods. Percy Bysshe Shelley thought one must be attuned to 'mystical winds,' that the souls of certain poets were able to receive such visions. In the 20th century, Freud attributed Inspiration to the inner psyche of the artist, while Jung decided it must come from deep, encoded memory...

We see Inspiration as the residue of of dreams, catalyzed by a strong, visceral reaction to things we perceive as more than what we are... The magic is the knowing of what we are able to create... The belief of what we can become.

Whatever the origin of Inspiration, it is undeniable that Art begets Art, and we hope our ever-expanding Collection of Costume Inspiration serves to fuel a bit of your furor poeticus... (May this be especially helpful to any of our guests taking on the ambitious COSTUMERS' CHALLENGE!) Please also see: The List of Legendary Creatures.

(These images are what we consider to be excellent examples of "Fantasy High Fashion" as it currently exists, and each have been credited to their source, to the best of our knowledge. Please maintain copyrights when sharing. Thank you!)