Talented costume designers are being given the chance to showcase their creations at Liverpool’s Vogue Ball.

Organisers want flamboyant costumes for the event which takes place at the Invisible Wind Factory this October.

Inspired by the underground balls in the 60s and 70s in New York’s LGBT communities, the House of Suarez Vogue Balls give opportunities for both professional and community artists to compete using dance, costume, makeup and styling.

Groups of artists come together in teams – known as ‘Houses’ – and do battle on a runway in any or all of five categories in front of an audience as well as a panel of industry judges.

Two categories focus on dance style and technique, while the other three focus on costume, character and presentation.

Each year the houses compete around a given theme with past themes including ‘Twisted Fairy Tales’, ‘Gods and Monsters’, ‘A Space Oddity and The Sugar Ball’. In 2017/18 the theme will be ‘Seven Deadly Sins’.

Darren Suarez from the House of Suarez says: “This is the third consecutive year we’ll be running the House of Suarez costume commissions, but the first time we’ll be calling out for designers from across the UK.

“In both previous years the standard of design and creativity from Northern designers has been stunning.

“We’re very much looking forward to upping the game this year and seeing what can be produced at a national level.”

The commission is open to any costume artist aged 18 or over and based within the UK. Organisers welcome applications from artists in training, emerging artists or experienced designers.

One design will be selected for each of the three costume categories by a panel of industry professionals, and the artists will be awarded a budget in order to realise the design into a wearable costume.

The three categories within the Seven Deadly Sins theme are ‘Fantasy’, ‘Realness’ and ‘Sex Siren’.

All costumes will be presented as part of the Liverpool Ball on Saturday 21 October and the Manchester Ball in Spring 2018.

Costumes can be designed for any gender and House of Suarez will select models/performers for the selected commissions informed by the chosen design.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 28 July.

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