"Pomp and Circumstance" 

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Starring: Phoenix and Carmine

Presenting -- his lordship Carmine Dragon, late of the Qulari Wars and  Ambassador to the Drakian Empire, and his consort, her serene grace, the Dame Phoenix Albastru.  (If all this sounds a bit pretentious to you, well, it's supposed to!!) With these costumes and personas, we had about two years to develop them and let them evolve, before we ever even learned about CostumeCon!!  (Phoenix laid an egg on stage -- literally! -- much to Carmine's shock and amazement!!)

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Just about the biggest thrill we ever got while competing in this set of costumes
happened at NASFIC '95 (hosted that year by Dragon*Con in Atlanta) --
we were going across backstage after the competition, and
Don Maitz and Michael Whelan were lying in wait for us with
their cameras at the ready, and requesting us to stop and pose for them.
-- oh - my --

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Costume and mask designs are copyrighted by Cheryl Mandus. All rights are reserved.

Details of Phoenix, <----------- and Carmine. ------------>

Photos by  A.Mandus.

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Here is a close-up detail  of "Phoenix".  All her jewels were  hand-picked from  a variety of stalls at the local antique malls and  junque shops, and are all  antique Austrian crystal,  including the earrings  hidden under the five  pound mane of feathers,  and an anklet beneath  her tafetta skirt.  They were then quite properly cannibalized to her own tastes.  Photo by Ben Mandus.

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All costume and mask designs are copyrighted by Ryl Mandus.

All rights are reserved. 

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