Is That Your Scapula Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

A scapular art dress created by artist Rachel Wright, available on Etsy for $900.

This piece is called “Scapular” because of the wing-like velvet shoulder blades that grace the back. The slip is a rayon slip probably from the 50’s that I dyed a scarlet red. I then used a variety of different fabrics for the appliqué: velvet, silk for the many petaled breast & kidney, a recycled sari for the flower-heart, recycled leather for the tentacles on the bottom, and moiré silk for the vertebrae.

Related: "The Visible Woman Stalks the Catwalk." (Via Trend de la Creme.)

• [Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator]

  This is cool. I’d accessorize it with fine metal chain jewelry that fastened to my left ear, ran down the side of my neck, and branched off into little termini that were pinned to appropriate spots on the dress, to simulate the path of the vagus nerve.

  RazorDU30, you sound just like my godfather the EMT.

• [Anonymous]

  This and a bunch of other pieces of hers are showing at the Halsey Gallery at the College of Charleston right now as part of a show called Mend.

  Tons of great sewn items and even eye glasses made of hair.

  Aww Yeah

• [Takuan]

  “A scapular (from Latin scapula, shoulder) is a length of cloth suspended both front and back from the shoulders of the wearer, that varies in shape, colour, size and style depending on the use to which it is being put, namely whether in Christian monasticism or in Christian devotion.”

• [SplendidMarbles]

  That is totally wild – but just a touch out of my price range.

• [LSK]

  Somehow I think it’d work better as a corset.

• [Kieran O’Neill]

  #2: You’d have to shift the organs around a little if it were a corset…

• [razordu30]

  Why is there a bone going from the cervical vertabrae through the scapula? It’s like she took the manubrium from the sternum, slapped it into the spine like a vertabrae, then had the clavicles run through the spine of the scapula.

  If the scapulas were designed like this, you wouldn’t be able to thrust your chest out. In fact, if you see the girl wearing this, you should challenge her to do exactly that.

  “I say, this is anatomically incorrect! Thrust your chest out!”

  She’ll enjoy that.

• [Anonymous]

  She really should see a specialist about that scoliosis (unnatural curvature of the spine).

• [FoetusNail]

  This is beautiful. Does she have scoliosis?

• [wolfiesma]

  With a touch of editing, I’d say its one of the coolest things I’ve seen if fashion in ages. I could imagine so many versions of this design. Applique anatomy on pants, shirts, jackets. Very nice work.

• [sallyrover]

  Ladies and gentleman, I think Tilda Swinton has her next dress for the Oscars! Love this!