Queen's Rocket
Edwardian and Steampunk Chic
Photo by Forester Michael. Makeup by Andrew Chambers.
Queen’s Rocket, by Jon Fulton Adams, is about an aesthetic, not just a line of clothing. Adams, a graduate of Savannah’s College of Art and Design celebrates “the natural decay of things, and the idea that everything’s finite.” Savannah, a lovely, creepy Southern town filled with garlands of Spanish moss, cobwebs, and the slow, sultry Southern mentality definitely feeds this notion.
So does Adams’ lifestyle. His studio, housed in his exquisite three-story brick home shared with partner Ron Megee, feeds this aesthetic as well. The gorgeous home boasts exposed brick, scraped wood floors, original details, vibe, and the ostentatious yet tarnished bling that defines his line.
Adams adapts vintage patterns for his men’s wear using sometimes new, sometimes vintage, sometimes upholstery fabric as a foundation for his incredibly romantic treatments. Then he incorporates embellishments such as vintage beading, burnt-out cobwebs (my favorite!), and skulls. “I think there’s something really beautiful about the macabre, the dusky, the dark,” says Adams.
Adams is a well-known local costumer for stages like Unicorn Theatre and the Coterie. His mentor, Mary Traylor, is the person who first inspired him to leave the 9-5 world. “She told me that fashion design and art history equals costume design.” Before finding inspiration with Traylor, Adams designed the interior for Anthropologie on the Plaza and opened Prada in Halls. There was safety in the retail aspect to his career, but it couldn’t compare with the inspiration he draws from the inherent creativity and energy found in live theatre.
As a costumer, Adams was used to being told what others’ needs were, but was ready to express his own aesthetic. He has a broad vision for Queen’s Rocket’s future. With a trip to Magic [fashion industry show] in February planned, he intends to market a lifestyle brand. He hopes that licensing is in Queen’s Rocket future including fragrance and interior designs as a way to spread the Edwardian Steampunk chic. This extension of Queen’s Rocket seems a natural. Adams says: “I’m as inspired by Edwardian sofas as much as I am Edwardian vests.”
You will continue to find Adams’ designs on stage. He will design all but two of the performances at the Unicorn Theatre in the upcoming season. He also draws a great deal of inspiration from his theatrical costuming. One show in particular, Grey Gardens,” fed his Queen’s Rocket love during his research process.
Photo by Forester Michael. Makeup by Andrew Chambers.
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