You’ve probably heard of The Atomic Bombshells burlesque troupe, right? Those gorgeous and talented ladies that travel the world performing classic, vaudeville-style burlesque? Well, I was lucky enough to score a “volunteer pick up artist” position for one of their Columbia City shows last month, and while I was frantically picking up rose petals, satin gloves and costume bits, I couldn’t help but be totally dazzled by all the amazing costumes both being artfully taken off the performing artists, and the extras hanging up in the dressing room. As it turns out, the woman who creates the costumes for the troupe is a performer herself! I later learned that not only does she perform with The Atomic Bombshells and design and create all their costumes; she is a wedding dress designer, clothing designer, choreographer, and a small business owner. Impressed? Me too! One of my favorite excerpts from her website: “In 2005, I happened to be walking past a little retail location available on Capitol Hill. 29 days later I was open for business.” (Visit her website for a more comprehensive look at what she does – the gallery is incredible)
Fast forward to the first week in December, when Jamie is gracious enough to not only let me come visit her studio for an interview, but also recruits me to help her with a show she was doing that night. I had such a great time hopping into a cupid onesie, a pink wig, and wrangling a giant balloon-clad heart into the cab with Jamie down to Sodo. Because the night was so much fun, the interview got lost in the fray (Um, free champagne and cupcakes at the event. Enough said?) so below you’ll find our via e-mail interview. Enjoy! 
The lovely and charming Jamie Von Stratton (© Jennie Lee Photography)
What sparked your interest in fashion/costuming?
Bjork. Bjork was the first pop icon (I grew up in the MTV generation) who I completely identified with. Amidst all these blonde Madonna/Sun-In California girls, was this short, weird, brunette, elf girl. I remembered thinking, “Oh, I can be different, and it’s still cool.” Plus, she loved Ren and Stimpy as much as me! After then I followed her closely and all the designers she’d wear…like Alexander Mcqueen. ‘Nuff Said with that one! He blew my mind.
What creative steps do you take when confronted with a new, open-ended project?
I like to ask the client what they are, and aren’t into. Having a completely open-ended project still needs direction. Trust me, I’ve worked with clients who want a “corseted, backless, push-up dress that is short but also long” yeah, it happens. You have to learn how to take the aspects that the client likes, and pick the elements that work well together. But always remember, you are the designer, so use your filtering and design abilities to make it look cohesive. Fashion is an art, and nothing is guaranteed, so every project is a challenge, testing your abilities to be creative, innovative, but edit.
What are your greatest sources of inspiration?
I follow all the fashion weeks fairly closely. Seeing other designers come up with designs I’ve never even dreamed of, makes me really jealous, but really motivated. It’s a bittersweet pill. Ha!
What is one thing that you wish you hadn’t learned the hard way?
Everything! (teasing) My intern gets school credit with me, and sometimes she shows me what she’s learned that week, and I’m like, ‘Well Hell, all these years I’ve been doing it the hard way!” I’ve never had real formal training, or superior critiques. I wouldn’t take away my 10 years of experience, but sometimes I wish I had training in all the little things I missed. Hey that’s what youtube is for. Don’t underestimate the “How To” videos.
About how many costumes, wedding dresses and special projects do you average per month?
It varies. My ideal world would be one or two big spectacular ensembles a month, peppered in with small cocktail and party wear projects here and there, plus work on my retail line. That always sits on the back-burner, unfortunately.
Lost In Space - The Atomic Bombshells
Any favorite project that you can recall?
Lost In Space. That show was a milestone for me. All the obsession with Bjork, McQueen, Chalayan, and sci-fi since I was 19, finally came to use. And I have the skills to make it all….but, boy I wish I’d had employees, a HUGE budget, and about three more months. I made all those costumes by hand in one month, with periodic help from two wonderful interns. A total of 46 looks, head to toe, in about 30 days, plus I’m a key dancer in the show and had the much anticipated epic Barbarella act. It’s a lot, considering I really had to design each costume to have a different special feature. Like, Kitten La Rue’s Saturn Costume, I really had to put the McQueen (jeez how many times have I mentioned him here?) bowl neckline, as my personal tribute to the late designer. And Ivy’s Robot I’d found this super special mirror fabric, that I figured out how to sew, and we made her skirt out of that. Ironically Lady Gaga used the same fabric for a dress on her tour a few months later…then *mysteriously* that material went discontinued. Coincidence?, Or did she buy it all out so no one would ever make another dress out of it….hummmm 
What would you say is the most gratifying thing about your buisness/profession?
Getting to work for myself. It’s great. I have to work really hard, but it’s worth it.
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So, my camera is just a little point and shoot so it really didn’t do her studio the justice it deserves. Below are the best shots I could produce. I hope they give you at least a glimpse into all the beautiful works I got to see!
This wall of costumes totally took my breath away. Each one is a work of art!
My costume!
If you want to keep up with Jamie and the Bombshells, check out their blogs:
jvonstratton.blogspot.com
theatomicbombshells.blogspot.com