Would Danielle Knustgraichen Wear That?

Clowns are news these days. Reports of frightening clowns roaming the streets with violent intentions have occupied a corner of contemporary legend research since long before Pennywise hit the scene, but have become epidemic this year. With all this bad press, it can be hard for a clown to not get down about it all.

“Clowns represent kindness, friendliness, to me,” Danielle says. “I use clowning a lot in my youth workshops.” Hula-hoop, fire dancing/eating, and juggling are among the many other circus arts she practices, which makes her life an interesting mish-mash of kids’ birthday parties, circus arts workshops, and performances at events from raves to heavy metal shows. Totally fun, but Danielle sees her work as her gift to the larger community.

“Circus is a vehicle for social change’ she tells me. Her work with Halifax Circus taught her a lot about how circus arts help at risk youth. They do outreach into the community, a program called Circus Circle that teaches circus skills like juggling and unicycling, which require discipline to learn and thus impart self confidence when mastered, within a safe and supportive space.

Her style is every bit as theatrical as she is when performing, but interestingly she has had the least to say of anyone yet in this column when it came to the actual clothes presented. “ I would wear all this stuff” she says.

Faux Fur Coat (From Del Sol)

Fur and leather are strong for fall, but this month I look at alternatives. The faux gorilla shown here from Del Sol mimics a piece worn by Cookie Lyon (Empire), but becomes festival fashion when the hood is up and the kitten ears are visible.

Pleather Bomber (from Posie Row)

Posie Row offers up this twist on outerwear. Cut like a cozy cardigan, but made of pleather and knit trimmed like a bomber. Another vegetarian friendly piece.

Chinoiserie (from Le Boudoir)

A spring menswear trend that has bled right into the women’s fall/winter shows as the boho look loosens its grip for something more opulent. This shirt by Le Boudoir is stunning, Danielle appreciates the simplicity of the line.

Bubble Goth (from Living Planet)

Pastel goth has given way to a brighter colour palette of bubblegum pink and purple, but the look is still essentially Hello Kitty meets Siouxsie Sioux. Mimi Stockland’s ‘hot off the presses’ new shirt from Living Planet Studios is particularly poignant to a woman who wants us to know that clowns are “not creepy.” (artwork in this photo: Kira Sheppard).

Danielle is hosting an object manipulation workshop, Nov. 5th, at Cirque’letics on Topsail Road.