DUNEDIN, Fla. — They stand behind a low, wide table filled with fanciful pieces of honeycombed wood, dyed leather, cork and copper leaf, all for corsets.


What You Need To Know

  •  Kelli-Lynn Luckey makes corsets

  •  They will show off their wares at the Wearable Art 17 show on Saturday, August 26 at the Dunedin Fine Art Center

  •  Luckey enjoys playing with color schemes

Kelli-Lynn Luckey is a corset maker under the name Artemis and Aphrodite.

“I think I made my first one when I was 12 with my grandma,” Luckey said..

Since then, Luckey pushed the boundaries of this article of clothing right into Wearable Art 17, the annual all-out art fashion show at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center. The theme for their look: “Enchanted Forest.”

“I started all these in January, so it’s been a long process to get here,” said Luckey.

That’s because they costume down to eye color — the models are wearing white contacts.

“It’s beautiful, but it’s like, haunting,” said Luckey.

And if the wigs match the aesthetic and the model perfectly, it’s because Luckey made those too.

“I am a hairstylist and barber by trade,” they said.

So of course, it only makes sense they would dye their own clothes. They tell us this while showing us a rack of clothing that will accent their corsets. It’s filled with the gauzy, delicate tops modeled on the photo shoot.

“I just had such a specific color scheme in mind,” said Luckey of their green and soft pinkish hues. “And I really like the distressed look that comes with hand dying as well.”

Luckey will complete a dozen corsets, using various mediums, like wood, leather and cork. And they’ll finish up a few ornamental exoskeletons as well.

Luckey says they can create these supportive garments because of the support they’ve received from other artists and crafts persons, especially people at MakerSpace Pinellas, Tandy Leather, Whole Aveda and Del Favero Oasis.

“So there’s really a whole team, behind me, helping me and inspiring me along the way,” said Luckey.

And they’’ll be taking them all down the runway with them to Wearable Art 17.