MARIA:
Icon of Dangerous Robotic Style
Brigitte Helm as the two Marias in Fritz Lang's 1927 deco-scifi masterpiece METROPOLIS has it all goin' on: Sweet, understated woman-of-the-people, uber-stylized evil robotrix, uber-stylized robot disguised as hip-shakin' temptress, and uber-stylized evil robotrix disguised as sweet, understated woman-of-the-people. That disguise can't work for long... After all, when you're that smokin' hot underneath, it just has to come to the surface.
The robot Maria's memorable and influential exoskeletal skin was crafted of polymerized wood fiber. The original no longer exists and was most likely destroyed in the Second World War. But the image lives on to influence design and pop culture for generations to come...
...to watch my METROPOLIS-inspired music video of obsessive Maria lust. Better yet, feel free to support the arts by downloading the song here:
...make me hot.
is this magnificent creation for Maria in her seduce-'em-at-the-Yoshiwara look. The sheer silk top is almost redundant. I mean, who's gonna notice?
...in your skin, it's time for a change. Evil Maria is about to lose her disguise to the flames. But, really, isn't she hot enough?
Even this soul-sucking, Maria-transferring device.
...you'd dance, too. Admit it.
...there's a team of stylists. Brigitte Helm cools herself so her hot outfit won't set the room on fire.
...fabulous
...there was robotrix Maria to show us how hard + soft = hot.
are evident in Evil Maria's super-flex dance moves.
...unless they give you a wicked exoskeleton.
...and he's not tellin'. Because he's dead.
...are made for this.
glowing candles, and angelic look can't fool us. Or can they? The chaste, shapeless bodice and plain collar give it away: It's Good Maria... the one who WON'T give it away.
...there was Maria to tell us that hips don't lie. Except these do, because they conceal a robot.
...there was Lady Maria. Everything old is new again. But never as drop dead awesome.
One last touch from the style team and this model is ready to hit the runway.
In fashion, it's not what you see, or what you don't see... It's what you think you MIGHT see that keeps you looking.
Fashion season, Fall 1927.
Just wow.
All it takes is the right stylist. And black magic. And 40,000 volts.
The runway was made for Maria, and Maria was made for the runway.