Silversärk

Casa
Italia
Venice
Silversärk

Ready-To-Wear and Bespoke clothing hand-crafted by Stephanie Schultz. www.silversark.com I am inspired by folklore, by the tales that evoke superstition and woe.

http://mediamilwaukee.com/features/victorian-in-the-city-showcasing-fashion-in-a-dressed-down-city

W h a t ' s I n A N a m e ? The name of my brand comes from the story of a Werewolf and a Princess, from the Swedish folk band Garmarna's song "Varulven." The Princess gets lost in the woods and happens upon a wolf-man set to prey upon her. She pleads with the creature, "Oh dear wolf, please don't b

ite me, I will give you my Silver Gown (Silversärk) " She offers her silver shoes and even her golden crown, but even that won't sate the beast. All it wants is her blood. I find this song to be a perfect blend of what it is I try to create. I am fascinated by the macabre, but also by the pageantry and elegance of historical costume, namely Elizabethan through Victorian times. I strive to make beautiful as well as atypical clothing that is extravagant yet accessible. A s A D e s i g n e r
I am a self-taught seamstress and designer; I have been sewing for ten years, and started up Silversärk in 2005 to provide high-quality Goth, Lo**ta, Steampunk and avant-garde clothing to the Midwest and internationally. I have an active Etsy page (my website is currently down but I am working on it), and I also gladly work on commission. I feel everyone should wear clothing as unique as they are, and take pride in my one-of-a-kind pieces. I am published in multiple magazines and have worked with many models and photographers all over the country (and Europe!) If you want to model my items but are not near my location, I do offer a rental system and am willing to send items if you coordinate the photoshoot. I also offer a different rental system for photographers interested in creating a unique and stunning editorial. I do NOT shoot TF unless the editorial is guaranteed publication. My clothing is an offshoot of Japanese Street Fashion (Lo**ta); it has nothing to do with the Vladimir Nabokov novel and everything to do with an updated and cute Rococo/Victorian style. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo**ta_fashion

A s A P h o t o g r a p h e r
I'm kind of a jack of all trades: I love doing photography, I can do makeup/styling, as well as modeling. I am currently looking for models to shoot in/near the Milwaukee area who want to expand their portfolio. I also travel to Racine a few times a year, so I may be able to coordinate shoots with models in Kenosha or Milwaukee as well. I am able to occasionally travel to Madison, WI and Chicago, Illinois, and Cincinnati and Mansfield, OH. but do not currently have plans to do so. I am NOT currently able to compensate any models or photographers financially nor with wardrobe; I'm more looking to create mutually beneficial relationships with models and photographers. A s A M o d e l
If you are a photographer in the Milwaukee area looking to expand your portfolio and want me to model for you, I'd love to! My schedule is very flexible. I am experienced in runway modeling as well as fashion and beauty shoots. My Etsy store:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Silversark

07/08/2026

Undoubtedly one of my favorite aspects from 2025 Carnevale was spending time with "the girls" - .sonia, Julia, Nadja, Laci, Tamara, Vibeke, Fleur, Susan, and so many others! Julia, Sonia and I took some shots out on the patio of the Hotel Monaco Grand Canal during Flavia's "Cioccobarocco" party. It was such a lovely day outside, but so sunny and bright, which made it hard to properly get The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute in the background. We did our best!

I had made this moretta mask back in 2018 when I was the Artist in Residence at The Pfister hotel, for the Victorian Masquerade I held there in October of my residency. While I know that this mask style is pre-Victorian, I was so inspired by a campaign I saw from Macabre Gadgets. Someday I will own one of their giant marble composite rings. Statement piece jewelry is a staple in my wardrobe. While most of my jewelry from this outfit I assembled from various bits and bobs, the necklace is a real pearl vintage piece from the 50's, which I acquired many, many moons ago as an employee at a vintage clothing store. It was a really fun job, and I managed to get some incredible deals on so many things I still wear and incorporate into the ensembles I wear to this day.

Mixing modern and antique or vintage components is an integral part not only to my design philosophy, but my personal one as well. I love hunting for unique pieces at a good price, even though I don't go out hunting as often as I used to.

Third image by Francesca Ruggiera, who I shot with earlier in the day outside Campo San Lorenzo and in a "secret" campo that gets fabulous indirect light.

04/08/2026

On the second Sunday of Venice Carnevale 2025 was the much-loved and well-attended "Cioccobarocco" party hosted by resident Venetian . This party, at the beautiful Hotel Monaco Grand Canal, consists of dance lessons from the inimitable Mme. Carla Favata di Palermo (primarily in Italian and French - thank goodness I understand Italian well enough to take directions!) with desserts and Venetian hot chocolate afterwards. Because the theme for the party was loosely inspired by Casanova, I wanted to do my own take on a Robe a la Piétmontaise, but a little saucier - and, of course, black. I also used the skirt 3 times throughout the duration of Carnevale, and is probably one of my most-used pieces for these types of events since I made it. I've even worn it as a dress more than once!

One of the memories that sticks with me the most from this party was just how relentlessly thirsty I was, but I was too physically weak to open up all the delicious glass water bottles available to drink. I just kept waiting for an open one to be available to chug as much as I could. Putting in ~18k steps a day with 5 hours of sleep a night after endless party prosecco ain't easy lol. By this point during my travels, this wig had been THROUGH IT and I couldn't even get the lace to lay anymore. I also did a few photoshoots in this look in the morning prior to the party.

Third photo by Francesca Ruggieri
Bodice, skirt, collar and moretta by
Shoes by

30/07/2026

I was absolutely delighted to attend the evening party on the second Saturday of 2025 Venice Carnevale hosted by Marco and Toto - with the theme being "La Corte Dei Medici." My inspiration for this Italian High Renaissance-style ensemble was influenced by paintings from the period, namely Domenico Ghirlandaio and one of my favorite and a lesser-lauded artists, Carlo Crivelli, as well as ambassador gowns I had seen in 2024 at the Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo and during an opera performance for a party I attended at Palazetto Pisani.

One of the reasons why I enjoy Marco and Toto's party so much is how immersive it feels. The evening starts with live music appropriate to the theme/era of the party, with fresh flowers arranged near the service table where one can be given an endless stream of prosecco. Once the live music concludes, there is a procession with the hosts welcoming the guests before the entertainment begins. The entertainment for the party were a couple of young lads showing off the latest Renaissance-era inventions. These two fellows had us all cracking up doing silly tricks on a bicycle and displaying their acrobatic skills with the "Vetruvian Man" skills using a giant hoop. Everyone's spirits were high from such thrilling and hilarious hijinks, and after the dinner buffet upstairs, the evening concluded with disco dancing. It seemed like everybody who's anybody was there, and it is always such a pleasure to mingle with the lovely and so many others, dressed to the absolute nines!

28/07/2026

On the second Saturday of 2025 Venice Carnevale, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the evening party hosted by Marco and Toto - with the theme being "La Corte Dei Medici." I took a stab at Italian High Renaissance gowns with additional inspiration taken from paintings from the period, namely Domenico Ghirlandaio and one of my favorite and a lesser-lauded artists, Carlo Crivelli.

The Ivory bodice with the giant bishop sleeves and the extra-long ivory petticoat/skirt I'd used not only for my first party look for Heike's Catacomb saints party, but also as the base for this look. The sheer overdress, also used for the "La Serenissima" look I'd worn earlier this day I made convertible by splitting the sleeve down the center, adding decorative buttons and hook an eye closures, in order to wear the sleeves "normally" or as a kind of "hanging sleeve" with the hooks partially undone. I also added slits to the sides of this overgown, so that the antique Indian velvet and zardozi belt I was using for the look could be slid into the slits so that the front/underbust area was fitted, but the back could remain freely billowy. Was it difficult to dress myself with these details? Yes! But I was pleased with the results!

While waiting in line to enter the party, walking down the calle across from me was who I'd only ever seen for many years on my phone screen. Was I a little starstruck and had a bit of a freakout seeing him in person? Yes. But he was gracious enough to chat for a bit before we went inside to enjoy the festivities. His German style Renaissance attire was one of several gorgeous displays of austere German fashion (such as what my friend also wore) and a lovely visual contrast from the Spanish and Italian styles worn by others. It was a visual feast!

22/07/2026

After the tea party hosted by .sonia at Aman hotel on the second Saturday of 2025 Venice Carnevale, I beelined back to my hotel to change for the evening party hosted by Marco and Toto - their venue is always kept secret, with physical tickets left the day before at Cafe Florian to reveal the location. The theme was "La Corte Dei Medici" - since the Medici family was so powerful and influential in Italy for centuries, it gave guests a rather wide array of garments to choose from between the Late Middle Ages through to the Enlightenment era of the 18th century. However, most guests attended in Italianate Renaissance attire, as the 16th century was the height of the Medici's power. I made my first attempt at Italian High Renaissance gowns with inspiration taken from an Ambassador's Robe I had seen on display during Carnevale 2024 at Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo, which specializes in the study and preservation of textiles, costume and perfume. I also had become enthralled by one of the robes worn by a male opera singer during the Casanova-themed party I'd attended with Sonia also in 2024.

The challenge I posed to myself was to create a selection of garments to bring with me for Carnevale 2025 that could be mixed and matched and re-used to create at least 2 looks in order to minimize my luggage. As much of a maximalist as I am in some aspects of my life, I am a minimalist and strategic with how I pack for travel. I wanted to make an ambassador's style cloak that could also translate to an Italian high renaissance "stola" - so I made the huge sleeves removable and made the sides of the cloak able to separate with hook and eye closures. It took some engineering and trial and error, but I liked how it turned out. I added a Watteau back to the cloak for added volume/density. Stay tuned for the next post to hear more about my "fashion Tetris."

18/07/2026

The last few photos from the series shot with who did a wonderful job capturing the majesty of the during the tea party hosted by .sonia . Looking back on these makes me realize that it's been over a year since I've seen a few of these friends, and one of both the joys and hardships of making international friends is the distance. On one hand, it is incredible to be able to land somewhere and see familiar faces, but the infrequency makes it bittersweet. It seems now I could pick any European country to visit and be able to meet with an international friend, which is a true gift. Carnevale has a unique way of bringing together some of the most talented, creative and interesting people I've ever met! .velvet.couture

Cape and gowns by

13/07/2026

After a busy morning in photoshoots, spending the afternoon at the for a tea party hosted by .sonia was the perfect way to slow down and enjoy the camaraderie of .velvet.couture We enjoyed not only some tea, but sweet treats and of course prosecco. The service was outstanding, as expected from the Aman!

Sonia had also hired a photographer who was so sweet and patient with us while we each took turns getting the perfect shots in the hotel's beautiful staircase. One truly can feel the outstanding wealth of Venice at the height of its power inside of these palazzos, and the sheer quantity of these massive structures further proves the point.

I feel like every year for Carnevale there's at least one outfit that is the most cumbersome - and it typically ends up being the look with a cape. I am just wearing so many layers here and had so much to manage with the crown and pearls and cape that I was happy to change out of it after the party. 😅 I'll talk more about the inspiration for this look in a subsequent post!

Cape and gowns by

09/07/2026

The second soiree I attended at Venice Carnevale 2025 was actually a daytime event at the beautiful for a tea party organized by .sonia . It was such a lovely time having a small afternoon gathering with a select group of charming and beautiful people such as .velvet.couture

We also had a photographer for the event, who captured the majesty and beauty of this Venetian staircase. Once I completed some photoshoots in the morning, I beelined as fast as I could to the Aman Grand Hotel and of course was the most fashionably late - whoops!

Nothing about Venice is more magical than how immersive Carnevale seems. One truly feels as if they've transcended into another place and time inside these palazzos. They are frozen in time, floating on the lagoon in the Adriatic sea. It seems every building is a palazzo or palazzetto, with hidden treasures around every corner and magnificent interiors inside crumbling façades. The juxtaposition is what I find so captivating.

Cape and gowns by

07/07/2026

Happy ! But do you know what's even sweeter than one of the world's most delectable treats? Friends! Of course, the best aspect of any party during Venice Carnevale is being reunited with friends. It had been years since I'd seen my friend .neal and her lovely husband Dan, and as we were seated together, we spent the first portion of the evening catching up and spilling the tea. At the end of the night, .beiersdorf.art and I were among the few stragglers remaining taking in the last of the reverie....and prosecco 😆

"Arte della Morte" party hosted by in 's exquisite Venetian home. Heike arranged a catwalk for everyone to parade their ensemble, as well as entertainment and fun parlor games.

First two photos by Massimo Malvestio

05/07/2026

the details! Of course 's home is stunning and therefore easily elevates any experience. 's artistic touch to the decor was wonderfully fitting of the theme "Arte della Morte."

The headpiece I assembled took inspiration not only from the catacomb saints from the book "Heavenly Bodies" by , but also the chain headpiece seen on characters like Lady Jessica from Denis Villeneuve's Dune. I may not be the world's biggest Dune Goon, but the styling and aesthetics are just impeccable in those films. I don't wear this piece too often since it leaves a residue behind, but it is something with which I am rather happy. I wanted to make a bodice with big, ornate bishop sleeves, and I adore how much volume the gauze-weight muslin created around the pearl-and-sequin decorated cuffs.

First two photos by Massimo Malvestio

Indirizzo

San Marco 2814
Venice
30124

Sito Web

https://www.silversark.com/

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