First, I saw his hat. A couple of years ago I saw him in a tall red hat and oversized glasses at the Heritage Ball. Immediate thought? “Who is that?!!” I did not see his full ensemble until a break between songs and steppers broke away from the dance floor. Then, after traveling a lot more to different cities for weekend events I saw him more and more. At Stepaganza when I danced with him for the first time, he gave me an on the spot lesson, I learned, “This kingly character is Maurice Thomas.” I finally met up one on one with Maurice Thomas in Chicago. I’m curious about anyone who dares to be different and so many people I know comment on his fashion and style – love it, like it or leave it! A feature post on Maurice Thomas is a great close out to LT8C’s January focus on fashion in the Chicago Style Steppin’ community.
| 8 Interesting Facts About Maurice 1. Is from eastside Detroit 2. AKA "Pastor Eightcount" 3. Learned to sew on paper 4. Does not think he is loud 5. Was married 6. Was in the US military 7. Didn't go to fashion school 8. Is a recycling addict | Jumping For His Jumpsuits Maurice admits his jumpsuits sometimes come from running out of time. "Sometimes I can’t finish these outfits, so sometimes I have to do things to make it work. Like putting about 100 safety pins to hold a jacket together but you can’t tell." You may have seen him in the World's Largest contest with about 36 pins. "It's not how you do it. It’s what you do with it." | Does He Prefer Designing For: Men Or Women? While he designs for both men and women, Maurice explains that he prefers designing for women. With making clothes for men, you are fundamentally making the same thing that can be structured differently, but for women designing allows him to create in every type of dimension. | His Most and Least Favorite Outfits Made Least - An orange suit - sherbert, blue, orange and tiger striped. Most - The black shirt with leather leaves sewn all over with the black top hat. |
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| Make It Frugal Fashion Maurice practices very, very, frugal fashion as he lives daily to preserve and recycle. He cuts out sweet corn cans to separate items. Shops at the Salvation Army and Flea Market and can create more spending less. "I pay attention to what else can I get out of something." | Other Designers Maurice Likes Locally there are about 10 fashion designers with unique creations and minds. We call and encourage each other with tips. A lot of the people I collaborate with are in the LGBT community. They are a very big part of the community when it comes to sewing and and creative arts in Chicago. | What Is the Meaning of "Not Your Fashion Icon?" "Don’t rely on me for fashion. I am not the one to rely on whether you like me or not. Rely on what you want to. I’m not your icon. You are your own icon. All of us are our own icons. You are iconic in being you. Just like steppin’. I’m not your instructor. You learn that dance but you teach yourself. If you’re conservative I’m going to look like a scrambled egg. I’m not going to measure up to your standards." |
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“Steppin and fashion was a marriage for me. Fashion like steppin’ is another form of communication between people and is very very powerful. Fashion has taught me so many things about people and life. Fashion and creativity work hand in hand and taught me about responsibility. I understand how to look at things differently.”
Photo Source: Maurice Thomas’ Facebook Page
