Tia Kofi's Tribute Outfit for the Six Vinyl Launch!
The Six album reissue on vinyl (and gold album record announcement) occurred earlier today on TikTok! The event was hosted by Tia Kofi, a season 2 contestant of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
I honestly hadn’t heard of Tia before this event but she was SUCH an amazing host. So funny and clearly just the biggest Six fan. And she sported an absolutely fabulous outfit that was a loving tribute to the musical’s costumes, incorporating numerous elements from lots of different main cast and alternate cast costumes. Although at initial glance, her outfit reads most clearly as a tribute to Katherine Howard, it actually includes numerous clever references to other costumes!
This outfit was designed by Jay W. Parsons of Stitches by Jay.
The Color: Although almost every Six costume incorporates the color black with silver studs (Catherine of Aragon has gold studs), Tia’s costume uses a color we’ve never seen before in a Six costume - purple! As Six costume designer Gabriella Slade has mentioned before in an Instagram takeover Q&A there actually aren’t any purple costumes /because/ it’s the brand color. So this is a wonderful way for Tia to differentiate herself and really stand out as the host for this key event.
Sleeves: Tia’s outfit incorporates the long mesh sleeves seen in K. Howard’s costume, but is topped with big, bold, spikey shoulders that most closely resemble Catherine of Aragon’s sleeves.
Sleeve References: Tia Kofi, Aimee Atkinson (K Howard West End) ; Jarnéia Richard-Noel (Catherine of Aragon, West End)
Lattice patterns: Tia’s costume incorporates a lot of diagonal black lines over a base color, resembling latticework. Diagonal lattice designs have become more and more prevalent in the Six costumes over time. You started off really seeing them most in various parts of the alternate costumes.
Lattice References in the alternate costumes: Zara McIntosh (West End, going on for Howard), Byrony Duncan (Bliss, going on for Boleyn), Natalie Pilkington (Bliss, going on as Aragon), Grace Mouat and Colette Guitart (West End, not sure who they’re playing)
Then K. Howard’s costume was updated with the lattice pattern in the Australia costumes. When the show hit Broadway, lattice work also showed up on Catherine Parr’s outfit.
I don’t quite consider these next two lattice work, as it’s more of a harlequin-y pattern? But you do see similar patterns in the Orange alternate costumes and in the Broadway Catherine of Aragon costumes as well, and they’re so close that i feel like people would comment negatively if I left them out of this post, lol.
Lattice Reference: Courtney Monsma (Howard, Australia), Anna Uzele (Parr, Broadway)
Pseudo Lattice references: Harriet Watson (UK tour, not sure who she’s playing), Adrianna Hicks (Aragon, Broadway)
Split front: The split down the middle of Tia’s top can be seen in a couple outfits - Parr’s and Harriet Watson’s above, as well as teal costumes worn by Vicki Manser and Jennifer Caldwell.
Neckline: Tia’s neckline most closely resembles the Jennifer Caldwell costume below, but has sharper angles and doesn’t exactly match any one costume.
Split front references: Tia Kofi, Samantha Pauly (Howard, Broadway) Jennifer Caldwell (UK tour, going on for Howard), Vicki Manser (West End, going on for Cleves)
I am not as familiar as what any of these costumes look like from the back, but Tia’s costume from the back looks a lot like Catherine of Aragon’s in overall silhouette and pattern!
Silhouette: Tia Kofi, Candace Furbert (Aragon, Bliss)
Skirt pattern: Cassandra Lee (UK Tour, going on as Aragon); Shekinah McFarlane (West End, going on as Aragon)
Skirt pattern: The split skirt in front and the varied pattern around it most closely resembles K. Howard’s updated costume (per usual) but also resembles a few alternate costumes.
FYI, the split skirts in Six directly reference a layered style of overdress over kirtle (underdress) popular in Henrican times. This portrait of the original Katherine Parr demonstrates the fashion.
Gabriella Slade used a lot of Tudor fashion and even architecture in her costume designs! I talked about a lot of them over here: The Tudor Fashion Elements of the Costumes of Six (with Painting References!)
Hair References: Tia Kofi and her friggin amazing hair; Alicia Corrales-Connor (K. Howard, 2019 Bliss); Natalie Paris (Jane Seymour, West End)
Hair: Seems to mostly be a reference to K. Howard’s high ponytail, but its length and volume may also indicate an homage to Jane Seymour’s half back look.
Bonus Tribute Costume: Tia Kofi actually had another tribute costume made as well! She posted it on Instagram in September. This one is designed and made by @the_real_lady_marmalade. and is much more colorful!
I just gave you a run down of references in her launch party costume; what references do you see in this red costume? I’d love to hear what you see in the comments!
All My Six the Musical Posts!
Over-Analyzing All the Historical References in Six- “Ex Wives,” “No Way,” “Don’t Lose Your Head” “Heart of Stone” “Haus of Holbein” “Get Down”
The Tudor Crown Inspiration in Six’s Logo; The Tudor Fashion Elements of the Costumes in Six (with Painting References)
Six the Musical Wives 1-3: Historical and Modern Costume Inspirations; Six the Musical Wives 4-6: Historical and Modern Costume Inspirations
The Ladies in Waiting of Six: Historical Inspirations and Costumes; Details from Six Costumer Gabriella Slade’s Instagram Takeover
The Early Costumes of Six the Musical: From Edinburgh to Cambridge to London
Updated Six the Musical Costumes for Broadway!; The Shoes of Six the Musical
The Alternate Costumes of Six the Musical; How the Six Alternates Change Their Styling for Each Queen
Virtual Dance Workshops and Q&As with Different Six Cast Members!