BIOGRAPHY



Chameleon, glamazon, gender bender, workaholic, party animal, exhibitionist & perfectionist-
all describe Jess Daly; costume designer, stylist and performer.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, she has run a successful design business for the past 7 years as a freelance costume designer and stylist in the Melbourne film, theatre and music industry,
as well as dancing in Australia’s underground performance scene and music festival circuit, touring internationally.

2013 has seen Jess relocate to the mothership; New York City.


Described as the "One Woman Band"- Jess' diverse career has led to work in:


Costume Design and Construction
Styling (fashion, film & TV)
Make-up artistry
Wig styling
Dance and choreography
Millinery
Personal styling


Jess grew up training as a dancer and circus performer, and her love of costumes, fashion and sculpture led her to designing. Jess has a passion for working closely with directors and performers to capture their vision in costume. Her love of all things opulent and grand is reflected in her often extravagant designs, from abstract wearable art, to high fashion to era costuming.

In 2007 she graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts, with a Bachelor in Dramatic Arts majoring in Costume Design and Construction. On graduating, she received the George Tallis Foundation scholarship for Excellence in Design. While at the VCA, Jess spent part of her final year abroad in England, where she completed a internship at the London Royal Opera and Ballet.

Combining her love of costumes and dance, Jess returned to performing in 2006. She cut her teeth dancing in the burgeoning Melbourne burlesque scene, both solo and as part of HiBall Burlesque troupe. She co-founded performance duo “The V Dentatas” where she co-directed & choreographed short works revolving around themes of gender and feminism, subverting traditional forms of burlesque and dance. The duo danced for bands and DJ's, touring to the UK to perform at Glastonbury & Lovebox festivals, touring nationally with the Lilyworld stage of the Big Day Out Festival Australia in 2010 and 2011, where they performed with Canadian electro queen PEACHES

Jess then teamed up with Melbourne pole dancer Agent Cleave, spawning "CLEAVE & DALY" a gothic, erotic, gender bending go-go dance duo. The two have performed for the likes of Amanda Palmer and Peaches, and were regular staples across Melbourne's inner north Queer parties.

In early 2011 Jess toured around the east coast of Australia dancing with PEACHES on her DJ TOUR, as well as designing and making the ”PEACHES BARBIE BOOB CLUSTER” costume, worn across the world's music festival circuits, and her subsequent music video "MUD" (see video). Mid 2011 saw the madness continue, with Jess and Agent Cleave again combining forces to perform with Peaches in New York City at Webster Hall (see video), and subsequently toured with her to Berlin and Lovebox Festival, London (see video).

This year Jess dipped her toe into the world of mainstream, styling Australian pop singer DELTA GOODREM's music video "Sitting On Top of the World" directed by Guy Franklin, as well as styling Delta's 30 dancers and band for
her performance at the Nine Network's Logie Awards.

Jess now designs (and occasionally performs) with US punk cabaret singer AMANDA FUCKING PALMER and her new band The Grand Theft Orchestra. From styling the band's costumes for their Melbourne shows in February, designing their new world tour costumes,

Music videos: "Stay Please Stay" by Oh Mercy, "Sitting on Top of the World" by Delta Goodrem.

Short films:Auditioning Fanny” (2010) directed by Mia-Kate Russel and “Submerge” (2009) by Sophie O’Connor.

Theatre productions “Captain Moonlite” (2010) and “The Snow Queen” (2009) by YGLAM Performance Project directed by Sarah Cathcart, “Tinseltown” (2009) directed by Daniel Koerner, “The Cat’s Paw” (2009) directed by Wayne Pearn of Hoy Polloy Theatre. As part of the Next Wave Festival 2010, Jess co-produced, performed and designed for site specific theatre collective “High Vis Dandies”.




Photo Simon Schluter
Photo Caveboy Studios
Photo Simon Schluter