Latex Designer Sonia Agostino Based out of Brooklyn, New York, designer Sonia Agostino is well-known for being the queen of latex. After working with the legendary Baronness, Agostino created her own line called Tableaux Vivants. Coveted by celebrities, Agostino’s designs have been donned by Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Madonna.
With wow-worthy looks, Tableaux Vivants boasts a wide range of latex styles, including skirts, coats and other accessories. Even young starlet Kylie Jenner was spotted wearing one of Agostino’s latex designs on the cover of Interview magazine.
In a recent interview with Jezebel, Sonia Agostino shared more about her latex design process. In 2001, Agostino worked in fashion design as a cigarette girl. While working in the nightclub scene, Agostino was introduced to the Baronness, and she was instantly intrigued by her sense of style. Agostino worked with the Baronness and acquired many skills in regards to design.
From pattern-making to custom design work, Agostino would be able to apply so many of her design lessons into her own line of work. While working with the Baronness, Sonia loved creating unique latex looks for customers from all walks of life. In the interview, she said, “I’d be drawing on them with China Marker to create these style lines that created a more flattering feminine silhouette. There was an art to all of it. I just loved this material and the way it draped and the options that could be done with it that are very different from anything else out there.”
Agostino began thinking about more possibilities when it comes to latex, beyond the typical realm of thought. In a commercial for Mastercard, singer Gwen Stefani rocked a super cute latex mini dress crafted by Tableaux Vivants. Sonia also created custom body bands for Beyoncé and her dancers during her Made in America tour.
In addition to singers, Sonia has also created latex looks for drag queens like Miss Fame. “Working with Miss Fame has led me to think about making garments that are a little bit more able to fit the male body in a female way just to have more options. Because I feel like that opens the door for more clientele.” Sonia said, “I love that aesthetic of dressing up like a woman. Tableaux Vivants means “living picture.” That’s what these people do—they’re living pictures. I have a really nice following from the drag queen community.”
In a recent collection, Sonia collaborated with a temporary tattoo company called Body Lab Society. The designer decided to experiment with applying temporary tattoos directly onto the latex fabric, and it created a totally new feel. Combining her appreciation for futuristic cyborgs and warrior goddesses, Agostino created a unique latex collection.
While Sonia admitted that latex is an unlikely choice for people going grocery shopping, she certainly appreciates the distinct qualities of latex. Recently, Agostino has experimented with applying different textures with latex, including mesh, clear vinyl, applique shapes and studs. Mix up your wardrobe routine with a punk-inspired latex jacket, complete with studded accents. No matter what you choose, these jaw-dropping latex looks will have all eyes on you! Find out more about Sonia Agostino and her brand, Tableaux Vivants, on her website, here: https://www.
Matching Products:
Black .30mm
$13.99
Solvent based latex Adhesive
$16.99
Kylie Jenner wearing her design on Interview magazine shows how latex has crossed into mainstream editorial, not just niche or fetish spaces.
Her concept of “living pictures” tied to Tableaux Vivants really clicked for me, especially with performers and drag artists who treat their bodies like moving art pieces.
The nightclub origin story as a cigarette girl is such an unexpected entry into fashion, but it makes sense given how performative and experimental that scene is.
The mention of creating custom body bands for Beyoncé’s tour highlights how functional her work has to be, not just visually striking but performance-ready.
The connection to the Baronness and learning pattern-making in that environment explains a lot about why her pieces feel so intentional rather than just shock value latex.
The punk-inspired latex jacket with studs mentioned at the end sounds like a cool gateway piece for people who might be intimidated by full latex looks.
I appreciate that she acknowledges latex isn’t exactly grocery store attire, but still pushes it as a material with unique drape and possibilities.
The idea of adapting latex to better fit male bodies in a feminine way, especially through her work with Miss Fame, feels like a meaningful expansion of who latex fashion is for.
Seeing names like Rihanna and Madonna is impressive, but the Gwen Stefani Mastercard mini dress example made her work feel more accessible and rooted in pop culture moments.
I liked the detail about her drawing directly on clients with a China Marker to shape silhouettes, that really shows how hands-on and sculptural latex design can be compared to traditional garment making.
I didn’t realize latex could be combined with things like mesh, clear vinyl, and even temporary tattoos, that Body Lab Society collaboration sounds visually wild.