Jessica Herman

Modeling the wares that she's constructed for the costume show at the upcoming Halloween affair at Munki Haus, Laurel Anderson holds her arms, covered in brown fabric and mossy lining, like two craggy branches. She says that the decorative sleeves persuaded the model to overcome her modesty and wear the sheer tree costume on the party runway.

"For some reason all the girl's costumes ended up really sexy," says the amateur designer, donning a wispy black and silver fly's cap as she holds up an aquamarine tulle and brown velvety mermaid dress.

Standing around, warming her hands with a cup of coffee in the Ukrainian Village loft, Anderson and her two friends fumble in their attempt to explain the kind of artist's collective that is Munki Haus. The common denominator, at least, is that the core members have reconvened for either their post-Knox College or post Oak Park River Forest High School years.

Two are designers, though neither took up fashion design in art school. Anderson digs into her memory bank of homemade Halloweens to describe her mother's influence on her early interest in clothing design. Hearing Anderson's elaborate costume history, J.D. Churchill seems to feel a bit deprived having settled for generic plastic masks.

But he trots into the bathroom and returns in his "subverted" bunny suit that zippers kind of crooked up the front in a fuzzy camouflage print with a fluorescent orange tummy and ears. Moments later, he hops out in his yet-to-be finished astronaut interpretation, a metallic getup fit for the Beastie Boys. His costume collection also includes a version of Max from "Where the Wild Things Are."

Meanwhile, the bachelor-pad's tenant, Ben Myers, has moved from the velvet crimson-and-gold throne to one of the half-dozen couches by the open window to suck on a cigarette butt. He's at home in his landslide of shoes and boots, sleeping bags, beer cans and darts plugged randomly into the wall and exposed pipes. His friends are emphatic in saying that the place transforms for parties-mud wrestling, carousel horses and lights, whatever. Judging from the monkey's grin painted on their entryway wall, the place has seen its share of revels.

Munki Haus throws "Costumes and Candy," a Halloween party featuring a costume contest and a fashion show on October 29 at 1278 North Milwaukee, #4W,www.munkihauschicago.com.

(2004-10-20)

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