What do you get when you multiply the intellectual mind of a civil lawyer by an audacious taste for high couture and jump out the box fashion? The product is 34-year-old Nadia John and her brainchild, Mermaid Designs.

Intrinsically, Mermaid Designs creates wearable areola art inspired by Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, for both fashion and for use on the road during Carnival. Every unique design is conceptualised and handcrafted by John herself and each piece is handmade and embellished with materials such as sequins, feathers and diamantes. With proper care, the product is also re-usable. Outside of the Carnival season, the business also produces masks and fans on order only. For Carnival 2012, Mermaid Designs has produced two lines of wearable art, the Starlight and Jeweled Wings collections. Here are some selections from these two lines. Perhaps they just may add the finishing touches to your Carnival 2012 ensemble.

CREDITS Photos: Sancho Francisco Make-up: Renee Charles Styling: Mermaid Designs