Monday, February 25, 2019

Billy Porter won the Oscars red carpet


What was your favorite look from last night's Oscars red carpet? Mine was Billy Porter's. The Kinky Boots and Pose star stunned in a Christian Siriano tuxedo gown - buttery black velvet, gender fluid, business on top and party down below... Ladies, step aside. He stole the show.

Perhaps the best thing about Porter's look is the conversation around it. The questions go beyond, "Who are you wearing?" In fact, we're forced to dig deeper. What's the story behind Porter's fashion choice? What kind of statement is he making? What was his motivation? What is my own reaction? Do I like this? Do I hate it? Is it OK for a man to wear a dress? Why are we even discussing whether it's OK or not? What does that say about society?

I think there's powerful symbolism in his choice. Porter's gown rings of freedom, rebellion and empowerment. "I have something to say through clothes," he has said about his Red Carpet fashion choices. "My goal is to be a walking piece of political art. To challenge expectations."

I'm reminded of lyrics in Madonna's What It Feels Like For a Girl:

Girls can wear jeans and cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots 'cause it's okay to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like wouldn't you
What it feels like for a girl


Bravo to Billy Porter for encouraging all of us to think carefully and critically - particularly as we experience major cultural shifts in art, fashion, media, sports, entertainment, business and beyond.

He won much more than the Red Carpet.  


Glenn Close's reaction to Billy Porter's tuxedo gown is EVERYTHING.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Chicano subculture in Japan



Fascinating.


Is cultural appropriation always wrong? (The New York Times)


Tuesday, February 19, 2019

RIP Karl Lagerfeld


Gems from Karl Lagerfeld in this brilliant T Magazine profile:

"You are never happy in the moment when you ask yourself that question. So I don’t ask myself the question, which means I must be happy. I’ve been lucky. I didn’t finish school. I learned nothing. It is all improvisation. And yet I am not doing badly. Happiness is not something life owes you."

"When things are too positive and too sweet, it is very bad. Too peaceful is very dangerous. You fall asleep. You need to take care of your enemies. Your friends you don’t need to worry about.

"If you don’t daydream your life is a nightmare."

"I’m actually very superficial. And I work on that. I became, as you say, an icon — and this removed me from reality. I don’t go on the streets any more."

"[Alexander McQueen] was unpleasant and poorly groomed but I’m more at ease with what [Sarah Burton] does. Very poetic and very beautiful."

"In one trashy French paper they asked the reader, ‘Are you shocked that [your cat, Choupette] can make so much money?’ Eighty-two percent were shocked, so I sent the editor a letter saying I was sorry to find that 82 percent of their readers were envious people. What can I say? She is the Garbo of cats."


Photo by Jean-Baptiste Mondino for T Magazine.

Friday, February 15, 2019

Positive vibes


This asinine president is our country’s real national emergencyIn other news: we need more of this in the world.


Donté Colley is exactly who we need right now. (Fashion Magazine)

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Happy Love Day


Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, 
While loving someone deeply gives you courage.

-Lao Tzu


At what age is love enthralling? 82. (The New York Times)