Recently we asked Queerguru Contributing Editor and notable style maverick Jonny Ward to check out London Queer Fashion Show, and he hasn’t stopped raving about it since, Here is his report ….
There were some incredibly charismatic people walking the runway tonight but the real stars of this show were in the audience. Each and every one was working a carefully crafted look, supremely confident and spreading love and happy vibes that come from the heart.
Memorably on my left a boy sported a metal puppy muzzle and his partner was in rubber shorts and leather bunny ears. An older lady walks past in exquisitely tailored tweeds and wearing an immaculate Tyrolean hat (with a feather of course!).
A large proportion of guys are in vertiginous heels; there are girls in suits, boys in dresses and everything in between. Gender politics played out in the flesh!
How often have we asked ourselves how nice it would be if a typical audience demographic was actually reflected by who we saw on stage. Well the London Queer Fashion Show Facebook page tells us there were 100+ models of all identities from London’s queer community including: Rain Dove. Jay Jay Revlon. Lady Phyll. Tete Bang. Asttina Mandella. Prince Jay Jay. Shay Shay. Adam All. Tobi Adebayo. Santi Storm. Yvonne Taylor. Kenny Ethan Jones. Marnie Scarlett. Rude Boy Roy. Joseph Barnes. As each model took to the runway a chorus of cheers went up, and the more attitude, the more the model worked their look, the louder the cheer.
There were corsets and nipple tassles, mohawks and gimp masks, there were box jackets and puff ball sleeves, breasts were on display, bejewelled or bound.
Tonight a beautiful mirror was held up and we reflected each other in all our glorious diversity.
As their slogan goes: All races // All ages // All sexualities // All genders // All abilities // All religions // All pronouns // All shapes // All sizes // All expressions// All supported.
Finally the show wrapped up and the audience streamed out, their excited chatter cutting through the late summer air, but know this – the catwalk was only just beginning for many as east London’s glittering fashionistas headed out to create an electrifying trend of their own.
V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green. Saturday 22nd September https://londonqueerfashionshow.com/
