CHICAGO EXCELLENCE

 You take a group of fierce bitches from Chicago and set them to a Crystal Waters track!

Fierce hunties!

IS THAT MY CAMERA?

Jinkx Monsoon season continues....

Broadway star and drag legend Jinkx Monsoon who has appeared to be the first big Broadway babe in the land of drag and set to play the legendary role of Dorothy Gale in next years, End of the Rainbow musical has now entered the fashion world, with another outspoken favorite of mine...Patrick Church! And she entered the Jinkx way; boldly, theatrically and with heart. Jinkx has partnered with the trendy designer and painter Patrich Church on a limited capsule for his collection, bringing together two artist whose work thrives on self-expression. Titled Patrich Church loves Jinkx, the collection merges Churches signature visual language with Monsoon's distinctly camp stage persona. It's a collection to be mixed and matched and worn with current closet pieces and designed to be worn, lived in and seen. Each pieces seems to have Church's intimacy and celebration of queer connection while channeling the fun, witty and presence that have made Jinkx a huge hit across the drag kingdom and theater. A win -win you ask me. I have several of Church's square cuts...but I already need a new umbrella...so I see at least the Jinkx Umbrella entering the house soon. You can view the collection here.

Not too bad she is doing considering all the queens used to ridicule her.

Now who's laughing?

WUN DELIGHTS

 
 People who have seen the Mistress in drag will understand why I love designer Robert Wun. One of my trademarks was either always big hair or hair accoutrements. And if you want drama, then you came to the right place. His 2024.2025 showing during Paris week was nothing short of jaw dropping and unexpected delight. To celebrate his tenth anniversary, he presented a stunning collection called "Time". The collection was a meditation on the acceptance of finitude; a concept this designer embraces to fuel his creative process. And it came through in this elaborate and flamboyant showing, not to mention each piece testifying to his craftsmanship and visionary approach. I adored the progression of the season too and it was artistically done...right down to the visible burns on the hems to symbolize the inevitable erosion of time. What a showing to create for his 10th year.

Spectacular!

SYMPOIESIS

How do you do top couture?.....

You bring it to life. While watching some of the fashion shows recently, one that I was in awe and completely blown away by was one by Dutch designer Iris van Herpen. Granted, I don't know where one would wear these except a red carpet or the Met Gala perhaps, but remember , many fashion designer and buyers and for retail fashion brands will get inspiration by the color, materials, silhouettes and so forth to bring the influence from a runway show to the masses. But as far as a runway show goes, my jaw dropped at the creativity, showmanship and couture of this presentation, and the garments, maybe since the legendary Alexander McQueen. Iris van Herpen opened her latest collection, Sympoiesis at Paris Coutre week with a jaw dropping, show stopping "living look"  inhabited by 125 million bioluminescent algae.  Nurtured in seawater and encapsulated in a nutrient gel...the dress wasn't constructed, it was cultivated! Iris is known for bringing inspiration from the world we inhabit. Her fashion isn't just about clothes; she treats it perhaps like a science project. And for this show she created the runway into a living reef. The opening look worn by model Stella Maxwell emitted light every time moved. I have my favorite designers for shows, but this.... this was couture and art at a whole new level, I've never seen....very magical. The one dress at the 6:01 mark reminds me of a stunning jellyfish, or a heavenly angel the way the fabric flows. And the flesh tone ensembles at the 3:05 mark?

 STUN-NING! Brava!

FRIDAY INTERLUDE.....

...with the Triadisches Ballet!

One of my favorites. The Triadisches Ballet is a ballet developed by Oskar Schlemmer. The ballet became the most widely performed and one of the most avant-garde artistic dance ballets, and while Schlemmer was at the Bauhaus from 1921 to 1929, the ballet toured, helping to spread the ethos of the Bauhaus. I have always enjoyed it. Now you understand what it's like in my mind!!! Just throw in a few naked men and your there. Very visually stunning. Enjoy the show kids!

IN THE BLACK

 

Hope everyone had a great and filling Thanksgiving Day? Of course, I over indulged... and at this moment still feel as though I may burst. I'm stuffed to say the least. Everything tasted so good. My fifth time to do the dinner now and I think I may have it down now. Well, today is Black Friday and for those across the pond it means here , people go insane with retail therapy and probably spending money they don't have, or spending money on gifts the poor recipient may never use. Many stores here now run the Black Friday sale all month now, so the last two years, for me now, haven't worked a Black Friday. Are they still insane? My last two positions were with luxury retailers, so we had people, but not like those cattle herds busting down doors in stretchy pants worn after such big meals!!! Back in my youth I can recall all out fights breaking out to get hard to find and sought after items. Now one can just watch The Real Housewives shows! Anyone brave enough to start the holiday shopping today? As always, I'm off and will stay away from the madness...err, being trampled by mobs of sweatpants wearing shoppers. I 'll be doing another raking of leaves into the garden to insulate the plants for winter, and the leaves make a great compost for the perennials. I'll start to decorate for Christmas very soon, maybe another two weeks, not to early, which means I'll be in the basement getting and opening boxes marked Christmas...no spiders please!

So I'll just enjoy this type of Black Friday....I love black.