By Kristen McCallum/
Photos By Lola Waters (adventuresoflolawaters.blogspot.com)
This past Saturday, December 6 at the Brooklyn Museum, dapperQ, the popular fashion resource for masculine women and trans-identified individuals, put on an impressive display of genderqueer genius. Juxtaposed to the museum’s current Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe exhibition, which highlights the history of the high heel, (un)Heeled: A Fashion Show for the Unconventionally Masculine served as ”an alternative narrative.”
Jaguar Beckford
It’s a sentiment shared by Jaguar Beckford, CEO and designer of Brooklyn-based clothier, Jag & Co. “I felt as if we were the yin to the Killer Heels yang.” When asked what she saw as her company’s role in the fashion show, Jaguar was very candid about the opportunity to help “redefine gender identity and expression.” She went on to say, “dapperQ has been helping inspire, as well as tutor in the realm of androgynous style for nearly six years. We are doing the same and were featured as a bespoke tailoring company designing for the masculine-identified gender and some in between.” This was not an event to miss. ELIXHER was in the building so our readers wouldn’t have to.
Lauren Hailey
By 7 p.m., Beaux-Arts Court, a beautifully lit space within the museum (think: high ceilings, historic archways, and glass-tile floors), was buzzing with live music by DJ M.O., designer pop-up shops, and how-to lessons from tying bow-ties to styling socks. As the crowd of well-dressed attendees grew, I bumped into Brooklyn-based fashion designer Lauren Hailey who spoke briefly about her line of “classic menswear and war-time pieces for the genderless and for those interested in style over trends.” She had definitely come to the right place and she clearly knew it as she comfortably continued to network.
The fashion show began a little after 8:30 p.m. with selected music from Brooklyn’s own DJ Mursi Layne, who also played a live set after the runway portion concluded. As the audience engaged in rightful ogling of the models and their showcase pieces, I was excited by the visibility of the queer people of color community.
Modeling for the L.A.-based “queer-centric” suiting company, Sharpe Suiting, was professional rugby player and 11-year Team USA veteran, Phaidra Knight (who is also currently training as a 2016 USA Rugby Team Olympic hopeful).