A congregation of mostly queer enthusiasts of drag and vintage fashion sat in the chilly basement of Kremwerk on a Thursday evening. The looping beats of DJ MMMelt pulsated around us. Sitting in the front row, closest to the runway—the center of all the commotion—I cursed myself for not wearing shades. I had André Leon Talley on the brain.
At Thriftease, a quarterly event with a lot of moving parts, five models of different sizes, genders, races, and ability walk the runway wearing two different thrifted outfits. One is carefully curated by a guest stylist. The other is curated by Mona Real, a drag performer known for her vintage looks, who hosts the show.
Rounding the corner and coming down the runway was queer burlesque performer Ms. Briq House. Wearing a green, sheer, hooded cloak, Briq spun coquettishly down the glitter-covered catwalk. I glanced down at my brochure to find out more. The cloak, called “Fern Gully Faggotry” in the brochure, was listed as a size 10/12.
Mona Real, gripping her mic and lightly perspiring, started the bidding: “One dollar!”
