Photo Illustration: By The Cut.Photo: Getty Images, CT Heden, Leandro Justin
Simone — crowned winner RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 — Shows up in time for a fitting at Carolina Herrera’s office.She was wearing baggy jeans and a T-shirt with a studded Valentino bag, smiling and giving polite air kisses. Arrived A few minutes later, I changed into a Barbie pink floral Carolina Herrera super short dress. Her whole posture has changed. Her hips are sprung, her long legs are further lengthened in high-heeled sandals, and her voluminous sleeves are in the air as she gives the mirror some experimental waves. It’s the kind of transformational moment that designers dream of being responsible for. That’s why the brand’s creative director, Wes Gordon, invited Simone to sit front row at the Spring 2023 fashion show.
“My vision for Herrera is to create a series of pieces on rails that anyone can walk into the store and be able to find the one item that makes you the superhero version of yourself. “We’re a glamorous, beautiful home that embraces greatness. Anyone looking to fashion to show the world their individuality will love it.” is my book icon.
Even just a few years ago, it would have been unexpected to see a drag queen sitting in the front row of Carolina Herrera. As well as the front row, Bimini Bombourash strutted down the catwalk in Richard His Quinn, Tice glammed up with Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances in his campaign, and Shay Kooley donned the latest Christopher John Rogers custom. Appeared.season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (Not to mention her history-making Valentino Haute Couture moment).
“What drag queens do is a great art form and in some ways a designer’s dream, because they’re the perfect muses to really show off in your clothes,” he says of drag queens on a regular basis. said Christian Siriano. Front row at his show. “I think they’re just as important as great and cool up-and-coming actresses. Drugs aren’t just weird, they’re beautiful art.”
Simone and Wes Gordon at Carolina Herrera Spring 2023.
Photo: Leandro Justin
Simone didn’t get much sleep this fashion week.There was the Herrera Show, the premiere of Hillary Clinton’s new show GutsuriBoy Smells party, gig at Bergdorf Goodman (for Grace Jones!) trend Global fashion shows, a few after parties, and Luar’s first runway walk. She wore Herrera to most of them. interview branded magazines.
But when she sat front row at the Plaza Hotel, her winning outfit was a mini tweed set that matched her uptown mood in the morning. Work needs work) and she fits right in with the rest of the VIP without sacrificing her unique style. “I’m doing Simone,” she said. “I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. You don’t want to feel like you’re just wearing something, it’s never going to work, and anyone can say that at any time!
Simone in the front row at Carolina Herrera Spring 2023.
Photo: Leandro Justin
In the city, at the coach show, drag racing Season 10 winner Aquaria took a different approach to changing clothes. She kicked high her mean pumps to a crowd of cameramen shouting her name, glimpsing her legs from under her trench on a graffitied leather coach. Just earlier in the week, she was a modest darling in a lilac Christian Siriano dress complete with teacups. Aquaria’s reputation is one of fashion queens (“Raja recently “I feel like I’m totally on the same page as her. I’m a style girlie as much as I’m a fashion girlie.” Naturally, it became a favorite.
“I love the versatility that drugs allow. I think it’s very special to be a different version of Aquaria every day,” she said from her coach’s front row seat. But what’s fun for me is being a coach girlie one moment and another girlie the next, adapting to different brands, styles, influences and references like a chameleon. I like to
Aquaria was in demand in and out of drugs, and her week-long itinerary was similarly stacked. Coach Show and After Party, Opening Ceremony Party, plus Maisie Willen, Christian Siriano, Wiederhoft and Area Runways.
It’s a lot of work, and the Queen is often her own glamorous team. No. Symone likes to take at least two hours to prepare. Aquaria has also been known to coordinate her own looks: “My duty as her Queen is not only to change myself, but to change her clothes and make them look stunning on me.” to show.
Aquaria at the Spring 2023 Christian Siriano afterparty.
Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Christian Siria
“It’s basically just another day in life, because what we do every day is packed into a week,” said C.T. Heden in a voluminous ruffled gown and blond curls by Christian Siriano. It’s definitely more glamorous than her usual gender-bending beats. “I’m used to being naked,” she laughed.
CT also has a busy schedule, parties, Fendi shows, Harper’s Bazaar Whether it’s the red carpet of icons, the opening of David LaChapelle’s new exhibition at Fotografiska, the LaQuan Smith show, or a potential runway gig in Paris, she keeps it secret. (The Siriano show night’s private event ran understaffed at the last minute, so CT went full steam ahead to find a replacement. Drag his queen really can Do it all and boot in Vertigo heels. )
Whether it’s a drag brunch at your local straight bar or a queen getting her own TV special, the art of drag is more mainstream than ever. secret. “I think fashion has finally become more receptive to us. I think people have finally realized the elements and inspirations that people copy us from,” Hedden said. “Like the Met Gala. Like, what kind of full-blown drag show?!”
it would be foolish to deny drag racing All of it. The sun never sets on the empire RuPaul built. The stars combine popular elements of the fashion world, including reality shows, celebrities, fashion, and high-hit camps. But the show’s format also gives everything a little heart in a way that appeals to the more emotional side of fashion.
“Blow your horn! I think people really connected and enjoyed our season, so I wanted to see that at the fashion show,” Simone said. People who grew up with the show want their girls to be on the show because they realize it’s the exact same thing, especially what kind of work All the more so when you know what is born of” that show, the thought process, the love, the care, the art.
CT Heden and Janet Jackson at the Fashion Week after-party.
Photo: CT Heden
Coach creative director Stuart Vevers didn’t grow up with the show, but he considers himself a “huge fan.” RuPaul’s Drag RaceThe brand collaborated with the series on its Season 13 challenge, with Vevers himself serving as a guest judge. “A dream come true for me,” he said. drag racing Alumni like Bob the Drag Queen and Utica Queen. “Drag is about celebrating the courage to express yourself, which is something I always wanted to celebrate with Coach, especially with his runway shows,” he said Vevers.
As with all other representations in the fashion industry, there is always the risk that a popular drag queen sitting front row will be perceived as a token of inclusion. Aquaria said: More important to the Queen is how the brand will nurture these relationships throughout the rest of the year, whether it’s ensuring girls get paid campaigns or loaning out clothes for big events. “I love more opportunities, but I feel like those more authentic opportunities. Ok you’re depressed, you’re being honest. It’s not performance,” explains Aquaria.
“At the same time, I’m the show before the show, so I’m lucky to have someone like me here in this space,” she added. and I love being a part of that show.”
