Last night was a fancy-dress memorial for the bespoke corset-maker whose passing I mentioned a short while back. Her name was Amy Crowder and she was the owner and force behind Wasp Creations. She often commented how few people dressed up for events and special occasions; it was the perfect concept for her memorial. Of course, there were still a noticeable amount of folks that didn’t get to much effort, but those that did make the event what it should have been…
She was a tight-lacer and a fetishist. I wanted to step outside of the suit box and make it a grand statement. I pulled out the dressing gown.
Sorry, for the lack of detail shots, and the light is low, but I was exhausted and the heat of this building started getting to me as soon as I got back. I was done.
The dressing gown is vintage, likely the 1940’s, and a gift from the couple known as , who were in fabulous attendance at the memorial; I do love fancy-dress opportunities with them; They are queerer than I could ever aspire to be. I love that…
Although the details of the outfit don’t show that well: the shirt is Jos. A Banks, which I have come to love in shirts and neckties for the quality, detail and colors/patterns. It has French cuffs and a twill weave resulting in a beautiful, subtle sheen. The vest is a black silk backless style by Bill Blass. The tie is a vintage gift from my dear David Feaster last New Year’s Day. It is easily 1940’s or earlier; it is incredibly short which was the style of the period for the high-waisted pants; and it features a motif of hounds and roosters… Cocks and dogs, seems even more appropriate that way. (And it clearly slipped its spot for the photo shoot, drat!)
*g*
The trousers (which show no detail in the above image, alas) are black with a subtle charcoal stripe, too broad to call a pinstripe… They are by Perry Ellis and are an unfortunate poly/rayon blend, but I should say that the lightweight flow of the fabric was perfect for the heat of the evening. I was surprising comfortable in all the layers… which I should put to good fabric choices: lightweight and breathable. The shoes are formal dress slippers by Giorgio Brutini. I had landed them for a quarter ages ago and they has set inside a shoe box for some time. It was the perfect occasion for them, and they are insanely comfortable for something that fits loosely and offers very little structural support. They are also patent leather and a satin/grosgrain stripe… *squee*
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I am a good bit unravelled by Amy’s death. I hate that such elegance and craft is gone from my community. I hate that our interactions were new and brief and now she is gone. I hate that her craft was auctioned off for a small fraction of its value, although I understand the need to do so… And I hate that I am so flat broke that I couldn’t even get a trifle of a sample of her brilliant work to remember her by…
The night illustrated for me the distinct separation of gay and het fetish circles as far as the concept of fancy-cress and style goes. I do hope that straight men soon get called out for the slovenly choices of so called dress leather when their woman are to the nines (even if the nines might only actually add up to seven and a half…) I don’t accept that dichotomy. It can actually turn my stomach with little effort. That said, there were enough glorious women and the gays in attendance to sate my visual thirst for personal style and expression.
The event was hosted in a private play space. The silent and live auctions were in the basement space. I excused myself from the live auction, since I had no money to bid and didn’t want to watch the incredible corsets go for next to nothing… I returned upstairs and had a substantial conversation with one of the two owners of the space. He is hetero, but well versed in the history of Inferno and Delta. We had a nicely involved conversation about evolving personal fetish, general kink and community observations and personal health and food options… It was a lovely stream of consciousness exchange. He is a beautiful man… I am glad to meet him. I was glad to meet so many people so completely impacted by Amy.
This is the way to wrap up a life, I think.
Travel swiftly, Amy. You will be dearly missed…
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