Special episode: DapperQ’s 9th annual fashion show

Rocio Sanchez: Welcome to Transition of Style, the queer fashion podcast. I’m your host, Rocio Sanchez. Today I bring you a special episode from backstage at THE queer fashion show in Brooklyn, New York, The Dapper Q Fashion Show, held every year in the Brooklyn Museum. I was lucky enough to get backstage and have exclusive interviews with models and designers and stylists. I hope you like today’s episode because it was a long time coming and there’s a very special meaning to it for me. So listen and let me know what you think.

*crowd murmur*

[00:00:38] Rocio Sanchez: We are backstage right now at Dapper Q!

[00:00:45] sofe b: It’s truly so beautiful to see so many queer people and so much queer art.

[00:00:49] Sloan Leo Cowan: the looks are like even more fire. Like being able to be backstage and see the way people are leveling up the game, the quality of the garments. Like, this is actually about craft as much as it’s about community.

*Transition of Style intro music starts*

[00:00:59] Rocio Sanchez: 9 years ago, I came to my first Dapper Q show. I was 19 years old, or maybe 20, I don’t even remember at this point. And I had just found out that year in 2015 that I was bisexual, queer, and proud. And I came and it stuck with me to this day. I’m so happy to be back here 9 years later on behalf of Queerency and Transition of Style, the queer fashion podcast, the podcast that I host. And I’m so excited to talk to fashion models, designers, and the organizer today.

[00:01:40] Austin Bjorkman: I’m Austin Bjorkman of Trans Guy Supply and I’m here at the Dapper Q 9th annual LGBT Queer Runway Show at the Brooklyn Museum. This Is my 7th show with Dapper Q. The energy is electric, the vibe’s electric.I think the collections look really great. And, for me personally, I’m marrying two of my own fashion history worlds. One is I started out in latex and leather at Mr. S. Leather. And then I went back to school and studied menswear, and I had a line called Sir New York, which was a very streetwear, all over print, heavy graphics. And this collection is prints of kind of fetish gear, chain harnesses, leather hats um, puppy hoods.

[00:02:34] Tamron: 2 years ago it was a very like kind of casual fall feel, and what I really like about this year or the designs this year is that you kind of like a sporty, BDSM, kinky forward look. And there’s, I always complain about how uncomfortable leather is and like just like kink wear is and so I think this is like a nice in between where you’re like I can go to like a play party with this, but I could also like go to the gym right after and have a workout. So it’s really nice. It’s breathable. I really like it.

Tamron: My name is Tamron. My handle is @papitropical and I am currently one of the models for Trans Guy Supply tonight. You’ll definitely see some skin. You’ll see some splits. I’m not going to spoil it for you all.

Rocio Sanchez: A little oh la la

Tamron: A little oh la la, exactly yeah.

*crowd murmur , someone is yelling in the background directing models*

[00:03:31] AJ: I’m always interested to be in like a queer space. So I didn’t realize how bi this event was gonna be, I didn’t know what I was really stepping into but I talked to some OG’s around here and they’ve been coming around and they’ve been saying how big of an event this is. So I’m just super excited to be here. I’m AJ, pronouns they/them.

Elena Kathleen: Being a lesbian and a gay person myself, just being able to work within my community and give back and represent.

[00:04:04] Elena Kathleen: I am Elena Kathleen. I am the lead for our hair for all of the designers this evening. And we have just helped make everyone look their very best for the runway. This is my second season working with Dapper Q and it’s been just a really wonderful experience to be able to work within my community and give back and bring a team to do that.I come in from Cleveland, Ohio every year with a team and we work the whole week. And I think this season we’re doing 13 shows.

[00:04:36] Dapper Mindy: I’m Mindy, pronouns they/she. Found out about Dapper Q in 2015 and went to see a panel that they did at SXSW, and all of a sudden it was a dream of mine to walk in the New York Fashion Week. Never thought that that was something that I could do as a young, queer, short person.

[00:04:55] Dapper Mindy: And, um, all of a sudden it was a dream and I’m, they made it happen and [00:05:00] I walked into it. If I would have known that something like this was possible, then I would have had a roadmap to like a successful life, you know? And so to think about there being somebody in the crowd, that it’s their first time, and somebody is going to see themselves in me. And they’re going to see somebody who feels confident enough to walk on a fashion runway. And it’s going to give them a sense of possibility in life that they might not have had before. And if they don’t see that in me, they’re going to see it in one of these other models. Because there’s models for every age, every gender, every color, every size. And that’s what I love about the Dapper Q Show.

*music break*

[00:05:49] Rocio Sanchez: And what would you say to other people who could relate to you, your story, and maybe they want to go into modeling, like should they do?

[00:06:02] Dapper Mindy: Be it. Honestly, like the way that I think that the world feels dystopian at times. And right now in particular, it feels very dystopian. And I think that the way that we present ourselves in this world can help to create a sense of utopia and hope and possibility. And so if it’s something that you see a spark of yourself in it then do it. Be it, because I’m just me.

SOMEONE ELSE: Just show up as your authentic self and trust that whoever’s for you will see you and see the potential in you and your greatness and just keep stepping in spaces and, we gotta make our own space and other brands. It’s definitely great for these queer spaces, but we got to stomp down the doors for other brands too.[00:06:48]

Royal Royalee: You’re gonna be iconic, you’re gonna be okay. Regardless if people say no to you, that’s the worst thing that they can do is say no. Be who you are, be proud of who you are, and you can make your dreams come true, cause I’m here, they’re here and we’re doing it. You are who you are, and you can’t change who you are, so you might as well be able to shine like a star.

[00:07:11] Royal Royalee: I am Royal Royalee and my pronouns are he, him. I am walking for Zoe Greenfield. As you can tell, I’m really decked out.

Rocio: Yes, show us the look.

[00:07:26] Royal Royalee: You can definitely tell that a lot of work has been put into this event. And, oh my god, it’s such a beautiful like, form of art to be able to like, represent like, every single person of the community within, such a short amount of time.

[00:07:38] sofe b: I first walked the Dapper Q show 2 years ago with Trans Guy Supply, so it feels really full circle for me, is that I get to come back and see some familiar faces and walk with a brand I really support.

[00:07:52] Rocio Sanchez: Yeah, it feels like a community, doesn’t it?

[00:07:54] sofe b: Yes, oh my god, so much community. The most trans people that I’ve been in a room in was, 2 years ago, and because I don’t have much of a trans community at home. So this community is like so precious to me.

sofe b: Anybody can model too

[00:08:08] Rocio Sanchez: I love that you’re like the fourth person to like without hesitation say just do it just literally do it You don’t need –

[00:08:14] sofe b: Tou don’t need any prior experience. You don’t need Anything you just need your face and your body and you!

[00:08:21] Rocio Sanchez: Yeah, and eventually your community, right? You can start solo because if you have that determination, you know, but then eventually you’ll start getting that community.

Rocio Sanchez: Would you please introduce yourself to the people watching?

[00:08:33] Devin Norell: Sure, My name is Devin Norell, my pronouns are zee, zim, ziz. And I’m obviously a model here, modeling today. I’m a writer, published writer, an activist, a host of PBS’s Brace Faces, and a slew of other things that I cannot think of right now.

Sloan Leo Cowan: Dear people listening, I’m Sloan Leo Cowan, pronouns are hee hee honk or they/them, you know what I mean?

[00:08:52] Sloan Leo Cowan: I walked for the first time a couple years ago with Trans Guy Supply and it was just like a magical experience that I thought I wasn’t going to have. Because I had reached out to them to model and they were like, “yeah!” and then I was like, no, I can’t do it. But then they actually encouraged me to like actually show up and do it. And it was one of the most meaningful experiences post top surgery that I could have ever had.

[00:09:12] Priscila Flores: Hola, mi nombre es Priscila Flores.

Rocio Sanchez: Ok, y con quién estás aquí esta noche?

Priscila Flores: Voy a modelar para, Soy Studios de Jose Luis González,

Rocio Sanchez: Y es la primera vez que estás en Dapper Q?

Priscila Flores:no, no, no, ya es la segunda vez que estoy aquí presentándome.

Priscila Flores: Creo que toda la moda va en transición y ahorita, pues está enfocado en lo que es la temporada del dos mil veinticinco de primavera.

Rocio Sanchez: Y estás emocionada para para el show.?

Priscila Flores: Claro, siempre en todos los desfiles es como la adrenalina de caminar. De desconectar cuando estás caminando y cuando estás presentando modelando la ropa de los diseñadores en esta ocasión, el diseño es como con mucha fuerza, mucha intensidad. Entonces, creo que va a ser un poquito distinto a lo que antes he modelado.

*crowd murmur*

[00:09:58] Rocio Sanchez: The show is starting soon. People are starting to line up. I’m gonna see if I can get one more drink in before I sit down.

*whispers* Let’s go!

[00:10:12] Andrea: Hi everyone. I’m Andrea.

[00:10:16] Rocio Sanchez: Yeah. And you’re here just as a guest, right? For Dapper Q.

[00:10:19] Andrea: That’s right.

[00:10:20] Rocio Sanchez: Tell me what made you decide like, Ima get these tickets.

[00:10:23] Andrea: Yeah, definitely. I’ve been following Dapper Q for a while. Just really admiring queer fashion. I feel like it is a unique, kind of organization and experience. So, I actually went to my first lesbian wedding about a year ago. You know, ended up going to Kirren Finch and like getting fitted for a suit, which I loved. And I said, you know what? I kind of want to get more into like queer fashion and explore that scene a little bit.

[00:10:50] Butch Molly: My name’s Butch Molly. My pronouns are they, them.

[00:10:54] Butch Molly: This is my first time walking, period.

Rocio Sanchez: Period? Okay. And so what’s that, what’s that experience like?

[00:10:59] Butch Molly: This has been really fun. I live like 15 minutes away from here, so it’s been kind of nice that it’s in like a familiar setting, you know? If it was in Manhattan, I’d probably be really freaked out.

[00:11:10] Rocio Sanchez: Freaked out.

[00:11:10] Butch Molly: There are like makeup artists and people that have been flown in from all over the United States, maybe even the world. And that’s It’s so cool to meet so many different queer people from all different walks of life and to see all of our different styles and to like watch people try on their fits while we’re all getting ready and to like see them like settle into the way that they feel about it or the way they move.[00:11:35]

Rocio Sanchez: and seeing them being comfortable, right? Like I just walk in here and everybody’s super comfortable and that’s really cool.

[00:11:41] Butch Molly: I work at a gay bar and from the drag queens to the things queer people just throw on, it’s always just so innovative. Like the stuff that I see us do today, the big labels and the racks do it 5 years from now. We’re always the first.