The fashion world has never been more queer. The line separating gendered clothing is blurring, as we enter an era in fashion where the biggest trend is non-conformity. The LGBT community has been pushing the limits of fashion for centuries, but now, with queer representation in the media steadily increasing, the industry is beginning to catch up. Shows like “Pose” and “Rupaul’s Drag Race” put a spotlight on drag culture, and has inspired a wave of opulence and camp, as we saw in this year’s Camp Met Gala theme.
At SCAD, the queer students are making waves of their own, their personal style adding to the wonderful melting pot of self expression within our campus.I spoke with four amazing students about how being a member of the LGBT community translates into self expression and how it affects the fashion community as a whole.
Nicholson Baird
Nicholson, a freshman fashion marketing student, came to SCAD ready to make a lasting impression. He has a style that manages to be minimalistic and whimsical, often pairing staples like tennis shoes and jeans with funky shirts and the occasional cowboy hat (when the situation calls for it, which is more often than you might think).
Nicholson gets a lot of his style inspiration from Marc Jacobs, and lights up when asked about him. “I love Marc Jacobs’s runway, but his personal style is like, punch me in the face.” He then gushed about Marc Jacobs’s use of headscarves, obsessed with the boldness of his style. Taking style risks requires a lot of bravery, something Nicholson is now very comfortable with.
When asked how his transition from high school to art school has changed his level of comfort when it comes to self expression, he did not shy away from the question, responding, “Being here, I am a lot more comfortable trying new things.” He then went on to describe a photoshoot he was a part of that required him to wear a skirt and makeup, something he would never do in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. At first, he felt embarrassed, but as the shoot progressed he was able to feel content with his ability to push himself outside of his comfort zone. Afterall, great things never come from playing it safe.
Enza Minx
Enza is a fashion and fibers student who blurs the line of gender expression, which not only shows up in her androgynistic style, but also within her art. “Androgyny” is a term that’s been thrown around by many brands, often with a very one dimensional interpretation. When I asked her what the term “androgynist” means to her, she described it as the absence of a label.
“It means that there’s really no basis for gender when it comes to clothing. It’s just a way of expression.”
Ever since Enza began doing drag, she has felt a large shift in not only her personal style, but her art as well. She realized that it was important to acknowledge that her life as a boy and her life in drag are “two separate things, but are interlocked at the same time.” That is what made her realize that she has to “take care of both” in order to properly “take care” of her art. Her fashion illustrations speak the same volumes, with designs that capture the beautiful freedom possible when gender norms are put aside. Enza is ever-evolving, and I know I cannot wait to see what she does next.
Florence Sullivan
Florence is not someone who is easily boxed in. When describing her personal style, she was ambiguous in her description, saying “I just try to encompass whatever I am feeling,” which can vary day to day. She proceeded to go into more detail about the importance of comfort that comes with dressing to match how she feels. “If I wake up and I feel more masculine, I’ll dress to match that,” she said, “to make myself the most comfortable while also still being able to stand out.”
When asked what trends she has noticed amongst SCAD students, she immediately noted the amount of self expression through hair and its ties to the LGBT community. “I think that LGBT people have always been at the forefront of experimenting with new looks and testing what’s normal or not normal,” whether that be through a crazy new hair color or their clothing. You can count on Florence to always be out of the ordinary, which is exactly where she wants to be.
Marie Con
When Marie walks into a room, you cannot help but smile. She radiates a childlike joy that many would envy, and when I asked her about where she draws inspiration from for her drag, it became evident why she was so joyous. “I tend to find inspiration most from the things that made me feel joy as a kid,” she expressed with a smile.
“There’s a certain freedom and liberation in feeling like a kid in drag and that’s what I always try to go for.”
While she loves to spread joy in drag, she also does not shy away from the hard hitting issues. Drag and political activism often go hand in hand, and Marie is no exception. She explains to me that every time she puts on drag, it is a political statement in itself. She tries to combine activism with her art as often as she can, stating that she “used to work registering people to vote and educating people about primaries.” Activism and drag both work to bring unity into the community, and she believes it is her duty to not shy away from either. Ultimately, the world is a better place for it.
Creative Direction: Anna McGregor
Photography: Patrick Cox
Writing: Anna McGregor
Models: Nicholson Baird, Florence Sullivan, Enza Minx, Marie Con