Sleaze Ball - What Are You Wearing?

Feature, By taliban barbie, 21st September, 2007

One week to go until Sleaze and here we still are with no idea what to wear. I’m so confused – I want to look fabulous, pick up and have a ball, but is it worth all the trouble?

Zirkus is German for circus – a place where anything is possible. Of course, a good theme can be both exciting and petrifying. In a gay world, where straight acting has become as common as sex in a bathhouse, there are many variables to consider. What will I be? How will I look? Will I be comfortable? Will my needs, wants and desires be met?

For 99% of party goers, looking and feeling good will be measured by the amount of attention one gets, whether it’s a shrieking “fabulous” or a growling woof. Fundamentally, the power of these big parties lie in their infinite possibilities – and regardless of where we’re going, the fashion we wear is one of the major ingredients that will take us there.

Jeans or shorts worn with t-shirt are one option – slogan tees are the top du jour – along with trainers, sunglasses and man bag. Based on past experience and in the interests of comfort, more than 80% of party goers will more than likely wear the standard disco uniform and as always, the top comes off. Yawn.

Leather’s another option – whether it’s a harness, chaps, pants, shorts, cuff, cock ring – even a collar and chain. There are also those who have so much sexuality to express that they’ll wear nothing at all. These are the boys and girls you’ll see on the flying trapeze – they’ll need their harness, cuffs and ties to attach themselves to the sling, I mean swing. Costumes along these lines will be very fitting for Zirkus, referencing Weimar Berlin, a world of decadent filth where anything goes – no excuses, a world of horny beasts that hypnotise with their confidence, barbaric expertise and woofy aroma.

Over the top is another option for the truly imaginative and inquisitive, for those forever asking questions of themselves, for those who want to see just how much the big bad world will accommodate. For these types costume is key – it’s an essential part of the fun and the ritual – from shopping to sewing, from discussions to debates. No bead will be left unturned as these characters rummage through the Zirkus possiblities for inspiration – clowns, acrobats, ringmasters, lion tamers, ballerinas, sword swallowers, bearded ladies, siamese twins, lions and tigers and bears – oh my! It’s cirque du so gay!

For me, I’ll be drawing inspiration from a costume I wore to Sleaze Ball 2004 – Beast, where the lion tamer within me came out. It was a fun night and while the costume may have gotten in the way, it was a laugh being the least tame one of all. I put it all together by visiting vintage clothing stores – it was simply a pair of black shorts, black singlet with sequin lion head, black tuxedo jacket which I had customised with black, white, yellow and brown ribbon, a leather whip and stool – after all, what lion tamer would stand a chance without his stool to hold back the beast?

However, Beast was the past and Zirkus is the future. It seems that as we get older we try to simplify our lives, our homes and subsequently our wardrobes. At 30 years of age I feel the sequined lion, whilst fun, is no longer who I am today, so I’ve tweaked and abbreviated it a little, and have morphed my lion tamer into a freak tamer.

Imagine this – sleek, dark, mesmerising, dominant and wet. It’s all about the silhouette – like a black panther – shiny, fast and in control, its ability to capture and conquer fits that of the tamer’s who controls, commands and cages its subjects, who can only be broken because they secretly want to be.

Gone are the shorts, boots and sequined singlet – now it’s tight skinny black jeans by Gold Sign, possibly the nicest fitting and feeling jeans I have ever come across. Just an aside – Gold Sign are the ultimate in rare and luxury denim – created and designed by the godfather of denim, Adriano Goldschmeid who started Diesel and Replay. Okay, now back to me.

I’m teaming the skinny black jeans with layered black singlets of differing lengths and body straps – it’s all about the layering and has been for many seasons. Of course, no tamer is successful without his props and if I’m expecting to walk the line with the freaks then black leather gloves, black leather mask, top hat and whip will be my tools of trade. Hey, Wonder Woman got a magic lasso, a tiara that became a boomerang and bullet proof bracelets to fight crime – my accessories (which of course are sold separately) are just as crucial, they must not only entertain, but allow my imagination and sense of adventure to run wild with all the other freaks.

But wait, the final key piece is the most exciting of all, drawing inspiration from a current fashion trend seen on the catwalks of the world, but also from the film Cabaret, Kylie and Robbie Williams – all very suitable muses. To complete my costume and to really add a freaky yet heavenly androgynous element to the look – a pair of black patent leather Christian Louboutin heels.

Whilst I am very excited about the heels and about wearing them out dressed as a man, I’m hoping it won’t mean that I won’t pick up because most of the straight acting poofs will think it too camp. More importantly is the comfort factor – with size 44 feet it’s hard to squeeze into shoes designed for women. But beauty is pain, and I’ll suffer and tower over most, adding an impressive 5 inches to my already 6 foot frame.

Escaping to the Zirkus is all about pushing the envelope, getting downright sleazy, escaping everyday life, pushing the boundaries through fashion, thought and imagination – something we all hope to do by playing dress ups. It is the smallest object that will hold the most significance for the wearer on the night – a drawn on clown’s face, an acrobat’s sling, a ring master’s megaphone.

It was Carrie Bradshaw who coined the phrase “it’s hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes and sometimes single women need a special show to make that walk a little more exciting.” It is for this reason I have decided to invest in the Louboutins and not a cheap and cheerful pair of pumps purchased from the counter at Trannies R US.

The possibilities for Sleaze 2007 are endless and from random banter in the gay clubs, pubs and lounge rooms of Sydney, it appears there is so much one can dream up, from the extreme to the safe, from cabaret to the lions’ den. The most important thing is that at this Zirkus we are one. It’s a night to check your dignity, problems and attitude into the cloak room so Zirkus can really be wild. Lets learn to inspire, imagine and teach – letting your inhibitions down and being yourself in brilliant Technicolor is the greatest costume of all, because at the very least you are smiling.

Giggles,
Joseph Borchan.

What are you wearing to Sleaze Ball? Inspire, brag or steal ideas in the forums.

Project Sleazeway is a costume walk off where a panel of fashionistas will judge the best at the Ball. Entry is open to anyone with a Zirkus Sleaze Ball ticket. The runway opens at midnight in the forecourt. Prizes of $3000 worth of Virgin Blue holiday vouchers are up for the Sleaziest dressed, plus runners up win VIP tickets to Mardi Gras Party and Parade.

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