Andre J has joined the World Wide Web with his new official website, and we here at Fashion Indie agree that this is cause for a tribute! Being the big Andre J fans we are, we thought we’d compile a few pics of the fashion diva from the past couple years, and give you a look into the life of Andre J. Be sure to check out Andre J’s awesome new site www.andrejworldwide.com!

]]> http://fashionindie.com/andre-j-launches-his-website-fashion-indie-says-congrats/feed/ 0 http://fashionindie.com/andre-j-makes-an-appearance-on-stylista-tonight/ http://fashionindie.com/andre-j-makes-an-appearance-on-stylista-tonight/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:32:37 +0000 Saynt http://fashionindie.com/?p=23162

Thanks to Kristen May Anastasia for the tip. Can’t wait to see it…

Where: 402 West Broadway, 2nd Floor (at Spring)

When: Wednesday, October 22nd, 6 – 9pm.

RSVP to Jasmine at jasmine@williamsonpr.com.

Lydia Hearst

Patty Fields

Andre J

Debbie Harry

Lily Cole

Mr. Cummings

So pissed I missed this event. It seriously looked like the shit and Lydia in pasties is so worth a trip to Vienna. The event was jam packed with celebrities and fashion people alike. Thank good for charity. A Boeing 757 was filled with New Yorkers, a second with Londoners for the event that raised millions for the fight against AIDS

Sharon Stone delivered the keynote; Kim Cattrall and Linda Evangelista gave speeches; Debbie Harry and a few Eurovision stars performed; Agent Provocateur sent models down the runway; and countless crazies working insane looks paraded back and forth across the palace grounds. But the real fun was inside the palace’s neo-gothic walls, where thousands of ticket-holding revelers filled three sprawling floors of opulent ballrooms, and raved till sun up. Even the most decadent of Habsburgs never had a night like this.

Scenes from the 16th annual Life Ball, Vienna, May 2008

Souce V Magazine.

Sarah Jessica Parker in New York Magazine – 2008

Andre J in New York Magazine – 2007

The Bearded Woman (Selma Hayek) vs The Bearded Man (Andre J)

Before you read too much into this post and begin labeling me a “homophobe”, let me pre-fence this post by stating my view. I believe that every man and woman has the right to choose the way they want to live, as long as the way they live does not impose on the rights of others.  Sexuality is more than a choice, it is a right that each of us deserve.

Now on to the juicy bits…

This fashion season was strung full of the type of shows you’d only normally see at a very special night at The Cock (NYC nightclub for those not in the know).  Men paraded around in womans underwear as the line between androgyny and sexuality were crossed to produce a metaphoric smorgasbord of shock and awe over the sillohettes of masculintity taking over the long delicate curves of the female staple, the dress. It was seen at Marcos Hall (his invitation feature Andre J wearing one of his signature looks) and at New York Couture (a show we sponsored and fully supported). Whether is be drag queen or cross dresser, tranny or something altogether different, it seemed like amongst the indie designers, it was finally okay to be “a boy in a dress”.  

But was it really “okay”?  Did the looks that came clogging down the runway in size 14 heels really appeal to the end user, the woman who would eventually wear the dress?  I’m still looking for answers on this one, but it seems that the few women I spoke to displayed a general disinterest or disconnect when a man is rocking a look that was made for her body.

Andre J walking Marcos Hall 

Andre J, the bearded, “not a tranny, not a drag queen” model, has been getting a ton of attention for his over the top persona.  Running with a crew that includes Amanda Lepore, the Heatherette and David LaChapelle darling, who lost her “twig and berries” years ago, Andre J seems to be a rising star in the game, making the cover of French Vogue and recently landing on Confessions of a Casting Directors Top 25 of 2007 list.  

But in an industry where the attitude is “the less you see of a model the better”, will a 6 foot tall man with a beard really help sell a dress or will he just distract from the real purpose of a fashion show? 

 I guess the real question comes down to where or not the looks are “spectacle” or “spectacular”. If a designer creates a collection that is truly amazing, does it really mater how it’s presented on the runway?  Or should a designer play it safe and stick with the classic mantra, “let boys be boys, and girls be girls” to keep the runway free from confusion?  Weigh in and discuss indies cause personally I feel that with Heatherette down and out, it may be a very long time before a boy makes it back onto the runways of Bryant Park. Are you for or against men in dresses on the fashion runways?