Fascination, Fantasy; the Nuwa1997xCybersigilism Fashion Show

By: B 323

      I scraped the curb of 18th at about 12:15am and adjusted my black lipstick. Black dress pants with white and red pinstripes, a black button down with white pin stripes, maroon-ish heels matched my hair, I caught the door as it was closed and entered what I would soon learn was the back of the venue. My message said: “Door open at midnight. Runway starts at 2am!”. The most gorgeous people I’ve seen in my life scattered a dingy corridor, a single couch crowded with smokers like the last life raft. My bladder called to me so I made my way toward the bathroom. In the line of I overheard what I assumed was the GM tell a couple that the doors were not open till one and shewed them away . Maybe it was the formal blacks, or the silicon strapped to my chest, or the fact both his and my faces were painted, that he assumed I was with the show and let me by. His makeup was like something of a metal musician, mine like a skull super imposed over my face. The venue was looking for a bartender, being serve-safe certified I offered my services but he assured me it was taken care of. Olive and I complemented each other and joked while we waited for the bathroom to open up, in my anxiety I contemplated lighting a joint. At first I meant to pee and dip till doors but being treated like I belonged among the most beautiful dolls in the world made me daring.  Olive_obsession was the only one I revealed my secret to, I was resolute that I would see how long I could hang around without getting caught. She kept my confidence. While waiting the GM told me there were clean fresh porter potties in the foyer and I took the opportunity to dive deeper into the warehouse.

     My biggest problem out of the way, I sat on one of the couches on the back wall for the next hour-ish and played sudoku, looking like I was frantically in contact with someone before the show anytime the GM moved in my direction. Dress rehearsal started, and the models performed a couple quick practice walks while the lights were tested. I didn’t give much attention as the real stars of the show, the clothes, were not yet properly displayed. Why waste time squinting at a Kahlo in the dark when in a couple hours she herself would nearly strike you with the work displaying it. Dark, magickal, the works of VampireChinese and AingelBlood are an obvious match for a runway together; each embracing beauty in grizzly aesthetics, pulling from a deep well of spirituality unafraid to confront and tame their demons.

       After the rehearsal I loitered backstage and positively established my presence, chatting with Sammy by the couch. The doors opened and staff gave me a wrist band. I lit a joint for my nerves and offered it to Stassie, and did she need it. I felt intense gratitude from her. I felt immense gratitude to her, and the rest of these women.  I don’t know if I had ever in my life been in a space, dressed the way I wanted to be seen, and been looked at as though I was just supposed to be there. The room was filling and I nursed a seltzer meandering between corners, and fits of dancing. VampireChinese ensured no model, no fit went undocumented, utilizing the free time and the equipment cases backstage as a set. I just tried to stay out of the way, dancing in the corner in between shoots, typing as much as I could remember whether moving or not.  The room was an oven, full of bodies making it a task to get anywhere let alone the bar. A sea of bodies even enveloped the runway; Vhexgirl worried about it being slippery with all the people dancing but was confident in the production, certain they’d wipe it down beforehand. She said she was proud to be a part of the show and “it feels like history”. I can’t say what is and isn’t history, but I can say that something made me write about it, something turned me into a reporter, and that I had never seen a 3 a.m. warehouse fashion show modeled by probably at least 85% transgender people displaying the works of trans women. The day's estrogen dose was vibrating in my blood.

      Hand fans were the only relief in the humidity, there was no greater blessing than being down breeze from a goddesses waft. There were water bottles for the talent. By the bathroom I chatted with Reno_Gold for a moment, who was proud I had mistaken their fake bloody nose for a real one. Perhaps the heat and pressure had started to get to this humble bystander, for my own peace of mind 15 minutes before the show I asked the GM if someone was going to wipe down the runway and I was reassured. 3 a.m. stepped up, and an audio cue let the audience know the show was about to start. Security swiftly cleared the catwalk and I followed them to get a spot at the front of the runway. All along it a wall of phones attempted to capture the raw power of the models and spell woven garments, mine included. Light blue and purple almost pink light provided background while white lights illuminated the stage, the steel supports for the ceiling added a little extra something to the ambience. The first walk was a spread out strut so we could get a good look at each piece, the second a rapid fire attack by the army of Angels emoting against our trespassing lenses.

       My camera and eyes were hardly able to trace the spellwork. The artists put so much detail into the fits I couldn’t possibly do the art justice but I will give a quick rundown of a few of the outfits. Reno_Gold sported a bloodied and sigiled white two piece that graciously gave the audience a lot to look at underneath with what appeared to me as a faux fur scarf that trailed into a bare boned tail draping behind them. Almost fairytale inspired Creepy.gals donned a red dress with built-in hood, a black neck piece wrapped around both the neck and waist connecting like a dragon's spine. Loveisbailey, outfitted also in red, wore a sexy two-piece set, over which was a lacy see-through number, with matching gloves, wrist spikes and a blood red stole around her shoulders. Noxxiadatura’s wore a white “Idolatry Cross Top”, a crucifix outlined in fur, riveted and wrapped around the neck, a matching riveted skirt on her waist; Georgetoddmclachlan wore a black version of this top with the effective “Pu$$y Stone” tucking bikini bottom. Alinapash’s backless dress was lined with two rows of metal rings down it, the piece for sale on the Nuwa1997 website titled “The Ozempic Dress”. Cainculto could be seen in the exquisite “Bloodbath Trench Coat” and the Nuwa1997x Hoso(by Hosoterratoma) collection debuted for its first time. Many more finely crafted garments were displayed, and there are plenty of photos on VampireChinese and Nuwa1997 pages. The Nuwa1997 website is worth the gander. The last outfit I will mention though is the “I Heart Chasers” belly shirt with matching skirt, I couldn’t help smiling every time I saw it, it was worn by Veondremitchell who was in my opinion one of the most powerful personalities on the runway.

      I wish I could say I was exaggerating but, as quickly as the walk started the dolls were routed backstage and the audience reoccupied the cat walk, some even strutted for themselves. I reserved myself to the production corner to type, not long after I looked up, the crowd of ravers had grown and our soldiers of aesthetics had entirely vanished into the night. I didn’t stick around much longer. The rite had passed. In my own way I had made the most of it. The dolls had gone and something in this woman had changed. The ride home was quiet but not lonely as I reconsidered meaningful connection and sisterhood. I can’t say that I made new friends that night, none of them know who I am, yet I miss them all dearly and wish them well.

Love10fold,

B323