Original article looks way better. Click here to see it
Speakeasy: Project Runway @ TOWN
Published on January 14th, 2011
Photography by Alexander Morozov.
Clothes. How many of us wear them?
It is often seen that people buy clothes for looks and to keep up with the trends. Clothes can make you feel powerful, in charge, fashionable, sexy – but those aren’t always the stories that make for the best memories. Clothes – or the absence of them – can make you feel trapped, can make you look unkempt, can make you seem dated – all of which one tries to avoid when faced with the task of putting on yet another outfit for a new day. The pain and pleasure of our garments was explored and expressed deeply at Speakeasy DC’s monthly gathering at Town on U Street. The open mic event, attended by grad students and grandparents alike, played host to the theme “Project Runway: Stories about fashion, style, & wardrobe malfunctions.” Even though there was no Tim Gunn, the storytellers definitely had to “make it work” when the time came.
The ten speakers each told a story of sartorial fail or triumph, from being proud of the story their clothes told to the way they sadly failed while trying to be something they weren’t, but ultimately emerging better from the experience. The showcase was comprised of both seasoned storytellers and new graduates from the Speakeasy 101 class offered by Speakeasy DC, where patrons are taught to take their experiences and tell them in a manner that others will appreciate. The 7 – minute vignettes were told in an intimate, theater-style setting (come early for a good seat) and the night’s stories ranged from nipple rings to nudity, and everything in between. Hosted by comedienne Vijay Nathan, she broke the ice by telling of her own sartorial triumph of not selling out for fame, and introduced storytellers like Rafael Pacheco II, who realized that even though his mother was responsible for his love of clothes, it was a hard lesson to learn that keeping up external appearances was not worth losing her respect. Mellish learned the long, hard, way that someone who really loved you would learn to love and endure everything about you, even if it included your love for vintage suits and full – length Nepalese coats. Season storyteller Suzy Whaples made everyone appreciate the fact that just because you give it a new name, the shoe stays the same, and Rahmein Mostafavi learned that you can’t accomplish anything positive by choosing to denying where you are from, and that your roots can run far past any stereotype. While everyone’s tale produced a chuckle or two, don’t go for a good laugh- go to be entertained and educated by what it takes to share your experiences with complete strangers.
Each unique story brought back a small memory from my be-denimed, cotton – shirted past, and, while some choices make me shudder, my experiences were one of a kind, and no one can tell the story of how I spent the first semester of ninth grade with pants hemmed too short like I can. That’s what Speakeasy DC is about – each person telling their story in a way that makes them feel relieved to have lived to tell the tale – and you for not having had to endure it yourself. Clothes can treat you many ways – but the impression they leave lasts forever.
Speakeasy DC’s open mic night is hosted every month, and also puts on several original shows throughout the year. To find out more, visit http://www.speakeasydc.com.
What’s the next item up for bid? Narrative.
