This Tuesday, 8pm at the ND @ 501 is the time and place to wig out at this sexy-fab, do-not-miss fashion frolic, wig-in, and costume showcase: 12 Dangerous Women. Let’s have a li’l chat with Mz. Coco Coquette herself, shall we?
“I’ve seen a lot of fashion shows where people were taking themselves very seriously that’s all fine and good, but I’m more interested in seeing a story being told on stage.” And who couldn’t agree with Allyson Garro, propriétaire et femme dangereuse of the Eastside wig hamlet, Coco Coquette? (Perhaps some of those fashion show faux-dunks she’s remembering?)
Despite its edgy political and cultural heritage, Austin can sure put out some blerrrrrggh-y excuses for fashion shows. But that’s us saying that. Not Allyson. She’s way too gracious. She does, however, offer a bit more constructive fashion-show critique: “Sometimes, they move too fast. You can’t really enjoy the piece the designers have slaved over.” Now, mayhaps she’s speaking generally, but we have experienced this zipless zippy runway blur locally for ourselves.
This is part of the reason why the Gay Place is excited about 12 Dangerous Women. See, the folks behind Coco Coquette and Esther Bangs (Coco’s neighboring vintage boutique providing the threads) have a flair for the dramatic. And they are so sexy, we bet they will take it slow. Or at least intensely. Either way, there will be plenty to see.
Twelve designers design 12 iconic women. The designers are: Esther Bangs, Chia Guillory, Angeliska Polacheck, Katinka Pinka, Tina Sparkles, Shari Gerstenberger, Natalie Ford, Amanda Martinez, Tyna Hoang, Teddy Baker, Lorelei Hutchings and Lovecraft Vintage. The 12 Dangerous Women? You’ll have to come to find out, but we can let this slip: One will dance for your head, another will turn you to stone, and one fierce madam shall suck you dry.
“There’s drama, there’s big hair, theater, burlesque, costuming, and we’re turning it into one big show. I thought it would be a lot of fun for performers to actually embody these femme fatales,” says Allyson.
“When we first conceived of this idea, we were intrigued by these women thought to be dangerous. They were given a bad rap. We like to play up this dangerous image. So, we took iconic characters – some real, some biblical, and some fictional – and crated this hodge-podge of interesting, strong, and deadly women. That was the inspiration.
“We were also interested in women with cool hair… since this is also a wig show.”
Halloween is comings, friends. This show might-could inspire you to go beyond the pale, beyond, as Coco Coquette says, the “sexy-in-a-bag” costume.
Let’s face it: The last place your sexy should come from is a bag.
This article appears in October 15 • 2010.