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From the second it kicks off with its inaugural pink carpet promenade, DragCon Los Angeles units the stage for a weekend full of fashion moments. And whereas the 2 artwork varieties have been in shut dialog for many years now — from Nineteen Seventies ballroom tradition to RuPaul’s Nineties ode to style, “Supermodel (You Higher Work)” — attendees this yr might need observed that the bar retains being raised.
With former Drag Race contestants strolling the runways of Paris and New York style weeks, sporting iconic designers on the present and showing in main style campaigns, it ought to come as no shock that the annual occasion — which passed off July 19 and 20 in L.A. — is now a spot which you could anticipate to see some severe style (along with the spooky, punky, pop-star impressed, comedic and different kinds of drag which can be additionally usually featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race). And there are few higher examples of this than two of this yr’s attending artists, La Grande Dame and Gottmik.
La Grande Dame, or LGD (who goes by she/her pronouns in drag), already has fairly a formidable resume at simply 25 relating to the style trade. The Good-born, Paris-based queen (né Yannick Martin Androf), who obtained a baccalauréat in design, started her drag profession at 18 and later joined the enduring House of Gorgeous Gucci. Reduce to at this time: She’s walked the runway of distinguished Parisian designers, donned Jean Paul Gaultier on the newest Drag Race UK vs. the World season (she was beforehand a finalist on Drag Race France’s first season), and starred in a recent campaign for the Jacquemus x Nike collab shot within the Metropolis of Lights.
La Grande Dame in an upcycled feather boa gown at DragCon U.Ok.
Courtesy of World of Marvel
LGD explains that she couldn’t do all of it with out what she calls “the drag economic system”: a community of designers, wig makers, and different artists working hand-in-hand with the drag group. That features her shut buddies Kevin Germanier — whose feathered ensembles have been despatched down the Paris Olympics opening ceremony runway — and Miss Boo, who helped create the show-stopping seems she wore to this yr’s DragCon, the place she was probably the most in-demand queens.
LGD and Germanier have a protracted historical past collectively as collaborators, so for her to put on one in all his sustainable ensembles — this one a voluminous, multicolored frock constructed from upcycled feather boas — was a no brainer. “There isn’t a LGD with out Kevin,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “He at all times had me stroll in his runways although he had quite a bit to show. Each time I get one thing large that’s taking place that’s Drag Race or a marketing campaign, he will get one thing else. So, we’ve been rising in our personal fields in a parallel means.”
Her different look, a corseted, Yves Klein blue mini with feather trim and matching mesh gloves, was the handiwork of Paris-based couturier Miss Boo. “She makes among the greatest seems you see in France,” LGD shares. “A few of my greatest seems, she’s behind [them].” For customized creations like this one, the drag artist confesses to being very concerned within the course of. “I just about do all of it besides the stitching,” she says, tipping her hat to the aforementioned drag economic system. “I simply don’t have the time anymore and I’ve so many good artisans round me focusing on and are specialists at what they do. I’m surrounded by gifted individuals, so allow them to work!”
La Grande Dame in a corseted blue mini gown with feather trim designed by Kevin Germanier.
Courtesy of La Grande Dame
Very like LGD, Gottmik (whose offstage identify is Kade Gottlieb and goes by she/her pronouns in drag) has constructed a trusted workforce of creatives to assist accomplish her design targets. The FIDM graduate has been utilizing style as a type of expression since her days of zhuzhing up her Catholic faculty uniform to face out — a talent she believes helped her excel on her seasons of Drag Race. However these days the fan-favorite queen might be discovered attending Gautier reveals in Paris and sporting customized Loewe and straight-off-the-runway Versace on All Stars 9. (She has beforehand modeled for Baja East.) That stated, her most memorable seems are her most private — and that features what she selected for this yr’s DragCon: A crystalized, nude trompe l’oeil gown by Disco Daddy and a lattice leather-based skirt and bra by Zana Bayne, whose items have additionally been worn by Girl Gaga, Beyoncé and Debbie Harry.
Each of those seems have been created for Gottmik’s newest post-Drag Race challenge, the discharge of her first-ever single and music video, “SKULLF*CKER”.
Gottmik attends RuPaul’s DragCon Los Angeles on July 19, 2024.
Courtesy of Gottmik
“I labored actually onerous on the tune and the music video and the followers have been so wonderful, so I believed I’d carry it to DragCon,” she explains. As a trans man, Gottmik has typically infused her runway presentation with nods to her gender journey, proudly showcasing (and even bedazzling) her prime surgical procedure scars.
She and Disco Daddy needed to maintain this theme going with their newest collaboration. “I’ve been sitting on the thought of doing an anatomically right physique gown for Gottmik for some time,” says the designer, who has additionally created stoned clothes for Doja Cat, Madonna, and Megan Thee Stallion. “I painted the physique design onto the gown whereas Gottmik was sporting it after which collectively we sourced concepts for every tattoo. A few of them are conventional tattoos and a few of them I drew to symbolize Gottmik and myself, together with the tune title, Mik’s emblem, and a few Easter eggs for the followers of issues quickly to come back.” Disco Daddy and workforce then used tattoo placement and crystal colours to create an phantasm of Gottmik’s nude physique — a real celebration of her bodily id.
Gottmik’s lattice leather-based harness look by Zana Bayne.
Courtesy of Zana Bayne
As LGD and Gottmik set out on their post-DragCon endeavors that embody world excursions, album releases, and sure hopefully their very own assortment or collaboration someday within the close to future, there’s little question these two are style stars within the making. However they’ll be the primary to confess the battle to be taken severely in a notoriously unique trade just isn’t so simply gained — significantly within the present local weather. “We’ve to work twice as onerous to get to the identical place as lots of artists on the market,” Gottmik says. “Although style homes are taking us extra severely, it’ll take us standing up and saying ‘we’re severe artists and wonderful artists.’ There’s room for everybody.”
And LGD agrees, acknowledging that it’s nonetheless thought of dangerous for style designers and publications to provide drag a platform. “It’s about having the balls to do it,” she provides. The 2 artwork varieties simply must maintain exhibiting up for each other.
Fortunately indicators of hope are on the horizon. Or fairly, the runway. “I feel what’s actually humorous is that for years it was drag queens getting impressed by the couture, and for a few years now we’ve been seeing stuff on the runway that we first noticed on Drag Race.” La Grande Dame says with a smile. “It’s at all times been a back-and-forth scenario, however I’m glad that it’s going extra in a technique than one other.” And as they typically say on the present, that feels right.
