Going to the Ball

[andrewlittle]

With Jenna presenting at the LGBT POC Health Summit in Albany this weekend, we have been invited to the Ball. Some friends Jenna has already made at the summit gave her copies of "Paris is Burning" from 1990 and "How Do I Look", which is a 2005 documentary on the reviving ball culture. They didn't want us to be shocked, I think. Jenna's friends are looking forward to meeting me, and I guess I already have a dance card being filled out. :lol:

Since I'll be going as a middle-aged, slightly anal-retentive, somewhat rotund, under-sexual (my new classification in response to hearing more about metro-sexuals and even the now defunct uber-sexuals), I won't be wearing anything remotely stunning.

Any help for this sartorially challenged old fart would be appreciated, however - to try to makesure that I don't look like a midwest pig farmer at Mardi Gras. I'm guessing blue jeans and a flannel shirt probably won't be quite the right attire, and wearing underwear on the outside of your pants is already passe.

Anyway, fashion stress aside, I am sooo looking forward to this. Jenna has already fallen in love with several of the participants of the summit, and I will get to see some beautiful people that I already know from this area.

Also, pray for Jenna. She's doing her workshop at 11:00 tomorrow morning.

[andrewlittle]

I have just been in a PM conversation with Daniel that has taken 14 messages. Who would have thought that, along with Daniel's sense of style and innate classiness, he would also have so much patience to work with someone who is so devoid of any clothing sense whatsoever.

That, and I have been actually talking about clothes (this will be fodder for more counseling in the future).

Daniel, you are so very kind.

[keltic63]

I have just been in a PM conversation with Daniel that has taken 14 messages. Who would have thought that, along with Daniel's sense of style and innate classiness, he would also have so much patience to work with someone who is so devoid of any clothing sense whatsoever.

That, and I have been actually talking about clothes (this will be fodder for more counseling in the future).

Daniel, you are so very kind.

so you're going with the lime green taffeta?

[BrianB]

so you're going with the lime green taffeta?

Don't you think the red number with the sequin accents would go better?:rolleyes::D

[keltic63]

Don't you think the red number with the sequin accents would go better?:rolleyes::D

the one with the plunging back that will reveal his hairy back? :eek:

[andrewlittle]

so you're going with the lime green taffeta?

Nothing so common! You know what green does to my complexion.

Don't you think the red number with the sequin accents would go better?:rolleyes::D

the one with the plunging back that will reveal his hairy back? :eek:

If I have the accents in the right place, it will draw attention away from the nasty spots, or even toward the nasty bits.

Anyway, not having a flamboyant bone in my body, I am trying to chose between two equally staid choices.

Choice 1. Black pants and shirt, with a white dinner jacket and some kind of colorful scarf or something.

Choice 2. Black pants and shirt, with a past-the-knee leather coat (Goodwill - $9.49) and some kind of colorful scarf or something.

Any thoughts - except the repulsive ones you've already had - about either jacket or coat, and what kind of colorful something to use with it.

[keltic63]

Any thoughts - except the repulsive ones you've already had - about either jacket or coat, and what kind of colorful something to use with it.

I like the idea of the leather coat.....mmmm leather..... excuse me, I was daydreaming there for a moment.

Is it possible that considering the fact that it's a health summit, that red would be appropriate? red scarf, red Aids ribbon, red hanky in the pocket....

[RedneckDyke]

With Jenna presenting at the LGBT POC Health Summit in Albany this weekend, we have been invited to the Ball. Some friends Jenna has already made at the summit gave her copies of "Paris is Burning" from 1990 and "How Do I Look", which is a 2005 documentary on the reviving ball culture. They didn't want us to be shocked, I think. Jenna's friends are looking forward to meeting me, and I guess I already have a dance card being filled out. :lol:

Since I'll be going as a middle-aged, slightly anal-retentive, somewhat rotund, under-sexual (my new classification in response to hearing more about metro-sexuals and even the now defunct uber-sexuals), I won't be wearing anything remotely stunning.

Any help for this sartorially challenged old fart would be appreciated, however - to try to makesure that I don't look like a midwest pig farmer at Mardi Gras. I'm guessing blue jeans and a flannel shirt probably won't be quite the right attire, and wearing underwear on the outside of your pants is already passe.

Anyway, fashion stress aside, I am sooo looking forward to this. Jenna has already fallen in love with several of the participants of the summit, and I will get to see some beautiful people that I already know from this area.

Also, pray for Jenna. She's doing her workshop at 11:00 tomorrow morning.

I am a pig farmer who wears jeans and flannels. But, as they say here in the South, I clean up good. I'd love to go to the ball. I would wear top hat and tails. With suspenders and spats. I'd be sharp! Or, maybe instead of the ball, it could be a cotillion. Then I could wear a Confederate officer's uniform. :D

[BrianB]

I like the idea of the leather coat.....mmmm leather..... excuse me, I was daydreaming there for a moment.

Is it possible that considering the fact that it's a health summit, that red would be appropriate? red scarf, red Aids ribbon, red hanky in the pocket....

I think you're right, Keltic. To quote Nathan Lane in The Bird Cage..."One does want a hint of color." It's a shame that Andrew didn't schedule that back waxing session.

[Daniel]

It's almost midnight as I write. Has Cinderfella come back from the ball yet? And how did it go? Was the ensemble (please read this last word with a french accent) a hit? Did you sweep Jenna across the dance floor in an blaze of color? And did some fabulous drag diva cut in?

Wondering minds (or would that we wandering) want to know....

:D

[andrewlittle]

I think you're right, Keltic. To quote Nathan Lane in The Bird Cage..."One does want a hint of color." It's a shame that Andrew didn't schedule that back waxing session.

Red it was - a silk scarf of Jenna's fit the bill.

Now, as to your fascination with depilating my hirsute back - I had a perm instead.

It's almost midnight as I write. Has Cinderfella come back from the ball yet? And how did it go? Was the ensemble (please read this last word with a french accent) a hit? Did you sweep Jenna across the dance floor in an blaze of color? And did some fabulous drag diva cut in?

Wondering minds (or would that we wandering) want to know....

:D

Missed the midnight deadline - so I came back as the same ol' Andy.

The ball was fascinating and really very beautiful. A lot of fabulous divas, all in various shades of "off-white" - lovely to see and get to know some of them. There were also categories for many folks who competed au naturale - no drag, no make-up - just showing their moves and beauty as they felt called to be. As it stands the crowd was spared the horror of seeing me dance, as the dancing was done mostly by competitors. Jenna and I were among the many who got to witness the style and grace that abounded.

The real joy was in seeing so many wear their insides on the outside because they felt safe and affirmed.

[Alecto]

The real joy was in seeing so many wear their insides on the outside because they felt safe and affirmed.

I can't decide if that's really nice, or really gross if taken literally.

[andrewlittle]

I can't decide if that's really nice, or really gross if taken literally.
:eek::eek::eek::eek:
Literalists - they're all alike! ;)