Winter 2002

Chicago's Halloween Trade Show - Like no other...

SMack's Sci-Fi Fetish Event - X-Treme Fashion

Lord of the Rings- D-Day for Middle Earth

SantaCon '01 - Saucy Santas Spread Cheer

Chicago's Halloween Trade Show

By Jim Glaser

More photos in the gallery's Trade Shows section

Halloween comes twice to Chicago.

In addition to the usual fall festivities, Chicago is the host city for Transworld's annual Halloween, Costume and Party Show.

With hundreds of wholesale vendors in the costume, event and haunted house industries all hawking their wares, this convention is like no other anywhere. Open to anyone with a fashion or events related business, this show brings together a diverse crowd of colorful folk.

The largest of several costume industry trade shows, this event caters to mass merchants and the many mom & pop boutique owners. Wandering the aisles, one finds an incredible range of costumery, accessories, unique technologies and a ghoulish assortment of curiosities. Buyers hustle about attempting to stock up on the things they hope will be big sellers come October. For America's second largest consumer holiday, the trick is to satisfy and inspire with a full supply of necessary staples and a creative assortment of unique items.

Yes, America will buy X amount of president masks, Y colored wigs and Z fake boobs, but which stores will offer the really cool items that will make their shops stand out? What stuff is in and what stuff is lame? What crap will be left over in November? If you have trouble following the fickle fashion scene, can you imagine what this world is like?

In addition to all the costumery and accessories, the haunted house folks add their own distinctive flavor to the scene. Inhabiting several aisles and a back room, this gang offers a wide variety of creative dementia. With many robots and puppets all meant to shock or startle, this section is not for the squeamish.

As you might expect, this event is not all about shopping. The show also features a full schedule of seminars covering business and creative topics and a constant parade of costumers displaying their own unique sense of style. Circulating throughout the booths was a mix of ghouls, goblins and sexpots showing off demented, festive and whimsical outfits.

The two big evening events were the Friday night fashion show and the Saturday night Rubies party. The Friday night event featured a seemingly endless stream of models prancing the catwalk in the most diverse range of fashions seen anywhere. Not to be confused with the Seventh Avenue fashion shows, this event is all about fun, creative diversity and erotica. The models included hotties, hunks, small children and, in years past, dogs.

Saturday night was the time for the invite-only dance party hosted by the US mass-market leader Rubies' Costumes. Fueled by free drinks and a generous supply of meats and hors d'oeuvres, the qualifying partygoers grooved to standard DJ spun dance tunes. In addition to the food and hopping dance floor, the guests were offered free photo ops with Frankenstein's Monsters, Count Dracula and, shamelessly, two bikini models. While neither wore a costume, per se, it should be noted that one was well coordinated with the party's patriotic theme.

By Tuesday it seemed that most folks were Halloweened out. It was a strange and humorous scene watching the tired looking exhibitors lug their dismembered displays towards the garage. Not to worry, October is just around the corner.

See the main photo gallery for more. To add or edit pics, please - contact us.

SMack's Sci-Fi Fetish Event

by Jim Glaser

More photos in the gallery's Fetish Party section

This isn't a costume!!! proclaimed a fashionable participant at a recent science fiction themed fetish party in downtown Manhattan.

The line between "style" and "costume" was nonexistent at SMack's "2001, a Fetish Oddity" event. SMack is a most excellent group that hosts theme events where people experiment with different attitudes and fashion themes in a healthy, mature environment. Prior themes have included vodoo, medical, post-apocalyptic, cartoon, patriotic (before it was popular), paramilitary and even blasphemy. Now it was time to mix otherworldly notions with varying amounts of leather, PVC and latex.

Whether these fashions can be characterized as costume or merely personal style, SMack events gather a range of interesting, liberal minded individuals in an environment where they can push the limits of fashion and sexuality.

Held on the Friday between Christmas and New Years, the theme was a Sci-Fi dress code of HR Giger style (of the "Alien" film series), mechanoid, cyborg, trekkie, Barbarella, ray guns, tentacles and claws, space suits and anti-gravity boots, astronaut, little green men, mutant or cyberpunk or more mainstream fetish-wear including leather, latex, PVC, corsetry, and other warped & kinky-wear. Also witnessed were several wild haired folk sporting outfits reminiscent of the evil Psychlos characters in L. Ron Hubbard's unfortunate film Battlefield Earth.

In the multi-level, many-roomed club - The Knitting Factory, there was much to see, hear, taste and occasionally feel (depending on what you are into)… Throughout the entire event were bizarre, often interactive alien and/or fetish art installations and grooving tunes being spun by hipster DJ's.

On the Main "Lunar Landing Pod" level is the main stage that featured two fashion shows along with the excellent band, The YAB-Yum music project. The professional "Inter-Galactic Species" fashion show featured the art of Kurt Veith, Gaelyn Designs, Garo Sparo and the very cool House of Harlot (www.HouseOfHarlot.com) with four skin tight, partially inflatable latex costumes all with zippers for easy egress.

MC'd by the elegant latex artist, Baroness (www.baroness.com), the amateur fashion show featured the most interesting costumery of the night. Of note was the Sci-Fi Channel character Chi-Chian, the work from mechanical engineer wings specialist Bryan Mathews, the purple sequined alien with suction cupped tentacles and the energetic beauty we call "Gorgeous Giger". The most outrageous costume of the night, having nothing to do with sci-fi, was a tripod capable figure calling himself "Viagra-Man".

On the lower level was the "Space Port Bar" with a wild vendor trading post and in the sub-basement was the "Alien Experimentation Laboratory" with various pieces of "play" equipment and videos featuring in-depth research on the capabilities of the human anatomy. No one's night was complete without a spin on the rotating "X" shaped bondage rack.

Three nights before a mediocre New Years Eve, this night of ultra-fashion, costuming, posing and viewing was the event of the season.

For more on SMack, check out www.smack-fetish.com

Comments?, Questions? - contact us.

Lord Of The Rings - Opening Night

By Michael Fix & Jim Glaser

Gandalf bade us to hold onto our bladders…

As the clock struck midnight at New York's Lincoln Center multiplex, the Wizard Gandalf actor Ian McKellen was giving the commencement address for a new era of Middle Earth. Noting the length of the film and perhaps the lack of aisle access in the huge Imax screening room, Gandalf warned us to lay off the beverages.

Not to worry… None of us were going anywhere.

This much-anticipated opening was something that most fantasy enthusiasts have been dreaming about since first being consumed by these wondrous novels. Since its release in the 1950's, JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy has transported millions to a realm of wondrous creatures and magical charm. The characters of Middle Earth have since imbedded themselves in our culture as the inspiration for uncountable novels, films, comic strips and role-playing games. Conan, Xena and Harry Potter owe everything to Tolkien.

LOTR is a classic story of good versus evil, where a small band of would-be heroes embark on an impossible quest against a dark force with exceptional powers and armies of monsters, spies and demonic minions. Corresponding to each book of the Trilogy, the three films, already produced and "in the can", are being released over the 2001-2003 Christmas seasons. As the largest movie making enterprise yet with millions of hardcore fans, this was undoubtedly the most anticipated opening ever. D-Day was December 19th.

In hundreds of cities, towns and malls all over the world, thousands of fans, working in shifts, had been "line camping" to secure choice seats for the first show and to bond with their fellow fanatics… D-Day was a day for adults to call in sick and for kids to play hooky. On the many lines that snaked around many blocks, anxious discussions could be heard everywhere.

Could such an intricate novel transfer to the big screen? Would Hollywood pervert this sacred work? Should this monstrosity have been made? How could any film meet such expectations?

The spinmeisters were declaring victory but these fans would be the real judges.

Like Harry Potter, Director Peter Jackson knew that this film had to be true to the essence of the books, or else… With this in mind, he somehow managed to craft a film that explained the tale's many details while developing the complex characters and blowing our minds with amazing visuals and heart pumping action. When the curtain came down on this three-hour masterpiece, the emotionally drained audience was exhilarated and relieved. They had really pulled it off!

The best costumes were the many evil Orcs with special mentions to Gimli the Dwarf and turncoat magician Saruman played by the vampiric Christopher Lee. Other amazing costume themes, portrayed using computer animation, included the fire demon, Balrog, the troll in Balin's Tomb and the early Sauron seen in flashback during the first War of the Ring. The achingly short scenes of the evil, Yoda-like Gollum set the stage for more development in the final two pictures.

The New York Times provided some interesting costume commentary when author Elvis Mitchell remarked that the multi-racial gang of heroes seemed differentiated by hairstyles reminiscent of 1970's rock bands. The hobbits have "heads of tousled curls" like Peter Frampton's band, the humans have "the long unwashed bushes of Aerosmith", the blond elf has "the fallen angel look" of an Allman Brother and the "tubby, bilious and bearded" dwarf is the roadie. We were thankful that Gandalf was a working class wizard with a dusty cloak, unkempt beard and tangled hair. The fellowship looked weather worn and well traveled.

The Opening night crowds were not of the same ilk as the many Star Wars faithful. While several sported renaissance garb, cloaks, staffs and swords (and a horned Costume Network reporter made it onto NBC's Access Hollywood"), the Tolkein crowd has yet to organize and celebrate their love for this genre in costume. As the three-film series plays out, we are hopeful that this will change. Regardless, there is no denying that LOTR has influenced the many Fantasy, Renaissance and Roll Playing Game costumers and this growing trend can only be helped by such a film.

Costume Network tips its many hats to New Line Cinemas and Peter Jackson. We are grateful for such an inspired effort and for not inserting any cute, cuddly creatures in a shameless attempt to sell toys. Thank you for not trying to be politically correct about the often enjoyed "pipe weed" and thanks for making all three films at the same time. This is the most reliable guarantee that the best is yet to come.

* Disclaimer: All photos of Ian McKellen (except for the one at left) have been shamelessly doctored… What did you expect from the Costume Network?

To submit Tolkien costuming pics please contact us.

SantaCon 2001 - Saucy Santas Spread Christmas Cheer

By Santa Tara Fire Ball

Photos by Tom Ford and Dougy-D

More photos in the gallery's Christmas section

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Our instructions came from across the land - gather together to Give Gifts and Spread Cheer! Hearing the call, many spirited Santas from far and near made their way to Katz's Deli to fuel up and rally.

It's not easy to find a place that can feed so many Santas getting jollied up for a big day of Giving and Spreading. Many greasy food items were served up to the round, red ones as they gathered to begin the festivities. Excitement was high… It was time for the 4th annual New York City SantaCon.

I'd gotten up extra early to prepare for the big day. My own Santa gave me an extra special breakfast to fill me with Christmas Cheer! I spent some time getting ready, trying to figure out how to be naughty and nice like Santa Spice! I decided on a 99-cent tree shirt with garters and stockings underneath. Actually, the layered look of stockings for warmth, black thigh highs over fishnet, over red, over black, with 2 pairs of panties sounds complicated, and I realize and it was not easy to go to the ladies room - but trust me, it worked! I was tickled with myself when I came up with the most important feature! The beard! I wore my beard as one might wear a merkin - and if you don't know what that is you should look it up. Now, I've only described the bottom half of my costume. Yikes… Never mind about the rest, but I had on a nice red bra and we'll hear more about that later. On with the adventure…

What is SantaCon? Does it matter? The origins of SantaCon, for our purposes, shall remain veiled in mystery because you don't need to know everything about everything. If you really need to know, find out for yourself. I am certain a simple google-peek will yield bountiful information. *Hint*, look for the Cacophony Society. You may not know it; you might already be a member. Rumor has it that there is such a group in Brooklyn that has something to do with this and also the name Snibble keeps popping up. Or that could just be a reindeer name.

But enough of the History! Let's get to the story! I was lucky enough to find Pogo, first on the scene - a twisted, demented version of Santa, a Santa clown, a Santa that will make your children afraid to go to bed at night but still sweet beneath the mask. Pogo said he had attended all the Santa Con's in this fair city and that they get bigger and better every year. When asked what was in store for the day, he laughed in spite of himself and ran off giggling with a sexy Miz Tera Elf.

What began as a trickle of one fool in a Santa Suit grew to a sea of red and white merry makers. It was a sight to behold. The magnitude of the genius put into the making of the costumes by these humans was awe-inspiring. The presents they made were treasures indeed. Many passersby stopped to stare and laugh and point. Horns were honkn' and folks were a' gawkin, the whole town was talkn'. Santa Claus had come to town!

Not all was blissful for the Santas. Our day of cheer spreading was soon rudely interrupted by the hi-jinks of a Santa nabbing from the dark and creepy side. I kid you not! The Halloweenicon folks had their panties in a bind for weeks because SantaCon had been scheduled on the same day and they had promised revenge. They did a drive-by kidnapping and grabbed a Santa right off the street, hauled him into a van to be tortured - of that, we were certain. Many Santas tried to save the little red one by throwing themselves on the van and tearing at the jagged metal with their mittened hands, but it was not to be. They drove off into the brutal city and we were one Santa down.

Who were they? Polish Princess Santa stated: "They smell evil with a stench of meanness." The rumors spread that they were some how related to the masked Santa gangster squad from last year. One of the villains was wearing a skull mask and another was in a wheel chair as reported by 99-cent Hola Santa, Miss Erin. She had purchased her entire costume at the 99-cent store on Delancey Street.

A tear was shed but we had to put our sadness aside, we had good work to do. We moved on toward the subway and headed to parts unknown on the uptown F train. All of the Santa destinations are veiled in secrecy and you just have to follow the Santa leader and herders. They gently direct by screaming instructions on a megaphone, poking with sticks and whipping behinds if you caught lagging. The subway rides are great fun; we interacted with the public, handing out presents and hats. We sing carols and chant slogans such as "More Milk and Cookies (and Beer!)". We were joined by Thessy the super-nerd-glam Santa. Santa Ali was the first full-blown reindeer Santa. She had refurbished an old bear costume by merely adding antlers, a genius! All Guitjens had to say was, "I got all the Ho I need right here!" as he wrapped his arm around his hot Santa lady friend and squeezed. Gear Santa showed up with a skateboard.

With a jingle of the jangle bells and the glad tidings of the Santa Comet Band including Mystic Beer-ded Santa, we soon found ourselves in Lincoln Center dancing merrily about the Christmas tree, frightening and delighting tourists and high art seekers. A conga line of bouncing jolly red fun snaked around the tree. We stopped to sing some not so nice carols provided by x-porn star Santa Stark. We spotted three dudes dressed to the nines in some kind of nutty red & white soldier mime get up and wasted no time in descending upon them shouting, "One of us! One of us!" They played along as we took full advantage of the photo op.

Tiger arrived in her tiger suit and when threatened with deportation for not being in red, she brightly pulled out a Santa suit and put it over her Tiger costume right there is the middle of Lincoln Center Plaza! She was the bounciest Santa of all! This further confused the on-lookers who kept asking, "What are you doing?" "Why are you doing this?" but they could not seem to get a straight answer. All DJ Nick Santa did was laugh as he twirled a hat round and round his head. "I've got the longest stocking cap" he insisted.

Santas then headed into Central park where many Santa Shenanigans were pulled and further Holloweeniecon clues were found. Anarchy Santa Mike Green, dressed in a leather MC jacket led the charge to do the naughty things we love so. We hung moons over the skate rink from the rock on the hill as past tradition demanded. Santa Annie oh so Fresh showed us some fine Fresh Flesh. There was that nutty Kurt Chengwin guy dressed up as Sushi Santa - that guy really looked liked sushi and he kept yelling, "Eat me! Eat me!" The mad money Grinch Santa Nat made an appearance; his trim and beard were bright green. Another of my favorites was Art Star Jason who showed up as Midnight Clear Trucker Santa. He was giving out patches and stickers. Another Santa with a wild streak was tagging SC in snow-spray as we pranced along.

We rode the carousel where we were threatened with beatings if we rode more then one to a horse. Another Halloweenie showed up in a Pumpkin costume laughing and screaming, spitting pumpkin seeds and cursing but he was dealt with swiftly, scared off by the bearded beauty of love and the ass-kicking blacks boots.

We made our way out of Central Park where we swooshed by those foolish tourists who ride in the horse carriages and promote the torture of animals. We were sure to give them some of our nasty XXX presents (all handmade in the secret underbelly of the Flux Factory); being sure all passengers were over 21 of course. These unwrapped gifts were seen to immediately fly out of the carriages on to the street and in quick succession picked up by a very happy jogger who grinned a happy grin, ogling her new joy toys. This made the new guy in town; Santa Jeff dressed as Playa Mac Daddy Santa exclaim, "Nothing like this in Oklahoma!"

We next made our way to the Biggest Toy Store in the whole world but they don't allow Santa in because is too disruptive of their SALES. Bloody capitalists! Don't they understand that Christmas is about giving! Not about buying and selling! We stood outside and threatened them to let the toys free. "Whose toys? Our toys!!!" They looked nervous but they pretended to smile while guarding the doorways. I ran through the crowd of onlookers smacking one and all with my little naughty finder, which is a cute little cat-o-nine-tails whip. I spanked all those who have been bad this year. I gave out many well-deserved spankings and not one person complained or got upset. There was even an 80-year-old lady who wondered how I knew she had been so bad.

Bloomingdale's was the next stop. We chanted "Shop! Shop! Shop! Again, this brought puzzled confusion and they wanted to know who are leader was. We bounded down the subway stairs and on to the train outside of Bloomie's and headed blindly into the sea of humanity, arriving at Grand Central Station. Santa Splinter handed out Spicy Bloody Marys from his secret roving bar. Santa Jamie gave out swell stickers such as "Santa knows…I've been NAUGHTY. Season's Fucking greetings".

By a stroke of Santa magic, we arrived just in time to see the lightshow on the ceiling of the Grand Concourse. Many Santas threw themselves to the floor in delight and watched the lights skip around the constellations thinking of the night when those very Santas would be driving their sleighs threw those same skies. It was glamorous, it was divine, we ate and made merry in the food court below and visited the much needed rest room area. When we met again, we Ho Ho Ho'd and then did a giant "OMMMM" that resounded thru the gigantic chamber. It was chilling, it was awesome and it provided the force to move us forward on our mission of good works and glad tidings.

Next, we rode downtown to catch the L train to Brooklyn, on the train platform we were rocked by the badass beats of the legendary Ryan & Maurice. The Santas were shaken' it! Santas Blaxplotation and Clockwork Orange had arrived fresh off the jet place and lookn' mighty fine. On the train ride, I was accosted by Santa Strawberry Shortcake of poopage.com, who had the cutest jingle bell nipple clamp pasty tassels. I somehow got so excited that I hit myself in the mouth with the subway bar and got a fat lip. One Santa felt sorry for me and gave me some stickers that said "All thru the Night, Santa's Long Distance Ride".

Then came the most miserable part of the day. We ascended the stairs and were met with a cold and rainy Brooklyn street. We began the brutal and wet march from the Bedford L train to South 6th Street. Yuck. It was cold and I was miserable, lagging behind getting crabby. We got to our stop at the Art Mart but we could not all fit. I was literally whining in the rain. In a moment of panic a thinking Santa suggested we go down to the Mermaid Bar on Kent and South 6th. We met a very surprised and happy bar owner who actually let the Santa's tend bar and played some slamming jukebox music. He said he has never seen anything so amazing in his whole 48 years of bartending life. Toasty and refreshed, it was time to move on.

It was a hike to the J train and over the Williamsburg Bridge to Canal St. We trooped in the still raining rain over to the notorious Baby Doll Lounge. Santa took it all off at the Baby Doll! One Santa got up there and stood on his head, a mere amateur. Then, Pantha and I got up on the stage and showed them how it's done. We had no problem getting over 30 riled and soused Santas up there with us. They revealed all the best Santa under things for the lucky patrons. It was dirty. It was jolly. We were all warmed and cheered. Santa Cedric said, "I just don't work the North Pole, I work the GoGo Pole." Santas Vanessa and Gareth were almost out of control with their merry making and we loved it! Some Santas had a fight and had to be thrown out of the bar. We saw breasts, we saw buns, and we saw it all up close and personal. Santa was a perfect combination of naughty and nice. We made enough in tips to pay for our dinner and headed to the dens of India in Indian Food Row, 6th St, NYC. We filled our bellies and were as festive as ever.

We next went out drinking in some local Lower East Side establishments - The Old Mission and the Bucco Bar across the street. We got good and hammered Santa style, played pool and danced about. I interviewed some Santas on their incredible costume making talents. Santa Sedrick whispered in my ear, "Tell them 'No more X boxes or milk and cookies, I want meatballs and beer'!" There was Santa Jung with the fly; Santa Mike E was lit up like Los Vegas with his bright El Wire glowing suit he made himself. He says the best place to get El Wire is Coollight.com, run by Florida Joe, they are helpful and the price is right he said. Santa Liz Taubenick was a very naughty and creative nose ringed Santa using Safety pins and pleather to give herself a sexy punk Santa look. Santa Kenny Ray won the bush contest with the craziest wig. Santa Ross showed up with a bra on his head that he was given at the Baby Doll.

God was still spitting on us from above and we split in two different parties. Some Santas went to the Rub-u-lad where the Hungry March Band was playing and some went to the Lubatorium so they could spin fire. I went to Rub-U-Lad, as I'm a member of the Band; we did a rocking set that lit up more then the nose on Rudolph. More Santas got up and got down to the sounds of DJ Shakey and Mister Small Change. While back at Dumbo, they played with fire and shook it to the techno beats of the DJ's in full force Luba style.

The Rooster was crowing and the pigeons were flapping. We knew it was time for Santa to get napping… Snug in our beds, the visions in our heads were of world peace, naughtiness and Christmas red.

Now, do you understand why we do it?

Comments, questions? contact us.