Straight Chicks in Gay Male Bars & Sew Subversive Clothing

OK, so it's not my normal "enlightened" fare.
But I did want to share, in part because the latter (especially) is a new creative kick I'm on.
You know, because I wasn't busy enough with the acting, modeling, writing, photography, PhD candidacy, and so on. (I must've been the laziest of lazy sods in a former life, because on this spin of the wheel, I just feel the need to do everything and anything...no worries, I'll sleep when I'm dead...)

On the latter topic...know that my great-aunt, Olga Burgani (mom's side), was a seamstress. Nothing along the lines of Vivienne Westwood or Betsey Johnson, mind you, but known in her town (Avellino, just outside of Naples) as the go-to person for lovely dresses and the like. She made my mother's wedding dress using one stitch/seam (don't ask me how, because I swear I couldn't explain it to you if I tried).
Because I grew up working-class in Queens, my parents couldn't afford to buy me all the nice clothes that they may have liked to, so my mom took it upon herself to purchase Butterick (sp?) patterns and would make me all sorts of nice dresses and play-clothes. (My aunt had a knack for knitting, so I got nice sweaters out of the deal, too...) Because I was in Catholic school, we all wore uniforms most of the time, so it didn't matter anyway (couldn't get away with that on Lawn Guy Land, but that's neither here nor there...).

Would it be that I would learn such a talent...well, the other day, I was doing laundry, and I pulled out what was left of a Finespun (www.finespunmusic.com) band shirt. After I got over my aggravation -- Oren, the lead singer of Finespun, is a dear and long-time friend; why, oh why, could my washing machine not eat my Twisted Sister shirt? -- I realized that I needed a few things in the wardrobe department. Having just taken some clothes to Beacon's Closet (www.beaconscloset.com -- for all your designer-wares on a budget) and being short a few essentials, I figured now was as good of a time as any to update some much needed punk-rock wares. (I'm a rocker at heart...) 

Unfortch, I'm not (and never have been) the kind of girl to drop thousands of dollars on dresses when there are hungry children in Africa (and here, and elsewhere). All those designer dresses in my closet? Never more than $25 at Beacon's Closet. I'm sure there are people that think I spent $10K on my wardrobe, what with all the "names" on the labels, but really...do I look like someone who cares what people think? Think whatever you want. You have the right to, you know...

More to the point...as I'm sure some of you may have been hearing, I'm currently working with my business partner and dear friend (the one who drew my "Spiritual Self" icon) on a new project involving her drawings and clothing. (Another hint...but that's about it for now...)

So...in an effort to conserve funds, get some ideas, and try my hand at something new...out of one Finespun shirt, I got a Finespun halter top (SEXY!), a pair of fingerless punk-rock gloves (embellished with a $1 gold notions chain I got at a crafts store today), and some remnant fabric whose use is TBD on my next project: a much-needed tote/gym bag made out of an old, stained sweatshirt (I'm currently carrying my gym clothes in a brown Trader Joe's bag. Not good.).

I'm finding sewing to be quite relaxing...after that, I'm looking to make a few nice dresses for summer. I was in my aunt's basement today and found some AWESOME red velvet ("you can have it, what the hell am I gonna do with it?" "Really? THANKS!"). Maybe I'll put my creations on eBay and get a second (twentieth?) career as a Sew Subversive clothing designer, and in turn create a buzz for the new line w/Mitch. Who knows. I'll certainly post pics of my creations as they're coming along. I'm sure you could all use a good laugh. ;-)

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Today, too, I had a discussion with a friend -- gay, male, ridiculously gorgeous and smart and would be oh-so-damn-perfect as a mate if he liked chicks or if I was a dude -- about straight women such as myself patronizing gay bars.
 
He didn't like the idea.
I told him he didn't know what it was like in straight bars.

Folks, I'm 30 years old. I know that these days, 30 is the new 18, or whatever...but I'm too old to go goofing around in bars to pick up guys. And I have no interest in doing so. (Come to think of it, I never was the type to do so...in my whole dating life, I dated only ONE guy I met at a bar...and that was such a disaster I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. He's the only ex I have that I'm not friends with...)
That also means that when I go out for a drink, I don't want to be propositioned by every over-'roided frat boy whose last girlfriend was inflatable. I'm sorry, but at the end of the day, I don't care how good you look -- if you look like Brad Pitt but act like Michael Vick, I won't find you attractive. Consequently, you could look like Buddy Hackett (okay, maybe not Buddy Hackett -- Albert Brooks, okay?), and if you act like a prince amongst men, I will be more likely to return your call after the three-day rule.

So, sometimes, when I want a drink (and in case you see me in a bar, know that my drink of choice is Guiness Extra Stout -- one Guiness, nursed for about an hour, followed by club soda for the rest of the night. It tastes like coffee -- what can I tell ya?), I will stop in a bar that's known to be a gay male hangout/pick-up joint. Because unless they're stone-cold blind-drunk, they're not about to hit on me. They will, however, be more than happy to talk to me, and I'm always up for interesting conversation.

OTOH, I see where he's coming from, too -- sometimes, you get a group of drunk sorority chicks who get together and go to gay bars just to shriek, giggle, and point at men on the pull.
Not cool.

That's where we left the convo off...more on this in a later post...