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The Stitchery Collective List Their Top Five Drag Icons Ahead Of Bowery Bowl

12 October 2016 | 5:50 pm | Lauren Payne

On October 31, Stitchery Collective will be hosting the Bowery Bowl, a costume party on the most fittingly flamboyant days of the year.

Brisbane-based fashion not-for-profit, Stitchery Collective, know good taste. Their eyes are mainly set on clothes, but they're throwing a little get together this Halloween that ya'll might be interested in.

On October 31, Stitchery Collective will be hosting the Bowery Bowl, a costume party on the most fittingly flamboyant days of the year. The theme for the soiree is Leigh Bowery, the iconic London-based Australian-born performance artist who became a drag icon with his outrageous clothing creations.

Teaming up with local DJ and renowned party starter Sullivan for music duties, this is sure to be one hell of an event! In celebration, we asked the team at Stitchery Collective to list their top five drag icons to get us into the Bowery Bowl spirit!

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Claude Cahun

"Born in 1894, Cahun was a French artist, photographer, and writer whose work and personal life subverted gender roles in the interwar period. Not so much a ‘drag artist’ by today’s standards, Cahun was a gender defying visionary at a time when Modernist Europe and early feminists like de Beauvoir began questioning that whole idea of gender. Whilst literature refers to Cahun with feminine pronouns, many sources suggests they identified as non binary (gender neutral pronouns were not common back then…)"

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Jonny Woo

"This British alternative drag artist blends and bends gender cues in their dramatic and rich drag style. Woo has performed in the cabaret and burlesque scenes, as well as occasionally wowing visitors at his London pub, The Glory. His sartorial signatures include luscious facial hair, dramatic eye lines and explosive use of fabric, colour and lingerie."

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Divine

"American singer, actor and drag artist Divine, named Drag Queen of the Century by People magazine, remains a cult figure in the drag scene. Divine appeared in numerous counterculture films from the 1960s through to the 1980s, as well releasing hugely popular singles including “You Think You’re A Man” and “I’m So Beautiful”. Divine’s works challenged ideas of gender and the body."

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Ru Paul

"RuPaul continues to carve her place as one of the greatest Queens of our time, taking drag culture to the masses. Ru Paul’s Drag Race is 8 seasons deep (as well as two all star seasons and several other spin offs) and continues to entertain, educate and amaze audiences with all things drag. Ru’s personal style is high glam, seductress eyes and fierce femininity."

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Leigh Bowery

"Australian-born Bowery became a legend of the 1980s London club kid party scene through his outlandish radical drag creations. The phrase “sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare” (thanks B) sums up his horrifying/ glorious style, as he pushed the boundaries of gender, beauty and the body. Like Bowery - who sometimes didn't even make it to the party - we believe the process of ‘getting ready’ is central to true radical drag (we recommend slightly better time management for the Bowery Bowl though!)"

Bowery Bowl

Saturday October 29th

East Brisbane Bowls Club 18+

Words by Lauren Payne

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