I love wearing costumes.

I have costumes for all sorts of occasions- occasions that people outside of the Bay Area don't even consider- Brides of March, Easter in Dolores Park, BYOBW, Whobilation, zombie stumbles, Pillow Fight Club, all sorts of things. When someone calls me to join them for a schoolgirl bar rampage, I have a costume for that. If I have a gig as a vampire stage manager, I have a costume for that. If someone said to me "right, I need a 1940's nurse that's traveled to the future and is also a werewolf spy" I could probably whip something up from the stuff I have. It's crazy.

It's not that I have an addiction to costumes, exactly. I live an interesting enough life to not feel the need to pretend to be someone else! But I am attracted to costume events and I love Halloween, so I think I just started to gather these things knowing that eventually I'll need that heart-shaped eyepatch or those cat whiskers. I adore post Halloween sales because for me, those are clothes that'll be useful in totally random contexts for years.

I think going to parties really spurred along my costume love. I got into the idea of avatars, and letting different aspects of yourself shine. Something that's always resonated with me is the quote from RuPaul- "we're born naked, all the rest is drag". So true! Every time I dress I'm so conscious of the drag I'm putting on- femme drag, little girl drag, responsible adult drag, corporate drag, geek drag, elegant drag, casual drag. Everything I put on, clothes, makeup, accessories- it creates a story about who I am that day, in that moment. I love that. I love feeling like you can always shed your skin and start over. And I love that it's just as valid to do it to be ridiculous as it is to do it to be sexy or make a point.

But ultimately, I like costuming because it gives me confidence. I'm creative and good at dressing up in a way that I'm not good at other arts. Theatrics are my element, and I've always been interested in fashion and costumes. I like the impact well-thought-out drag can have. And I love being playful and silly.

It's not just my own costumes, either. I met the boy primarily because he stood out of the sea of uniforms and black in the outfit you see here, thanks to the lovely editor of Filament magazine (who has damn good taste and knows how to make a boy pretty up). I was in my rocket suit. Intrigued by someone else who seemed to get my love of fancy dress and drag and being ridiculous, I found myself a partner in crime... and animal ears.

Dressing up is a way for me to connect with others. It's a way for me to find my people. Wherever I go, I can pick out my people- the ones who wear something clever and creative- from those wearing merely a costume from a bag without any... consciousness? Artistic flair? Extra points for people being dandy-ish or genderfucking, or otherwise playing with norms- like at the fem dom club, people who moved beyond the red and black latex and leather certainly caught my eye... and, well, look at my boy, he's awfully sweet looking in bunny ears and an ascot, isn't he?

And how can I not bring up that dressing up has a fun role play element too? I love kitty play, pony play, age play, service submission- my boy can be Robin, or Prince Charming, or a cow, or a puppy, depending on the costumes and props we use. I can be a Victorian lady, or a Scrabble game, or a crazy cat lady, or a clown- again, totally depending. And the clothes transform me- I feel graceful and elegant in my corset and gloves, perky with my pom poms and short skirt, filthy and oh-so-wrong in my gingham dress and cowgirl hat. And it's fun to pretend to be different archetypes and personas when you're messing around!

So, yeah. I dress up every day that I get dressed. Sometimes more than others. It makes me feel free to decide not just what I want to look like, but who I'm gonna be. What do I need to emphasize to get through the day? Sometimes I need strength- sometimes I need seduction- sometimes I need professional. Costumes brighten my world and keep it interesting. And I love interesting!