City Style at Infamous Queer Hip Hop Party ‘Swagger Like Us’

This past Sunday afternoon marked the glorious return of infamous queer hip hop party Swagger Like Us to its home base at El Rio in San Francisco. After two long, unfabulous years of dark dance floors, the fete packed the outdoor deck of the Bernal Heights Queer refuge with a cornucopia of gays, queers, and every they/them/he/her/she/him/it/that in the know and in between – to watch a set by iconic San Francisco based rapper and Emcee Micahtron, and catch the F up on some good vibes, and good times.

Queer dance party Swagger Like Us packed the back patio of El Rio this past Sunday afternoon

“I just need a few more pictures.” – I thought to myself over the weekend, pondering where in town to implant myself in order to get enough content for this week’s column. Scrolling through Instagram I saw the flyer for SLU pop up on my feed… “Holy ish it’s back! Time to get dressed!!”

Elated, I threw my hair up in some velcro rollers then hurried from where I live in the Upper West Side of town down to the Mission District, knowing there was still enough daylight to take pictures of all the fantastic outfits I knew I’d see there. Maybe it’s the Aries in me, maybe it’s being neurodivergent, but I’ve never had a problem attending events alone. In fact, your author would have never become your current author if she hadn’t narrowed down her unique fly on the wall’s perspective from many years of independent excursions. Not a fan of wasting time, I truthfully face the fact that I’d probably attend the opening of a door, and those who know me definitely know that.

SF based Emcee and Hip Hop artist Micahtron also does double duty as a DJ as seen here last year. Photo credit: @micahtronsf Instagram page

The thing about Swagger Like Us is, even if you don’t know anyone there, once you walk in it’s sort of like you already know everyone. As their website reads:

“Swagger Like Us is the brainchild of events curator Kelly Lovemonster and producer and DJ davOmakesbeats. They started the event in San Francisco as a way to provide emerging queer hip-hop artists, DJs and dancers from all over the country a platform to showcase their talents. The vibe of the parties themselves feel like family, full of refreshing high energy and with an aesthetic that is fashion forward, sleek, cool and with its finger on the pulse of underground queer club circles.”

And fashion forward it is! The City Girls and City Boys especially came and showed out Last Week in San Francisco, and with the CDC seemingly recommending us all to MF’in party, this urban variety of a traditional LGBTQ Tea Dance was the place to be in the city this past Sunday afternoon.

SF Street Style was unbeatable Last Week In San Francisco. Kev wears an outfit by Nike.

Upon arrival the venue was packed and I perched myself, like a bubblegum pink Femme gargoyle, atop the north facing deck staircase to survey the crowd. Despite the high body count of the dance floor, when I am looking for a good outfit this sort of sniper view formulates in my eyes, I image it to be similar to what the Predator saw from his POV: both infrared and zeroed in on (mostly) unsuspecting targets with military precision.

Here it was where I spotted Kev, looking positively royal in his purple theme ensemble anchored by a pair of distressed jeans with flight patches I could have literally stolen off his body and worn myself. “Is it too much purple? It’s too much purple huh” – he lamented to me, a declaration which I, like a Mistress, would not allow. Kev’s purple perfection ended up being my first photo of the event, a fantastic style foreshadowing of the epic night to come.

The epitome of street style, professional model Taylor is my City Style Look of the Week

The good thing about taking pics at a Queer party is how immediately responsive and accommodating the crowd is when you say, “Hold up! I have to take a pic of his outfit!” Instantly, in a wave of collective cognizance, the crowd parts and allows me to take as many shots as I need. Even the oblivious folks trying to cross the dance floor like a Chinook salmon dolphin jumping upstream would patiently wait, taking sips from their quickly deteriorating paper straws to keep their drinks from spilling everywhere, as if it was some sort of silent group agreement that his outfit was indeed, fabulous.

It was from that same gargoyle-d vantage point where I saw the stunning Taylor having the time of her life dancing at the lip of the stage, when she wasn’t busy being captured by the party photographer and friends on their iPhones. I clearly was not the only individual who had taken notice, but I digress because by this time I had recruited two other Femmes to help me bird watch for fashion in different directions who held our post as as I ostensibly crowd surfed over to her, approximately 30′ away.

Taylor aka @thatblackqueer in a showstopping layered Jack London ensemble

Reminiscent of some sort of Lower East Side Party Monster inspired Vivienne Westwood print advertisement, Taylor’s muslin-like poplin blouse, bright red ripstop nylon pants with knee cut outs and shirred side drawstring ties, layered over with simple white bustier popular on Amazon.com for shape and structure were a showstopping unconventional mix of styles, textures, and fabrics. Paired with platform Chuck Taylors, it was clear Taylor came well prepared to be the belle of the ball, and looked so great she deserved 2 pictures this week… does it surprise you she makes her living as a model? Congrats Taylor for being my Look of the Week!

Shafiyi was looking real *expensive* that afternoon. C’est magnifique!

Speaking of, the Honorable Mention of the week was standing right behind her. “That jacket! Those glasses! Your shoes! YOU LOOK INCREDIBLE!” – I had possibly startled Shafiyi with my ardor but I digress because he was the best dressed man at the entire party. In a satin bomber jacket and coordinating outfit by Kooples anchored by demure Prada two tone platform loafers, this gentleman looked like he had just come from some sort of record label executive meeting – and I am here for it. I was there for it, and even now I am still here for it. A walking vision of  “less is more” his edited eye personified much taste plus restraint and as Mdme. Chanel once said: “Elegance is Refusal.” Shafiyi, I’ll come find you to be my Met Ball date one of these years. You are *that* dude.

“You’re a City Girl, huh?” “Of course I am!” Sophia was a neon dream in Express and Nike 

It was so crowded, it took me a while to maneuver over to the south side of the El Rio deck which is where I spotted Braulio, because honestly who could miss him? Striking, poised, and very handsome, he explained that he was wearing his most favorite hat from his hometown in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Urban cowboy Braulio stunned us all in Zara and cowboy hat from Guadalajara

Being an “Accessories Person” myself, I cooed over how clever he was to uplevel his entire look with the addition of the singular piece: his hat. Hearing him wax poetic about his beloved hometown in Mexico was an added bonus, (I love the personal stories behind such special items) and I inculcated later on while reviewing the party photos how his outfit may have gone lesser or even completely unnoticed without it’s addition. We became instant friends and after he introduced me to the ultimate accessory, his gorgeous and sweet tempered partner, (seen on the right in the background of the photo)  and we three quickly became “the clique” of the evening. Orale!

Herb showcasing cruise collection wear from au currant Colombian designers

Herb was shocked and stunned I wanted to photograph his head to toe look, which he found on vacation in Colombia. Looking like he stepped straight out of a Jean Paul Gaultier ad, I reassured him that he had great personal style and that he wasn’t at all awkward to photograph, it’s really just life that is awkward, okurr.

Sam was rico suave personified in Zara and Nike

Speaking of Colombia and our clique (that grew in numbers as the sun started to go down)  we encountered Sam, who was giving very much 80’s Miami Colombian drug money heir with his ribbed, almost accordion pleated heavy handed** ivory button down from Zara, accented by throwback lowrider style Nike Cortezes, glittering gold jewelry and of the moment Gucci (or Gucci inspired? LOL literally who cares) sunglasses. A round of tequila shots later, the event had by then evolved into a totally different party.

Ademar in Stella McCartney, and Alicia, in Sugarthrillz & vintage

Never one to leave a good leopard print outfit uninterrogated, I stumbled upon the “jackpot” of double trouble Ademar and Alicia at the bar inside. Alicia, a friend of Editor in Chief Broke Ass Stuart was serving straight up High Femme with back seamed stockings and a pair of black satin platform heels with pink marabou feather and cascading rhinestones, which your author noticed because she also owns the same pair. Not to go unmentioned, Ademar was a vision of true Athleisure in his Stella McCartney pull over and flippy haircut that was just dying to be on a tennis court somewhere in Mill Valley.

“Hey Arnold!” you really killed it in those JNCOs. Who does that?!

I brought my beloved Brandon Blackwood mini trunk bag along with me that night, and one of the drawbacks of participating in the mini and micro purse trend is not being able to properly put your phone away. That being said, it was beyond clear at this point that I needed to wipe my iPhone lens down with a soft cloth, but I digress because I ran into Arnold on the dancefloor. I couldn’t help but “rave” over his vintage JNCOs, something I haven’t seen in person since the first wave of their inception when I was in high school. Tall, statuesque, and brimming with positive, infectious energy, Arnold explained how his white corset bodysuit and cropped tapestry jacket were also thrifted.

I commended the boldness in his outfit choices – anyone who can pull off rave pants *this* well is someone who needs to photographed, plus – in this week’s edition of: Costume or Street Clothes? Arnold still had to get to and from home from the party, a visual I find both endearing and amusing.

The author, in Sugarthrillz, SavagexFenty, Azalea Wang, and Brandon Blackwood 

The return of Swagger Like Us left me feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and hopeful for the social year to come. Will we have our first real PRIDE since 2019? I honestly get a little misty eyed pondering the not so far off possibility.

This Y2K Bae was having so much fun I could hardly photograph her. C’est la Vie – life is short. Dance. 

Yes, events like Swagger Like Us are just a party. But it’s a party where no one has to look over their shoulders to make sure they’re safe. It’s a party where, as a queer identifying individual, you get to blend in instead of stand out. But if you want to stand out on the other hand, you are not only encouraged to but celebrated while you do. Swagger Like Us feels like family in the same way that El Rio feels like a second home tucked away in a far corner of Bernal Heights. A place where you can get either one of the best burritos in town (Cancun) or sit down for plate of fried chicken at a restaurant owned by pro skateboarders (Blue Plate) right across the street. A place to go see other joyful, anointed, adorned Queers who are really at this point, just celebrating the fact that we’re all still here… we’re all still alive, and we’re all still together. Even in an international, metropolitan city like San Francisco, there really is no other place quite like this. The best days of our lives… are actually right now.

You can sit with us. “The clique” at the end of the night. I’m bringing a microfiber cloth with me next time, SMH.

**The “hand” of a fabric notates how much weight and overall heft it has

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