Last Week in San Francisco: Y2GAY Style At Azealia Banks For Noise Pop
From jazz to hip hop, EDM to punk rock, March in the city is once again all abuzz with Bay Area music fans diving headfirst into a week-long music festival featuring independent, underground, and other bands in the midst of (what I call as a music industry publicist by day) their “bubble” phase, meaning on the precipice of something big. San Francisco’s own version of SXSW: Noise Pop Festival.
The Azealia Banks gig was one of the most sought after tickets of the week during Noise Pop Fest
As your resident Femme on the street style writer, I was thrilled to secure a highly coveted ticket on behalf of the Broke Ass Stuart website to the marquee event closing out the fest on Sunday night: Azealia Banks supported by female Atlanta based rapper Bali Baby. Was I there to watch the show? Definitely. But was I more interested in what everyone was wearing at the show? Ab-so-freaking-lutely. With the third month of the year typically yielding milder temperatures citywide therefore creating bolder outfit choices by default, I was looking forward to the instant runway show I knew this gig was destined to be.
This year’s Noise Pop Festival lineup
After a media table snafu, (shout out to Sully at Noise Pop who took great care of us) my gay husband Greg and I headed into the show and were immediately in awe by the astonishing display of Y2K fashion all around us or should I say, Y2GAY, and were equally astonished by the $40 rounds we were buying each other. Highway robbery aside, the entire evening was a sight to behold: one of the largest venues in San Francisco filled to the brim almost entirely with gay and queer hip hop fans – a revelatory experience for this elder millennial.
Izzy, Sean, & Christian in Kingsize, Ed Hardy, Nike, Doc Martens, and Telfar
But back to the clothes, because if Bay Area Azaelia Banks fans have one thing in common, it’s arriving showed out for her gigs… and that’s on period. Almost immediately I spotted Izzy, Sean, and Christian on the upper mezzanine in their coordinating black and white outfits like Beyonce, Kelly, and Michelle used to wear back in the day. Obsessed with Izzy’s Prada-esque black nylon overalls by King Size, I quickly herded them into a group photo, after which I spotted a gray wool Telfar bag slung over Christian’s shoulder.
The predominant designer spotted at the venue that evening, the cult Black-owned handbag and accessory designer had no less than 5 sightings all over the building: both brown and maroon leather versions of the same medium size satchel, a mini powder blue w/shoulder strap, Christian’s heather gray sweatshirt-like cloth version a la Sporty Spice, and something I’d never seen before: Telfar hoop earrings!
Brontez reppin’ for Telfar TV
Also on the upper floor was Brontez, whom I ambushed while minding their own business in line for the bar. “Telfar earrings!” I gasped, sucking nearly all the oxygen out of the room. “I’ve never seen those before.” Clearly knowing their target market, Telfar had sent out their Telfar TV crew to cover the show, a part of which was Brontez who was also donning a facemask embolized with the infamous circle T. The hardcore queer devotees of both Banks and Telfar at the show were as far as the cut crease, glitter lidded eye could see.
As soon as GH Greg and I got our $40 drinks we wandered into the auditorium area where J. Pansa was at the corner bar area in a most extraordinary pair of coveralls with a grid pattern cut into it by hand.
J. Pansa in a bespoke GRIDsuit by Ventilated Workwear
“I bet he made that!” I whispered to GH Greg, feeling like the lady in Napoleon Dynamite pining over the free gift with a purchase ship in a bottle. Turns out it was a handmade GRIDsuit by J.’s friend Hannah Hiaasen of NYC queer fashion brand Ventilated Workwear. Like a true friend, they handed me a business card for the designer then shook me with some fierce poses to properly rep the design. Everyone needs a friend like J. Pansa – whew!
Now onto my Look of the Week. As I dashed to the restroom I spotted a true style King: a very handsome Tim decked out in Oakland designer Zara Divine mixed with some of his own vintage pieces. Wearing a hand painted green army surplus jacket, relaxed fit black jeans splashed with a bright psychedelic and graffiti combo print in tropical colors, and crisp out the box black and white Nikes, Tim reigns supreme this week while also proving once again that fashion is for everyone who wants to wear it.
When I told Tim where to pose it was like God themselves shone down a light to approve of this City Style Look Of The Week
From then on, the amazing outfits just kept on coming. GH Greg helped me cherry pick potential baddies in the crowd, some from very far away and most of whom we caught up to by the end of the night. How much did I love chasing down Brenna in a coat looking a lot like the heavily photographed and iconic vintage fur leopard coat that Kate Moss wore in 1997-98? When she turned around and I saw she was also wearing a patent leather harness on top of her little black dress I nearly passed out – but I digress because I also really didn’t want to spill my $20 drink. A pair of Rick Owens-esque black leather ankle boots were a cherry on top for the entire ensemble, so much that she got my Honorable Mention this week. Many snaps for Brenna! 
Gorgeous gorgeous girls like Brenna wear LBD’s by Acne Studios and vintage leopard fur coats
GH Greg and I then basically stalked Jada, who standing near the front of the stage for most of the night looked like an actual rockstar in her fur trimmed red tweed jacket and shiny white boots. Laid back and a little shy, Jada reminded me of a young, throwback Mary J. Blige or Alicia Keys with a dash of Andre’ 3000 mixed in there for good measure. Her outfit was finished with a crown of braids piled high atop of her head, a pair of sparkly shooting star dangle earrings, flawless skin, and a glowing post show smile.
Jada had a city girl aesthetic that would’ve made Queens, NY raised Azealia Banks proud
And finally, you always see some of the best stuff at the end of the show when the lights come up. As everyone was filing out and down the Warfield’s epic double staircase, I spotted Martina aka well known DJ VTS looking statuesque in an aesthetic I call: “Pajama Glam”
DJ VTS.PLL having an It Girl moment in Italian brand A Better Mistake
Freshly back from her UK tour, she kept it comfy for the show in luxe PJs by Milanese conceptual designer A Better Mistake. “Not a bad idea…” I thought to myself after adjusting the squeaky latex halter top I was wearing for the umpteeth time that night. I snapped the pic above before she was quickly shuffled away by her pack of gays to their next party… most likely with (French Femme rapper) Uffie, also in town for the fest that week I realized as they disappeared down the corridor. Fabulous!!!
Moments later as I was leaving I spotted this “couple”, whom I assumed had dressed in matching outfits for the show. With their coordinating shades of khaki, camel, neon green, and black leather, it was an easy assumption. Turns out they had just met about 2 minutes before I approached them! Stunned by the coincidence – I wasn’t deterred when I just as quickly realized they had no interest in actually posing for a picture, but c’est’ la vie how great do they look anyway? Bonus points for her athleisure style Kenzo bag – I mean when you meet a cutie at a gig and your outfits already match it’s like a sign, am I right? You gotta love that end of show, the lights just came back on kind of energy.
These two were meant to be! Or their outfits were at least. I wasn’t able to get their names for obvious reasons.
Azealia Banks is, and remains, one of the most controversial figures in hip hop. With a musical style that is one part Lil’ Kim, one part Estelle, and maybe a little dash of Carol G – her talent is as undeniable as her reputation is. Known for her hot NYC temper and remarkable rapping speed – Banks showed up on Sunday night with 42” of hair down to her knees, a full band, and a queer audience who just could not get enough of her.
“What is it that makes the gays love her so much?” I wondered to myself, because as infamous as Azealia aka Mz. Banks aka Yung Rapunzel aka La Aracely is, her history with the LGBTQ community is not pristine. But that’s the thing – her relationship with almost any community, institution, or figurehead of, is controversial and far from pristine. If you examine the body of her work, however, the answers are more obvious upon reflection. With songs like “C*nt Queen”, she addresses how “c*nty” it is for women to both be feminine and also be vulnerable at the same time while still remaining self aware. That level of both inner fortitude and outer delicateness is something that a lot of folks just won’t fuck with – and even fewer folks self possess. I’m sure if there’s any community who can relate to that level of self-awareness it’s the queer community, especially for BIPOC, and especially in the Bay Area. 
The author in her chosen outfit for the evening, a “pop” of color for Noise Pop Fest, in Poster Girl, Club Exx, Lust Latex, and Prada
It’s also the same sort of fearless self awareness you need to embrace fashion and take all the risks that true personal style requires: some will love it, and some will hate it. Some will hate you just for being brave enough to be authentic. So in that way, if you want to be loved, prepare to be hated – I can’t think of a more “c*nty” attitude to have than that. Or empowering for that matter. Lady Gaga once spoke of there being a certain art to being famous, where no matter rich or poor, if you knew how to turn heads, be seen, and look great while doing it all, you were an instant star – because people would always remember you.
Banks has also reminded us all of the fragile layers of mental health struggles and how sometimes great talent can also be terrorized by a very troubled history – and in this case riddled with tabloid dramas and disturbing outbursts roiled on by very public feuds. Has she reached icon “diva” status yet? Not just quite. But from the way I saw her screaming, elated hardcore fans come out to support her in their glittery, crop topped, designer purse clutching droves this past Sunday night, it’s clear she’s well on her way there.
After two long years of a moving walkway to nowhere of a global pandemic, Noise Pop Festival and Azealia Banks brought us all back together that night, and reminded us that no matter what we go through as a collective we will not only bounce back better than ever, but look great while doing so too. A couple years older perhaps, but just as glamorous, and certainly as fabulous. No matter what stalls you, Banks additionally reminds us all that the ones who truly support you will always be right there patiently waiting to see what you’re going to create next. That you are more than just your circumstance. And for that, I salute her fans too.
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