Drawn from the City: Jack is a gay costume designer and self-described gender-fucker
DRAWN FROM THE CITY: Illustrations and Interviews of SF’s Best, first appeared in The Bold Italic in 2015 and ran through 2016. We at broke-assstuart.com liked them so much we asked Crystal if we could put them out again as a time capsule of SF’s creative scene during the height of the most recent tech boom and demographic change.
ILLUSTRATION & INTERVIEW
BY CRYSTAL VIELULA
@CRYSTALVIELULA
Jack is a gay costume designer and self-described gender-fucker.
What is your occupation?
Designing and making clothes. These clothes are not functional, it’s not like you could just wear them to work, I think about it more from the art end. For money I work for good vibrations in the HR department; I make sure people get paid.
How would you describe your designs?
I would call it Fairy which is usually sensible shoes, usually some kind of frilly things, I don’t do any fake boobs, if somebody has a beard that’s fine and then we will put some amazing make-up on them. If I’m dressing somebody it is definitely very feminine but at the same time does not obliterate that fact that they are a man.
What are your style inspirations?
The Cockettes and Genderfuck when it was happening in the 60’s and 70’s. There was a conscious effort to make a public queer culture. Before that a lot of it was underground. It wasn’t trying to pass, it was: I am a man in a dress and you just have to deal with that.
San Francisco’s infamous Cockettes
What is your favorite outfit?
Depends on the situation, this is what I usually wear around outside, at home I usually I have on a t-shirt and skirt because it’s comfortable and when I go out its something like the orange outfit.
How long have you lived in the city?
I guess it’s been 30 years.
What is your favorite neighborhood?
I think the one I live in (the Lower Haight) because it’s pretty close to a lot of things.
What is your favorite event in the City?
I would say Easter in the park with the Sisters(of Perpetual Indulgence) because we spend a lot of time getting ready for it.
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Easter 2015. Warming up the crowd at the annual Hunky Jesus competition
