Framing Lesbian Fashion; Dir. Karen Everett, (1992) 60 min. USA
This highly entertaining documentary explores how North America's diverse lesbian culture has used clothing to signify social and political identities over the last forty years. The filmmaker combines her personal story (bracketing the film with a tongue-in-cheek fashion show by the film maker herself) with the fashion journeys of six other lesbians. Characters tell how in the early days of feminism, newly politicised lesbians shunned feminine apparel and the old butch/femme look for an androgynous uniform. In the 1990s, lesbians are edging toward the stage of mainstream American society, sporting a splash of culturally signified costumes that are sewn with possibilities and perils. The video uses archival photographs, interviews and 'women's music' to evoke days gone by. As the video progresses, the camera follows characters into lesbian households, boutiques and dance clubs. These cinema verite sequences imbue viewers with the ordinary flavour of revolutionary lives.
Framing Lesbian Fashion looks at the evolution of lesbian attire and identity -butch/femme, flannel, androgyny, cross-dressing and drag, qu**r fluorescent, S/M and leather, lipstick and more. Featuring interviews with Sally Gearhart, JoAnn Loulan, Arlene Stein, Kitty Tsui and others, Framing Lesbian Fashion incorporates archival photos and personal stories to document the sociology and history of lesbian fashion.
Watch Now (USA Student Libraries)
10th June 2018 Newcastle Screening at Star and Shadow Cinema
