GERMANY: 'Gay not grey', a fashion show with a difference at the HIV-Congress

Record ID: 276982

  • Title: GERMANY: 'Gay not grey', a fashion show with a difference at the HIV-Congress
  • Date: 21st September 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (German) DESIGNER, OLEG LAZAREV, SAYING: "For me it was, of course important to produce such a colourful fashion for men over 55, 56, 88 and so on. Just to say be free, be free now, now is the time to be colourful and freaky and not the time to think of age. It's about focusing on the most important thing in life: Being free." VARIOUS PULKKINEN DRESSING LATEX
  • Embargoed: 6th October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVABMVG31R2R8GKTRH6UBM3UTFPT
  • Story Text: It was a story of ruched corset dresses, latex sailor suits and shimmering latex pirate outfits complete with a swashbuckling swordfight and a treasure chest full of condoms.
    The models sauntering down the catwalk in the German capital were unfazed by the teeteringly high heels, they were also all male, gay and between 45 and 80.
    The 'Gay not Grey' fashion extravaganza was celebrated on Friday evening (September 18) as part of an initiative from Berlin's gay scene. And uniquely was more about the participants than the audience. Designers put together their dazzling and colourful creations to fit men over forty who don't see their age as a reason to hang up their party shoes.
    'Lazo' designer, Oleg Lazarev said glamour is a way of expressing a free-spiritedness, whatever your age.
    "For me it was, of course important to produce such a colourful fashion for men over 55, 56, 88 and so on. Just to say be free, be free now, now is the time to be colourful and freaky and not the time to think of age. It's about focusing on the most important thing in life: Being free," Lazarev said.
    The show took place under the umbrella of the HIV congress and was a chance for HIV models to put into action the motto that people with HIV can live positively.
    "It shows me, it shows me that there is a way that one can live as they say, positively with HIV and that one can get old positively even with certain daily limitations that crop up sometimes. And it is just nice to see that we have had fun here," said model Klaus-Peter Ruppelt.
    Despite the important message, fun and glitter were what made the day. Feathers, latex - on show from the Savage Label - and fetish went down a storm.
    "First of all, it's just fun. Secondly you are here with a lot of men as friends, my husband is here as well and thirdly and probably the most important thing: We are showing ourselves as an active and confident part of the gay movement. For whatever reason, whenever the gay movement needs me, for some reason, i will always be there," said model Rogerio da Costa.
    And the show went down well with the audience. Proof that whatever age and shape and sexuality, confidence and free-spiritedness is the real body-beautiful.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register