With the 27th annual Folsom Street Fair happening on Sunday, the big question is, "What are you going to wear?" Folsom is one of the largest fashion events in San Francisco, and whether you're a spectator or a leather aficionado, you're undoubtedly going to plan your outfit before you go. With almost no knowledge of proper leather attire -- my closest frame of reference is Alexander McQueen's Fall/Winter 2009 collection -- I turned to some buff babes in the leather community to show me the ropes (and other kinky gear).
My guides were leather pro and booking manager EJ (Gehno) Sanchez, go-go dancer Jason Urso, and porn star Leo Forte of Kink.com and Raging Stallion fame.
Click through for some valuable dos and don'ts from the boys.
My first important lesson was the difference between "old guard" and "new guard." "Old guard" is the more traditional version of leather, as captured by illustrator Tom of Finland. Inspired by 1940s gay motorcycle gangs and drawing on military and police influences, the look comes with lot of history and traditions that are a little complex for a beginner. "New guard" is slightly more lax, allowing for mixing-and-matching different aesthetics and incorporating other masculine style icons, like wrestlers and boxers. If you're a Folsom first-timer, this is the way to go. You don't have to be an expert to put together a "new guard" look, and the prices of PVC and spandex pieces are considerably lower than those of leather.
Our first stop at Mr. S Leathers was the masks section. Leo was particularly drawn to them; he said he wanted to create a look inspired by Mad Max. He layered a few masks over each other, but the effect was too tight.
"I feel like I'm getting a facelift," he joked.
Eventually, he opted for a simple, aerated mask that covered just his nose and mouth. EJ selected a few gas masks in different colors and we moved on to the clothes themselves. Lesson learned: It's pretty tricky to get a lot of masks on and off without help, so have a friend help you get ready for Folsom.
We focused on the flashiest outfits: the wrestling and boxing gear. Jason's first attempt was this black and red boxing ensemble, but he conceded that the helmet and gloves were too bulky. He opted instead for a sleeker silhouette, with fingerless gloves and brighter colors. Leo tried everything from padded football pants to jockstraps, and he ended up with blue wrestling shorts.
Having found the key components of their outfits, the guys moved on to accessories. Leo tried on opera gloves while Jason grabbed some socks, both made of shiny PVC. They showed me a useful tip for slipping rather than squeezing into tight garments -- just add a little lube.
Outfits finalized, we headed down to BeatBox to experience the full effect. Leo and Jason will debut their new outfits tonight (Thursday, Sept. 22) at BeatBox's Gear party, beginning at 9 p.m. The event is a benefit for Folsom Street Events, the nonprofit organization that runs Folsom Street Fair. Stop by to swap fashion tips and tricks of your own, and party for the cause.
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