From Gucci’s “Queercore” Brogues to Alexander Wang Condoms, Here’s How All the Fashion Brands Do Pride
In 2017, with every good cause comes a fashion collaboration, for better or worse. And pride month is certainly no exception.
The annual parades celebrating LGBT culture and pride kicked off in the beginning of June—the same month as the Stonewall riots of 1969—on the west coast in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and will go out with a bang in New York City this weekend. Parades and marches are also occurring internationally in cities around the world, from Sao Paolo to Sydney.
President Bill Clinton was the first to officially declare June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month” in 2000. And from 2009 to 2016, Barack Obama declared June “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.” However, current president Donald Trump failed to make a proclamation this year in 2017, which sadly comes as no surprise. But of course, the show must (and will) go on.
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Harmodius and Hoti at the Castro Street Fair, August 1975.
Harvey Milk in front of his Castro Street Camera Store, ca. 1977.
Castro Street Fair, featuring a moving art piece by Violet Ray, August 1982.
Club Chaos and Klubstitute float in the SFLGBT Pride Parade, June 1989.
Castro Street Fair, ca. 1976.
SFLGBT Pride Parade, June 1990.
Scout on Castro Street, June 2015.
Anne Kronenberg driving newly elected supervisor Harvey Milk in the SFLGBT Pride parade, June 1978.
Castro Street on Harvey Milk’s birthday, the day after the White Night riots, May 1979.
Harvey Milk as a Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey clown for a day, May 1978.
Harvey Milk for Supervisor campaign volunteers , including Harry Britt, Carol Carolson, and Harvey Milk, greeting morning commuters, 1976.
Robert Morgan as David Hockney, June 1982.
Leon Lott, December Wright, and Larry Williams at the Castro Street Fair, August 1976.
Blonde Sin’s Doris Fish, June 1980.
Halloween on Polk Street, October 1976.
Peppe Olvadez at the Castro Street Fair, August 1977.
As in years past, fashion brands are offering a range of Pride-related products, that don’t necessarily involve rainbows. This year, Marc Jacobs printed a special Pride month t-shirt; Prabal Gurung, who showed a politically-charged Fall 2017 collection, is selling sweaters bearing the phrase, “Love is love,” which Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda first said when he accepted his 2016 Tony Award the day after the Orlando nightclub shooting; Nike produced a “Be True” collection, including rainbow VaporMax sneakers; and Alexander Wang teamed up with Trojan condoms on a parade float that says, “Protect your wang.”
If there’s one thing pride weekend is not, it’s subtle.
That being said, if you’re not interested in flaunting an overt Pride-related campaign (fair), brands like Gucci perhaps provide a high-fashion alternative, with plenty of rainbow, but also some “queercore” brogues. You might not get very far in them, but you’ll look fabulous.
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“One Fire” Photographed by Mario Sorrenti, Styled by Camilla Nickerson, W Magazine March 2008.
Vetements x Comme de Garçons SHIRT Colored Stripes Gay Sweater, $625, doverstreetmarket.com
Stella Mccartney Rainbow Silicone IPhone 6 Case, $85, www.net-a-porter.com
Levis Pride Flag Pin, $12, levi.com
Human Rights Campaign, Make America Gay Again Rainbow T-Shirt, hrc.org
Gucci, Square Framed Glittered Acetate Sunglasses, $400, net-a-porter.com
Marc Jacobs, Metallic Intarsia Cotton Sweater, $295, net-a-porter.com
Converse, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star ’70 1st Pride Parade High Top, $110, Nike.com
The Elder Statesman, Rainbow Intarsia Cashmere Sweater, $555, Mr.Porter.com
Christopher Kane, Beaded Mid-Heel Sandal, $417, Christopherkane.com
Loewe, Elephant Striped Leather Shoulder Bag, $1,290, net-a-porter.com
Happy Socks, Compression Stripe Sock, $21, happysocks.com
Emma Pake, Sunrise Monica Mesh-Trimmed Bandeau Swimsuit, $129, net-a-porter.com
Paul Smith, Rainbow Striped Cotton-Pique Polo Shirt, $255, MatchesFashion.com
Love Moschino, Logo Print Shirt, $181, Farfetch.com
Adidas, Pride Pack Superstar Shoes, $100, Adidas.com
Edie Parker, Jean Striped Acrylic Clutch, $777, net-a-porter.com
Urban Outfitters, UO Community Cares + GLSEN Pride Love Tee, $28, UrbanOutfitters.com
Topshop Unique, Striped Ribbed Stretch Knit Polo Shirt, $160, net-a-porter.com
Givenchy, Ruffled Striped Silk-Chiffon Dress, $1,680, net-a-porter.com
Alice and Olvia, Rainbow Leather Clee Crossbody, $395, aliceandolivia.com
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