Gender Fuck Thursday: Kate the Always Great

Since the vintage tank did well, then a vintage suit – and I mean truly vintage – should do just fine. Just fine indeed. Oh, Kate. Truly, how did this movie come out 84 years ago and she looked that gay. I mean, come on, that stride? Woman of the Year, indeed.

Mental Health Minx: Katharine Hepburn

I watched the Netflix documentary “Call me Kate” recently. Interesting, but they sure yada yadaed over the whole her probably being queer thing. Which, come on, are we still doing this in this year of our Lesbian Jesus, 2023? Sigh.

Kate the Greatest

So because of The Sads I’m probably just going to put up some short posts this week. Like vacation vixens, but not really the fun kind of vacation. Anyway. As a kid Katharine Hepburn was always my favorite Golden Era celebrity. Looking back, clearly my internal gaydar was highly developed, if not entirely recognized, from a young age. Sometimes I think how different Kate’s career might have been were the times she lived in different. Already, she’s an icon. A trailblazing legend who did it her way in so many ways. But had she been allowed to be openly queer? We’re still only truly in the first generation of seeing superstars from their start who were out all along. They can try to legislate away and overturn our rights. But we’re here and we’re queer now and forever.

My Weekend Crush

Welcome to Lesbian Old Age Goals: Katharine Hepburn Edition. Live a good, full life and then retire to your country estate where you pick wildflowers, chop down trees, and generally look like a rumpled gentlewoman. Oh, and don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks or says – or for their company, for that matter. Like I was saying, goals. Happy please go away weekend, all.

Vacation Vixen: Katharine Hepburn

Just sliding into our weekend in a full suit. As one does.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Vintage Edition

How about we class up this joint, eh? And nothing’s classier than a fine-looking lady in menswear. And if that fine-looking lady is from a bygone era, well, all the better. Vintage gender fuck is, let’s be honest, some of the greatest gender fuck. But don’t take my word for it. Let Katharine Hepburn and friends show you.

Katharine Hepburn

The original great panted one.

Josephine Baker

Dapper goals, forever.

Audrey Hepburn

Not everyone can pull off a plaid suit. But, of course, Audrey can.

Maggie Smith

She looks like a 70s politician running for office. I’d totally vote for her.

Frida Kahlo

Impeccable vest game.

Marlene Dietrich

Nobody does gender fuck better. Never has, never will.

The Holy Kates/Cates

Boy, I had a shitty last night. And it’s carried over to be an unmitigated shitty morning. So today I just need a little pretty in my life. Please carry on. I’m sure all will be right as rain soon enough. Until then, please allow the holy trinity of Kate, Cate and Kate the Great to soothe us all into a better tomorrow.

Kate dressed in drag plying us with champagne? Yeah, see. Things are looking up already.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Kate the Greatest

When it comes to gender fuck, new Hollywood has nothing on old Hollywood. Sure, we’ve got the magnificent Tilda now. God bless her androgynous ways. But then they had Dietrich. Garbo. And, yes, Hepburn. Sure there are two, but only one Kate the Great. Before today’s Great Panted One, Ellen DeGeneres, there was Kate the Greatest Panted One. And that one being Katharine Hepburn. While you can’t beat Marlene for smolder, you can’t beat Kate for fresh-faced, divinely cheekboned tomboy charm. And those pants, how she wore those pants. So today, in honor of one of my all-time favorite actresses and style icons, let’s revel in a woman who knew how to fill out a pair of slacks like second nature. As Kate told fashion designer Calvin Klein in an interview before 1986 Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, her approach to style – particularly pants – was simple:

It was really because I couldn’t abide stockings. And I think the short skirt is really fundamentally hideous. I mean, you are breaking the line that should be carried to the ground. I love things that trail. Or I like pants. …. I think some of the style happened naturally – the pants came because I didn’t like stockings and I like low heels. …. Practical. I think this conductor’s jacket that I bought for two dollars and a half is sensational looking. …. I wanted to present something that looked as though it had just come out of the woods or something, and everyone thought, “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

Oh, and one more reason to love Kate. When Calvin asked is she was influenced by any of the men she knew at the time:

No! I never dressed up for any man. If I thought he cared how I looked, I would have thought he was a fool. I really would have. The men dressed for me, you know. Nobody ever made a pass at me unless I fully expected them to and welcomed the notion.

Now, that’s one hell of a dame. And a very handsome dame indeed. An ode to Kate the Greatest Panted One.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Drag Edition

There’s gender fuck, and then there’s Gender Fuck. The world witnessed the latter last weekend when the incomparable Lady Gaga went full on Jo Calderone for the entirety of the MTV Video Music Awards. Not only was it one of the only times I’ve ever seen her in an outfit that didn’t involve mirrors, bubbles, spikes or require refrigeration. Regardless of what you thought of her lengthy leering performance as Jo, you’ve got to admire her commitment. Hell, Gaga was even packing. So today let’s celebration those who dare to drag with mustaches – or without. All hail the kings.

Kristin Scott ThomasEat your heart out, Ivan Aycock.

Katharine HepburnThey don’t make movie stars like this anymore – male or female.

Brooke ShieldsDid you know Brooke pulled a “Yentl” in the movie “Sahara?” Neither did I.

Barbra StreisandOf course, nothing beats the real thing.

Anne HathawayUnsurprisingly, the woman who looks like a Disney princess in real life looks like a Disney prince in drag.

Natalie PortmanNow I’m thinking they missed a brilliant potential “mustache ride” scene in “Black Swan.”

Veronica WebbAlso unsurprisingly, beautiful models make handsome fellows.

Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell & Linda EvangelistaVery handsome fellows.

Julie AndrewsNever mind raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, Julie in a suit and tie is more than a few of my favorite things.

Lady GagaWhen he’s not glowering ferociously at the world, that Mr. Calderone is one GQ motherfucker...

...But when he is he kind of looks like an extra from “The Outsiders.”

Gender Fuck Thursday

There is no one way to properly gender fuck. In fact, it’s the variation that makes it so terribly delicious. Who says you need to wear a tie? Or a jacket? Or even pants? Wait, I think I’m getting off track here. What it’s really all about is owning your look and looking damn good no matter what you’re wearing. Sure, we can’t all look as flawless as Katharine Hepburn in a full suit and hat. But these ladies sure do their part fucking with gender in their own special way.

Billie Piper in suspenders
Winona Ryder in a smoking jacket
Evan Rachel Wood in a uniform
Zhang Ziyi in an Annie Hall
Pink in a vest
Melanie Laurent in no jacket
Piper Perabo in no tie
Drew Barrymore in no shirt
Sofia Coppola in an untied tie
Julie Andrews in a neatly tied tie
Gemma Arterton in a tuxedo
Keeley Hawes & Rachael Stirling in full tux, tails & top hat

Ah, yes, variety is truly the spice of gender fuck.