Lya Carrera

DITC Fashion Article Featuring ATKM and Filf Dos in Curve Magazine

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:02:30 +0000

Check out the latest issue of Curve magazine. I covered the dykesinthecity (DITC) fashion show that was held at Club Cafe in Boston, Mass. It was promoted by Kristen Porter’s Dyke Night Productions.

Modeling as well as performing in the show were All the Kings Men (ATKM) and Filf Dos.

Read the full article: Style from the Streets: ATKM and DITC reinvent lesbian fashion

The fashion show was held earlier this year so a lot has happened since then for many of the artists that were featured in the Curve article:

DITC has been quite busy participating in fundraisers, Disney World, Pride, and music festivals. They recently attended the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival in Hart, Mich.

ATKM has been working hard over the past few months. They just got back from touring the Midwest as well as participating at Pride in Toronto, Canada.

They will be in Boston for a short while before flying to Los Angeles, Calif. to be part of the Los Angeles Women’s Theater Project scheduled for Sept. 5 - 7, 2008.

Filf Dos has been focusing their energy on their first album Filfy Flirty - which is due this fall - while also performing. They were recently interviewed in July by Go Magazine.

Krister Porter of Dyke Night Productions has been challenged a bit this year as her weekly sapphic nights held for many years at the formerly Toast Lounge (Somerville, Mass.) is now defunct.

Luckily, this owner, activist, acupuncturist and promoter forges ahead. She has already secured a monthly night at The Milky Way Lounge & Lanes in Jamaica Plain, Mass. to continue the tradition.

Style from the Streets: ATKM and DITC reinvent lesbian fashion

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:58:26 +0000

By Lya Carrera
Curve Magazine Contributor
Published Magazine: Curve
Published Date: September 2008, Volume 18#7

Lesbian style has come a long way over the years. Women have gone from looking masculine to androgynous to punk to feminine to gender-crossing. What was lesbian chic in the 1980s has come full circle with the emergence of The L Word and it has put lesbian fashion back on the map.

Although the characters on The L Word are feminine looking—with the exception of Shane, who is androgynous-butch, and Moira-Max, who is butch-transgender - there’s a fashion style for all of them, regardless of how each one identifies.

The image of lesbians that was prevalent in the media—two words: flannel shirts—has now been replaced with something more positive as gay women are now seen as being fashion-conscious.

As a result, many clothing companies now cater to, though are not exclusive to, the lesbian community, and each brings its own unique twist to the clothing line. One such company is dykesinthecity (DITC.net).

“Our clothing is very urban, edgy and very city,” says Niki Cutler, 34, co-founder and co-owner of DITC. “We combine our fashion with hip-hop and drag because that’s exactly the image that we want. I think it’s positive to have our clothing line involved in cross-entertainment. We’re all helping each other out by getting everyone’s name and art out.”

The Fashion Event

Cutler showcased her fashion line at Club Cafe in Boston during an evening of queer entertainment. All the Kings Men (ATKM)—the wildly popular all-female, cabaret-style, gender-bending troupe—and the hip-hop duo Filf Dos (lyricist Filfy and DJ Jive Alive) performed and modeled the clothes. Promoted by Kristen Porter’s Dyke Night Productions, the show was titled Fashion, Hip Hop and Drag, Oh My!

Members of both ATKM and Filf Dos assumed two roles that evening, as performers but also as Cutler’s models in the fashion program. Cutler emceed and described the clothing as the eight models walked from the back of the stage.

The audience whistled and clapped loudly when ATKM’s Leighsa Burgin sauntered the catwalk wearing a black miniskirt, black sweat jacket and gray burnout T-shirt.

The audience reaction was similar when ATKM’s Karin Webb modeled a sexy, black denim dress, while sporting the DITC socks.

The crowd got pumped up when ATKM’s Jill Gibson stepped out wearing the gray Betty hat with the black “Our World, Our Words” muscle T-shirt, while she unzipped her jeans to give us a peek at her black boxer-briefs with the DITC logo.

Ann Zumwalt drew lots of applause when she came out in the checkered, black sergeant cap, the red “queer” workshirt and the black tie with the brass knuckle design.

And ATKM’s Julee Antonellis looked modish in the brown T-shirt with “TransForm” written on it, along with the brown fedora hat.

Other items that were modeled were the femme and butch tuxedo shirts. Cutler’s diverse style caters to everyone: femme, butch, transgender, gay or straight.

DITC Clothes, Beginnings and Future

Many audience members said that ATKM had brought them to the show, but afterwards, many were inspired to purchase DITC clothing.

Sam Demuro, 22, bought a vintage-style shirt. “I was influenced by the show, and I think it’s important to support [queer] artists.”

Mary Caulfield, 27, bought the tie-inspired cuffs. “I like the color. I like the pattern. I like the way it fits,” she says. “It’s very neutral and goes with just about everything.”

Not only did the audience members like DITC’s line, but so did the performers who modeled it.

“A lot us wear her clothes,” ATKM’s Jill Gibson says. “I think one of the struggles for women who dress in a masculine way is that it’s hard to find clothes that fit you appropriately… .Her clothing line makes you feel confident and comfortable. It’s a good feeling to buy clothes from women, for women, and be able to see yourself in them.”

Filfy, a long-rime DITC model and fan, has watched Cutler’s growth as a designer over the past three years. “Each season, the clothing line gets better and better. I think she has done a good job of being a pioneer in dyke fashion,” she says. “I’m really proud of her.”

Cutler started her Chicago-based company in 2004, but the seed was planted long before then over coffee with a group of friends. “In 2000, we were in Baltimore [Md.] and we started calling ourselves the DITC crew, which was the acronym for dykes in the city. It was this fun name that we made up about ourselves because we were a very close-knit group.”

Cutler says that she was at a crossroads in 2004. She had already been attending lots of Pride festivals and something inside her was compelling her to do something for the LGBT community. So, she decided to go with her gut instinct and take a risk with a T-shirt venture.

Many agree that Cutler’s clothing is filling a gap in the LGBT community. “I think fashion for the lesbian community is fantastic,” says Sarah Engel, 27. “I don’t think it’s tapped into that much. I definitely think there needs to be more options for us because we have our own style and fashion sense.”

Laura Watts, 39, says, “I think it’s great to have lesbians make their own clothing and sell it. I think it has a wider audience than just the dyke community.”

Cutler hopes that DITC will continue to expand, as well as tour with other entertainers. But most importantly, she would like her clothing line to make a difference in people’s lives.

“I’m glad to be able to put out some new and innovative ideas for dyke fashion,” she says. “My goal is to create inner happiness as well as create a positive group identity that will give people the courage to self-express and be proud of who they are and not worry about the outside world. I want dykesinthecity to be known by gay and straight people alike, so that one day everybody can be comfortable with each other, because that’s what it’s all about.”

ALL THE KINGS MEN AND DYKESINTHECITY IN CURVE’S FALL ISSUE

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:09:09 +0000

Curve’s magazine September issue will feature ATKM and dykesinthecity articles. Stay tuned!

Update on DITC and ATKM Articles

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:33:46 +0000

Curve magazine was going to originally publish the All The Kings Men article along with the dykesinthecity article in April 2008. This has now changed and they will be published later this year. I will keep you posted as to their status.

MTV’s Shot of Love Dani Campbell at PURE nightclub - Boston, Mass.

admin — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:13:47 +0000

MTV’s newest reality celebrity Dani Campbell made an appearance at PURE nightclub on Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. The 29-year-old lesbian firefighter made it to the final round of MTV’s A Shot of Love with Tila Tequila, which was the first ever bisexual dating show similar to The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.

Although Tequila did not choose her, that hasn’t stopped Campbell from making the most of her new star status. She is hoping to start her own clothing line called Futch Apparel, geared toward futches like herself. A “futch” is a term that Campbell coined herself which is a cross between a femme and a butch. Campbell says she hopes to have her Web site up and running soon.

Sponsored by Lesbian Nightlife, Beth McGurr says she hopes to have more of these types of events in the future.

Campbell along with Tequila will be at The Dinah Shore bash in April 2 - 6, 2008, in Palm Springs, Calif.

For more information on Campbell’s appearance at PURE, you can read the article I wrote Shot of Love Star Fanning the Flames .

More Info:
Dani Campbell
Futch Apparel
The Dinah 2008
Lesbian Nightlife
PURE:FRIDAYS

Dani Campbell fanning the flames

admin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:17:35 +0000

By Lya Carrera
Bay Windows Contributor
Published Newspaper: Bay Windows
Online Version Published Date: March 6, 2008
Online Verison Printed Date: March 6, 2008

Tila Tequila may not have chosen Dani Campbell in the totally unexpected finale of A Shot At Love, but that hasn’t stopped the firefighter-turned-reality-TV-contestant from becoming a bona fide lesbian celebrity. And neither did the cold temperature nor the buckets of snow stop the hordes of infatuated girls from coming out to see her when she visited downtown nightclub Pure on Feb. 29.

Although doors opened at 10 p.m., there were already more than 60 people braving the weather and waiting outside the club by 9:45 p.m. Most of those 60 people were, unsurprisingly, 20-something women who seemed to have a soft spot for the be-dimpled Campbell.

“I came here to see Dani Campbell because I think she’s really cute,” said 21-year-old Stephanie Perez. “I was rooting for her the whole entire show.”

Up until recently, no one knew who Campbell, a 29-year-old firefighter from Florida, was. But after she made it to the final round of A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila, MTV’s latest reality TV experiment involving a former pin-up girl questioning her sexuality - and lost to the vapid and not nearly as cute boy, Bobby - everyone knows who Dani Campbell is. And everyone, evidently, wants to touch her.

“It’s always like this at the clubs,” she said, talking with Bay Windows during the event, of the throngs of excited fans. Campbell said that while she has taken all of it in stride, she definitely needed to adjust her lifestyle a bit.

“At first, it was a little shocking because I wasn’t prepared. I’m really big on personal space but that’s gone,” she said. “People feel like they know me, so they touch, hug, and kiss me. Now I know what to expect, so I just embrace it.”

Campbell’s appearance at Pure, which was sponsored by LesbianNightLife.com, was just one stop on a tour that has her criss-crossing the lesbian nation, and the ladies turned out en masse in Boston. Beth McGurr, the promoter of Pure: Fridays, a weekly lesbian night, said that the club was at capacity by 11:30 that night and was busier than they had expected.

“There were some very happy young women,” said McGurr. “We hope to continue to bring different celebrities to Boston because I think it would add something new, different, and exciting to the scene.”

While it may have been a near-blizzard outside the club, inside it was summer come way early. Two lifeguard chairs sat at the front of the stage while club dancers clad in bikini outfits drummed up the crowds with hula-hoops and beach balls. The playful energy reached a fever pitch of clapping and whistling when Campbell took the stage. She gamely serenaded - along with the rest of the crowd - a lucky birthday girl who was brought onstage. Later, fans quickly shuffled to form a line for some individual face time with the self-described “futch,” or butch-femme hybrid lesbian, which is how Campbell affectionately refers to herself.

Only the first 100 people through the door got the chance to meet Campbell, which means more than a few fans went home disappointed. The lucky ones walked away with an autographed photo of their very own and some even left with “Dani” scrawled on their t-shirts and arms. Meanwhile, security was frequently challenged by sneaky fans trying to get onstage and a few who were allowed to be there had to be escorted off after hogging too much time with the amiable Campbell.

“If it was up to me, I would have let everyone meet her, but Campbell can only sign so many autographs,” said McGurr.

Those who did meet Campbell were not disappointed. “I feel awesome,” said Dasen Woitkowski, 26, flush with excitement. “I wanted her signature on the ’Team Dani’ t-shirt that I bought through her myspace. I’m very happy. I’m the only one in the club who has it.”

“It was worth the wait,” said Dani Elliot, 29, who said she owns a bar in Taunton called Secret. She asked if Campbell could make a special appearance at her club. Campbell, she said, agreed.

Campbell’s high demand seems to be based not just on those dimples. Many already see her as a role model.

“I think she’s a positive person,” said Sandra Rodrigues, 31. “She’s clean cut, well spoken, and has a great head on her shoulders.”

Now that she missed her shot at being Tila’s girlfriend, Campbell is looking to achieve other goals. Although she still works as a firefighter, she’s decided to start a clothing line called Futch Apparel, geared towards futches like herself. She anticipates having her website up and running soon.

“Hopefully by the end of March there will be six different designs for t-shirts,” she said. “This is just to get it started. I hope to have the other items by the end of the year.”

And despite being thrust into the limelight, Campbell appears to be handling her success with ease.

“It makes me feel good when people tell that I helped them in their lives,” said Campbell. “It would also be an accomplishment if I can change someone’s outlook on gay people and bring some equality not only in our community but also the world.”

Drag, Hip Hop, and Fashion Come to Boston, Mass.

admin — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:00:28 +0000

The profile on All The Kings Men article will now be postponed until next year.

Recently, ATKM participated in the Drag, Hip Hop, and Fashion event that was produced by Kristen Porter’s, Dyke Night Productions. It was held at Club Cafe on Dec. 6, 2007.

The event featured the fashion line of Niki Cutler’s own company, dykesinthecity (DITC). Not only did ATKM particpate in it - along with Hip Hop group, Filf Dos - but both acts also modeled the clothing as well. I covered this event for Curve magazine and will be writing an article on it.

The ATKM article along with Drag, Hip Hop, and Fashion article will be published similtaneously in April 2008. I will keep you all posted on any updates or changes in their production schedule.

In the meanwhile, I’m working on other stories as well and will let you know more about them as I get the green light to cover them.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Curve Article - All The Kings Men

admin — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:10:04 +0000

I just handed in the Curve article regarding All The Kings Men, so I have to wait to hear from them to find when they will publish it. At any rate, I am already thinking about the next stories. Ideas are already brewing in my head; I will let you know the topics later.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Profile on All The Kings Men

admin — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:24:34 +0000

Welcome Everyone!

This is my first post on my blog. Although I’m still applying for jobs as a print reporter, I will occasionally freelance in various publications to keep myself up-to-date.

Currently, I have been given the green light to do a profile on All The Kings Men for Curve magazine. I’m really excited about it. The article is tentatively slated for December 2007.

Stay tuned! I will keep you all posted!

Artist Alejandra Vernon - A woman of faith

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:00:20 +0000

By Lya Carrera
Andover Townsman Contributor
Published Newspaper: Andover Townsman
Online Version Published Date: March 1, 2007
Online Version Printed Date: March 13, 2007

Artist Alejandra Vernon survived a fatal fire in her apartment building this winter. She says her faith - and the support of people such as an Andover gallery owner - have sustained her as she has started over.

What started as a stove-top fire ended up burning down the north side of her three-story apartment building in Long Beach, Calif., killing two people, she said.

The 62-year-old Vernon, along with her two cats and goldfish, survived with no injuries, she said. But she lost her home and much of her artwork.

"I stood out in the street for hours [at the time of the fire]," Vernon said. "I could see the fire spreading, then [suddenly] the fire burst out of an apartment; it was about 6 feet. I’m a Christian, so I knew that it was my ‘leave everything and follow Him’ moment."

Vernon is a mixed-media collage artist who uses other materials with her paints, like paper. Her pieces are colorful, flat, and detailed with images from Jesus Christ to fruits.

Through the years, she’s had many spiritual experiences, she said. Her faith is reflected in her work, which is showcased at two Massachusetts’ galleries, Alpers Fine Art in Andover and Chameleon in Newburyport.

Peter Alpers, owner of Alpers Fine Art on Main Street, has stepped up his publicity efforts on Vernon’s behalf since hearing of the December fire.

"I wanted to help Alex in any I could due to the fire; overnight she went from a friend to a friend in need," Alpers said in an e-mail.

One admirer of Vernon’s work bought the collage titled "Mangoes" after seeing it at Cassis, a French bistro on Post Office Avenue in Andover.

"You want to touch them and eat them, but then your eyes are drawn to the open curtain and view of the sea - a trademark of hers," said Dan Mees, vice president of Text 100 Public Relations. "Closer scrutiny of her work [with] all the detail … adds a layer of mystery and spiritual charge."

Born in Reading, Pa., Vernon also lived in Ecuador, Argentina, Jamaica, New York City, Italy and Massachusetts.

She started her craft while in her early teens. Originally, she was a dancer. In her 20s, she realized her true calling was to be an artist, so with no schooling, she taught herself, she said.

Vernon said she has been fortunate that both strangers and friends have helped her since the fire. She has a new apartment in the south side of the same complex and many of her pieces have been selling.

Despite her loss, Vernon looks forward; she would like to do more publishing and get a licensing contract. Her other goals are more personal.

"I will be painting a fire series," Vernon said.

"Seeing the fire so vividly, especially out of that particular apartment that blew out into the sky, is now seared into my mind. [Spiritually,] I would like to grow closer to the Lord and do his bidding."