For the second year, DIFFA’s gala went toward the glam of smoking jackets — you saw a lot less denim than in previous years, but just as much skin, with a runway show that popped with fabulosity. The drag queens from the Rose Room probably got the biggest ovation when they took the stage in all-out ownership; touchingly, in the program they dedicated their performance to their recently passed colleague, Erica Andrews.
But drag wasn’t the only look — there were some rockin’ designs, from a French Revolution theme to sexy men’s clothes (the men sometimes in high heels themselves) and of course the auctioned jackets. Add to that Sue Ellen herself, Linda Gray, helping with the live auction portion, and it was an event worthy of gala.
See more pictures after the jump.
The DIFFA Collection will be back next spring, and once again Jan Strimple will be producing the runway show. But before that, it’s the Style Ambassadors who have to do a lot of the work. This year, 17 men and women have been tapped to represent DIFFA in the community, raising awareness and money for AIDS treatment and research. That’s two more than the usual high of 15. The ambassadors are Simona Beal, John Bobbitt, Marty Collins, Peter Dauterman, Tommy DeAlano,Deanna DiPizio, Malcolm Gage (pictured), Stephen Giles, Kandis Hutchinson, Daniel Lewis, LeeAnne Locken, Vivian Lombardi, Tom Mason, Lance Avery Morgan, Troy Schiermeyer, James Shackelford and Paige Westhoff. The announcement was made at Dish Restaurant in the ilume last week.
