Gawker
There's a new species of bear in the entangled gay forest that is New York fashion, claims the New York Observer: The highly not-dangerous, sort of comfy, sort of roomy, Design Bear! They're like regular big ol' gay bears, but they works in fashion or retail or like fancy fey stuff, and, as such, do not conform to the Ford/Jacobs/Lagerfeld school of grape diets and chest waxing. Design Bear is often seen avec beard but sans fashionable duds, and is often coated in a pelt of plaid workshirts!
In short, Design Bears are schlumpy and messy and don't really give that much of a fuck about outward appearance—just like you probably! They just happen to use those meaty hands of their to make beautiful dresses out of delicate silks and things.
Who are the most prominent Design Bears? Obviously there's the boys of Costello Tagliapietra, "2007's answer to Dolce & Gabbana," a two-bear pack of their own. Then there's Rob Seroka of the mens' fashion line RSRV, artist Nayland Blake, fashion designer Patrik Rzepski, and—oh, there's just too many to count! Though we can't really think of many more?
Has the Observer mentioned how gay they are? Don't worry, they're still really gay.
The Design Bear does many of the things you might expect from a typical queen: making people over, cooing over shoes, fondling fabric. ("This is twisted-yarn plaid," said Mr. Seroka with particular glee. "This makes it wrinkled, the yarn gets twisted in there.") But he's more likely to prefer gay bars like the Dugout and the Eagle to tanorexic hangouts like G Lounge and Vlada.Oh, and there's going to be a book. It'll be called Bear Flavoured.
Comments
to be fair, suspenders are very versatile.
Design Bears, Andrae, Red Lobster, make it work!
And the Design Bears even have a catalogue!
It's called LL Bean.
Bob Vila is the ultimate Design Bear.
Oh, and Betsy Johnson.
Sheila who arrrrrrre you?
So - they dress like old school dykes?
@Conbon: The not-knowing. It's unbearable.
@Conbon: She's Intern Sheila. And she's replaced Choire with spider plants.
I love design bears. They so much nicer than the queens!
I just want to squooze them!
But then I have that reaction to the Bounty paper towel dude too, and he's not even cooing over fabric.
Ladies and Gents, the one on the right is miiiiine.
They're clearly gunning (ha!) for Chris to win Project Runway this year.
@mathnet: Has this already been McCleared up?
I thought Boo Boo was the only gay bear.
Is the one on the left giving the Design Bear Stare?
Do all cities have a gay bar named the Eagle?
Is a design bear like an escape goat?
@Conbon: Seriously, McGinstein was on this, like, a whole week ago.
@Conbon: I suppose I'm not yet Mary'd to this simple explanation. Chart, please!
The fella on the right is wearing a dress Stewart plaid shirt.
What does it say about me that I can identify the kind of plaid of a Design Bear's flannel?
@DorothyMantooth: My apologies, that post probably went up during naptime.
But, the Article That Shall Not Be Named did mention that Choire employs 5 writers...so it's obvious that there is a massive conspiracy afoot.
Or She Who Has Been Previously Posted About But Shall Be Named No More, author of The Article That Shall Not Be Named, just can't count.
@Conbon: No, no! Just wanna give Eagle-Eyed Fellow Commenter his props.
(Also, 'cause I was commenting "Who the hell is Sheila, already?!" on just about every post before McGinstein responded.)
If only there had been a "Design Bear" Care Bear.
So, is this considered "Grunge Part Douche". Hopefully, cause I want to go back to letting myself go, not showering, armpit hair, rope belts, being a lesbian, but gayer.
@LolCait: this old bath house.
@kathotdog: hmmmm... interesting. Every city I've lived in has had a bear-licious Eagle.
Except my current city, but here it's the Golden Lion.
@DorothyMantooth: I wasn't offended! We cool. (But I would check how Mcginstein is feeling since you just gave her a sex change). [Add emoticon here, I have taken a vow never to use them]
@nadarine: No, nadarine, here it's the serpent in Northside.
Sorry for being too "inside baseball" for some, but I have finally found a local! Yay!
Jann Wenner...you forgot Jann Wenner
"Bear" is a look that's just as fussy and studied as that of any other gay subcult. That amount of schlub takes work!
In other words, you'll have to try harder before they'll recognize you as one of their own, Britney.
I would very much like to hear their opinion on Ms. Small's latest.
@DorothyMantooth: Thanks for the cred.
@Conbon: If I were a quarter as popular as LolCait everyone would be all "McGinstein's a chick!?!?!?!" Sigh.
I'm a bear. Grrrr. See?
Sometimes, when news like this comes out, I feel like the kid from Kansas that's just landed in the "Big City", all wide-eyed and confused
And we got this far without a "bear shitting in the woods" joke?
If they put out something on the level of Alexander McQueen, Tom Ford, or loathe as I am to say it, Marc Jacobs, I would understand, but I looked at their collection on their site, and I hate to ruin the cute and cuddly feel, but are we noticing them cause they eat more than the other designers, or cause their work is saying something about?
@MadameEducatrix: Honey, these bears are too busy fucking in the woods.
I wish there were more straight bears, because I think bears are super hot.
@VenusCloacina: So there's still a need for a soft, pillowy toilet tissue...
I like to imagine that they live in a log cabin incongruously situated atop a glass box condo in chelsea. With twin bulldogs.
@Conbon: McGinstein is a GIRL??!!
(Apologies to LolCait. [insert emoticon])
Oh! And sorry, McGinstein! You just seem so... strong. [Erm, insert emoticon].)
@mcginstein: Ha! I totally wrote my last comment before seeing yours!
I thought Lumberjack Chic died with Kurt Cobain?
I want them to make me soup and read me a bedtime story.
@PowerBlonde: Lumberjack Chic pulled the trigger. Some say.
Tomorrow belongs to me.
I can't wait until we start putting the bears into their proper classifications. I believe those two in the picture would be considered Grizzlies.
JFP has the suspenders already, now all he needs is a beard!
I wonder if this is the kind of bear that Stephen Colbert is frightened of.
If the NYT was writing about fashion bears over a year ago, you know that the trend was over at least a few months before that. Everyone is so clearly back to waxing...
Everyone knows that The Bears are actually the queeniest of Teh Gayz. They out-queeny even The Boiz and The Muscle Marys.
@DorothyMantooth: Ha! I love it!
It makes it better that you posted that before seeing mine. [Conbon only knew 'cause we're facebook friends]
Oh, I thought this was going to be about Thom Felicia putting on weight.
Tonight's Iron Design ingredient: back hair!
@Plasticaisle:
Exactly!! All that chatter came out around the same time as the GAY KISS ad from Marc Jacobs.... (see [madeinbrazilmag.com])
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?