Gawker: andre j

Lydia Hearst Live From The Life Ball In Vienna

Nick Denton — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:19:58 EDT

Every year, the most awful people in New York jet to Vienna for the Lifeball, a fancy-dress fundraiser for HIV/AIDS research. On the Austrian Airlines private charter this year: pseudo-heiress Lydia Hearst, the character upon whom Ugly Betty's Amanda Sommers should have been based; ubiquitous plump-lipped tranny Amanda Lepore; club kid Richie Rich; gender-bending party promoter Andre J.; scene photographer Patrick McMullan; and a disgusted Gawker spy. The Lifeball's worthy cause typically protects the absurd celebrity freeloaders—but not this time. Here's Lydia Hearst at the first night's cocktail party, abandoned by her airplane snog-buddy, Markus Schenkenberg. After the jump, our correspondent's shocking tale of mile-high blow and blow-jobs.

What is hilarious is that when you take all these characters out of New York, they just look like dumb freaks. It's like getting confused which day is Halloween and arriving in full-on costume on October 29th instead—oops. We went through a special check-in at JFK. Needless to say, the plane ride was like a bloody sniffing contest. Also, all the staff were gay men (ridiculously dressed in skanky outfits and body glitter). It was impossible to get a drink during the flight because all the staff were busy sucking dick in the lavatory.

Andre J. Will Teach You How to Strut

Sheila — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:46:37 EDT

Everybody knows that the only people who really know how to walk in heels are six-foot tall gay men. Therefore, fashion muse and New York eccentric Andre J, who has made it ever since he ended up on the cover of French Vogue in a beard and a dress, is teaching the ladies how to work it. It's a four week program that costs $500. Classes are once a week for two hours. Turn to the left! Turn to the right! [via Fashion Bomb] After the jump, a little clip of Andre performing in heels—just so you know what you're paying for.

[Photo by Home of the Vain]

Andre J, 'Muse,' Finally 'Makes It'

Joshua Stein — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:00:56 EST

In our line of work, we're used to seeing tall black bearded ladyboy hustlers with long legs, big smiles and a penchant for self-promotion. But even in this hurlyburly rough and tumble world of free booze, those stupid VIP bracelet things that are a bitch to remove and burly doormen, Andre J stood out. His smile was the most radiant, his legs the longest and his ability to sell himself unparalleled. The first time we saw him, he was on a corner in Soho. New York's Amy LaRocca was all up in his shit. That led to his appearance in the Look Book, then the Look Book book. But the last time we saw him, he was working the door at some Save Darfur benefit Lydia Hearst threw and also skipped. Imagine our pleasure when we saw his face in the Sunday Styles and we learned he had made it. It was indescribable!

It was a scorcher, writes Guy Trebay of the day in 2007 that Andre J went out for a sandwich and came back a star.

Andre J. was running out for a sandwich and who should he bump into but Joe McKenna, the stylist who is the secret weapon behind the success of many, many very celebrated designers? Mr. McKenna was on the phone at the time. The person on the other end was Bruce Weber, the celebrated photographer of, among other things, dreamily homoerotic calendar art for Abercrombie & Fitch.When Mr. McKenna spotted Andre J., he immediately put Mr. Weber on hold. Mr. McKenna then called out to Andre J., whom he had met before and had once suggested for a V magazine pictorial photographed by Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde.

"Andre," said Mr. McKenna, "you look amazing!"

ACTUALLY, he did not say it in quite that way. It happens that the adjective "amazing," pronounced with a bunch of superfluous vowels, is how fashion types, and also certain urban gay men and also one or two tuned-in heterosexual copycats, lately express their approval. Amazing has replaced such locutions as "genius" and "major," which today sound even more old-hat than "fabulous."

"You look amaaaaazing," Mr. McKenna said.

And, of course, Andre J. did.

One thing leads to another Andre J is on the cover of French Vogue, Style gay Guy Trebay falls in love, and plucked from chorus a star is born. Amaaaaaazing!

A Cover Girl Who's Simply Himself [NYT]