Who says dress-up is only for little girls? This Saturday, the big boys throw their (flashy and fabulous) hats into the ring at Winter’s a Drag, a drag-themed party at the Bellevue benefiting City of Hope. (Don’t worry, drag is not mandatory.) For men who consider eyelash curlers a handheld torture device, Philly’s Salotta Tee — who’s DJ-ing the soiree and whom you might recognize from her very brief appearance during the local American Idol auditions — offers some advice on how to go glam.

The event encourages men to dress in drag. Any tips for first-timers?
A nice, smooth shave. No sideburns, whiskers at all — it just shows through the makeup. Heels: If you don’t think you can handle them, don’t. If you do, walk on your tippy-toes. It’s like holding up a bridge with toothpicks. Wear a wider-base heel, or don’t go so high. And you can always wear slippers.

So where can you find some killer pumps for a men’s size 10?
Anywhere. If you want a women’s shoe, it’s usually two sizes larger than what you wear. I like Payless. There’s also lots of shops on 69th Street in Upper Darby. Just don’t go overboard.

Is there an essential drag item?
Feathers, boas, and sparkles — they always stand out. But it’s really what you do with it. Never lose the fun — you lose the fun, you lose the dress. That’s why people always have fun at Halloween — it’s fun.

So it’s an attitude thing?
Oh, trust me, I know about the drag attitude. Believe it or not, the dress can change you. You go into a club in drag, and all heads turn. You start to think “I look fabulous!” Of course you gotta play it up!

Do you have a preferred type of bra filling?
You want to go for comfort. The classic is to fill old pantyhose with rice. I don’t recommend that — it’s uncomfortable. I take a Nerf ball and cut it in half. It’s comfortable, washable, and — in the summer — absorbent. [laughs] I’m about simplicity and how to stretch a dollar.

Any mantras to help newbies channel their inner divas?
It’s the dress. I have seen the shyest person put on a dress and completely change. It brings your inner self out. I love seeing newcomers. They’re always laughing and having a good time. “Look at my costume!” “No, look at my costume!”

A faux pas to avoid?
Don’t take it seriously. Don’t say “I could live like this forever” — unless you really want to. [laughs] Enjoy it.

We all know that your childhood pet plus the street you grew up on equals your porn star name. Any equations for a good drag name?
Passed down generations, from drag mother to drag mother, it’s always been your dog’s first name plus your mother’s maiden name. In that case, I would be Sparky McCue. [laughs]

We saw you audition on American Idol —
Oh my God, highlight of my life! The only thing is, they didn’t give me enough air time. It was so great. Simon, the look on his face was just too much … believe it or not, he was very nice. They treated me like gold. — Cheryl McEvoy

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 11:02 am and is filed under Drag Show, Dance Party, American Idol, Benefit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted by Victor Fiorillo on 3/19/08 in Drag Show, Dance Party, American Idol, Benefit