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What Cool People Do
Style Wars: 900 X the Fun in 1/90th the Time
"Hearing loss runs in my family," yells MJ Diehl , one half of design/artist/event team House of Diehl, over the phone. "And that's so funny, I mean it's ridiculous. We have the same conversation all day long, 'cause we mumble. But do I mumble? I don't think I mumble."
"You don't mumble," I say.
MJ Diehl doesn't mumble. She projects. She — penetrates the air. She has a slightly brassy, loud, vibrant voice, a New York City playground voice, the kind that can holler your name across the blacktop and cut through noises of children, traffic, honking, anything. She's got the over-the-crowd, easy lung power of an MC — say, an MC at a fashion show in which the clothes are not actually made until the party starts. Which will be useful for tomorrow night, when she MCs the House of Diehl Style Wars New York Style Battle Championship.
Part Fight Club, part Amanda Lepore on speed, part Project Runway, part art happening, and all DIY, a style battle involves tons of clothes, scissors, spray paint, tape, and, most of all, people. The night's "models" take the stage, swarmed by the night's "style DJs." Within the time allotted, they wind up in gorgeous get-ups — transformed from ordinary to superfierce — as witnessed by photographers, videographers, a totally thrilled and roused-up audience, some superhip judges, and their own suddenly exhilarated, grateful egos.
It's all taking place at NYC's legendary rock 'n' roll venue Don Hill's. Greenwich Street has seen a lot in its day, but probably not this. There is nothing like Style Wars, but a Style Wars. This one, which kicks off a multi-city tour, features DJs the Ruff Kids pre-show and Druzzi and Mattie (Throne of Blood, the Rapture) post-show. The judges are undeniable image mavens, from legendary photographer Mick Rock to Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner to stylist Alexander Allen.
"You don't mumble," I say.
MJ Diehl doesn't mumble. She projects. She — penetrates the air. She has a slightly brassy, loud, vibrant voice, a New York City playground voice, the kind that can holler your name across the blacktop and cut through noises of children, traffic, honking, anything. She's got the over-the-crowd, easy lung power of an MC — say, an MC at a fashion show in which the clothes are not actually made until the party starts. Which will be useful for tomorrow night, when she MCs the House of Diehl Style Wars New York Style Battle Championship.
Part Fight Club, part Amanda Lepore on speed, part Project Runway, part art happening, and all DIY, a style battle involves tons of clothes, scissors, spray paint, tape, and, most of all, people. The night's "models" take the stage, swarmed by the night's "style DJs." Within the time allotted, they wind up in gorgeous get-ups — transformed from ordinary to superfierce — as witnessed by photographers, videographers, a totally thrilled and roused-up audience, some superhip judges, and their own suddenly exhilarated, grateful egos.
It's all taking place at NYC's legendary rock 'n' roll venue Don Hill's. Greenwich Street has seen a lot in its day, but probably not this. There is nothing like Style Wars, but a Style Wars. This one, which kicks off a multi-city tour, features DJs the Ruff Kids pre-show and Druzzi and Mattie (Throne of Blood, the Rapture) post-show. The judges are undeniable image mavens, from legendary photographer Mick Rock to Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner to stylist Alexander Allen.
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