It’s no secret to queer women that lesbians are the true tastemakers in the world of style, but it’s time we got some freaking credit you know?
Which is why I decided to highlight a different iconic queer woman each week and talk to her about her fierce style in our new GO mag column “Queer Girl Fashion Icon of The Week” (Message me if you’re interested in submitting!).
If you haven’t seen Ivy Les Vixens perform, I feel sorry for you. Seriously! Ivy Les Vixens is one of the best—if not THE best burlesque performers/go-go dancer’s I’ve ever seen in my time on this cruel, cold planet earth.
The first time I ever saw her was with an ex-girlfriend at “Girls In Wonderland” in Orlando, FL. “You’re going to love this amazing dancer, Ivy. All the Orlando lesbians are obsessed with her!” My girlfriend said.
I took a proverbial drag of my proverbial cigarette. “Whatever,” I replied, already bored. At the time I was a jaded New Yorker convinced nothing could ever impress me (I was going through something, babes).
But the moment Ms. Ivy Les Vixens took the stage, I became her biggest fan ever! She has such energy, so much charisma and an insane amount of creativity. The audience is collectively eating out the palm of her gorgeous hands second she emerges in the spotlight.
Not only is she an incredibly talented entity, she uses her gifts to better the world. I’ve seen little baby dykes still uncomfortable with their sexuality, feel empowered and come into their own after Ivy Les Vixens bestows them with her attention. She uses her social media platforms to spread the message of love and positivity, and in a culture that often lends itself to jealousy and drama, Ivy Les Vixens is above all the bullshit. She’s real. She’s teeming with bright energy. And she’s a true artist.
Known as Eveleena by her friends, this self-proclaimed “nerd by day, vixen by night and princess in-between” has insane style. So we decided it was time we featured this amazing lesbian unicorn for “Queer Girl Fashion Icon Of The Day!”
GO Magazine: Who are you and what do you do?
Ivy Les Vixens: I’m a nerd by day, vixen by night, and a princess in-between! My name is Eveleena, but I’m also known as Ivy Les Vixens. I’m a lesbian YouTuber, a burlesque dancer, and a real-life princess.
I’m the ringleader, emcee, and boss lady of the Les Vixens, a postmodern neo-burlesque troupe based in Orlando, FL, and the host of Girl the Party, Florida’s number one and longest-running lesbian night! And along with each of my personas, I have an entirely separate wardrobe and style – complete with separate closets!
GO: Who are your greatest style icons?
ISL: My greatest fashion icons are Gwen Stefani, Stevie Nicks, and Jennifer Anniston. They all embody endless “cool.”
GO: Find ten adjectives to describe your personal style.
ISL: Describing my personal style is interesting because I feel like my style in costumes as a performer is just as personal and developed as my day-to-day looks. So…I’ll give ya half and half.
Eveleena: whimsical, classic, easy, floral, and bohemian.
Ivy: daring, sexy, fantasy, sparkly, and strappy.
GO: How do you feel about makeup? Love it, hate it? What products do you use? Do you have a signature makeup look?
ISL: Makeup is magic! My career as a burlesque performer started in the drag world, and therefore I received THE BEST education in being both stage-ready and glamorous. I learned the value of a fully-painted face, and at the same time, the power of natural beauty. My daytime makeup is simple, with glowy skin, lots of lashes, and brows. And my stage makeup is just a smidge under full drag – but forever a cat-eye, bold lip, and lots of highlight.
GO: Where do you shop?
ISL: I make a lot of my own costumes, so the performer side of me lives in fabric stores and in front of my sewing machine. But my daytime looks come from small boutiques, H&M, the Gap, Forever 21…and let’s be real, Amazon Prime.
GO: What was your most embarrassing fashion phase? Or have you been perfect and cool forever?
ISL: My most embarrassing fashion phase coincided with puberty and its aftermath. So basically from middle school until the end of high school, it was a lot of outrageous thrift store finds… and Kohls. But there’s no shame in the awkward duckling game! It built up my confidence to be who I am, wear what I want, and to not worry so much about following others. I didn’t crystalize my own personal style until long after high school, but the self-confidence my eccentric awkward years gave me lives on. And I feel like confidence is EVERYTHING when it comes to style.
GO: Describe an outfit you would wear to slay a job interview.
ISL: A job interview for me would be an audition for a burlesque show, so I would wear a steel-boned corset, Swarovski-encrusted bra and g-string, thigh-highs and sky-high heels. Oh, and red lips, of course.
GO: Describe an outfit you wear on a date with a woman you were wildly attracted to.
ISL: Le sigh! I love getting dressed for dates. I tend to lean toward simple, long dresses with delicate details and bare arms. Understated, classic, comfortable but still stylish and feminine. I’m tall, so long dresses leave a sweeping impression.
GO: Describe an outfit you would wear if you wanted to feel insanely sexy?
ISL: Because my career is based on being a fantasy, my “work attire” is usually provocative and ultra-sultry. So for me, a simple oversized white t-shirt with no bra and a Calvin Klein thong is what I wear offstage to feel all kinds of sexy.
GO: Is there such thing as lesbian style?
ISL: When I first came out, someone told me that lesbians have the best style. But I have come to see that our community is as diverse on the spectrum of style as straight people! Some lesbians are chic to the max, while others are most comfortable in cargo shorts and flip-flops. And I think the genre-defying nature of our community is absolutely gorgeous!
What Do You Think?