Creamy Stevens

On Sunday, June 3^rd, New Yorkers gather before noon inside Marions Continental at the Bowery to witness hip-shaking Varga girls come to life with Mode Merr's threads. Voluptuous hostesses serving mango mimosas and Bloody Marys greet those who made their reservations for the $25 fashion show and brunch.

Peekaboo Pointe and Juicy Watermelon

Gigi LaFemme and Nasty Canasta

Who would have thought that designer Angela Zampell from New Hampshire can lead an entourage of tattooed guests with summer swing dresses and slicked-back hair into the city known for $5 Louis Vuitton knockoffs?  

Zampell, who considers screen stars Doris Day and Marilyn Monroe her muses, applies theatrical fabrics of leopard and lace, with the comfort of cotton, to transform women from size XXS to XXXL into a modern Jayne Mansfield. 'People who wear my clothing are often women with confidence who don't take themselves too seriously,' she remarks.

Little Brooklyn

The World Famous Bob

Therefore, it was only natural that Mode Merr's 3^rd annual fashion brunch was held at Marions, founded during the 1950s by Hungarian model Marion Nagy. Today, the haven of drag queens and vintage aficionados remains enchanting with a dimly-lit hall, hues of warm burgundy on opalescent walls and closely arranged linen tables.

After the audience settles in black leather chairs with plates of ricotta stuffed French toast with caramelized banana, cardamom syrup and black coffee, Richard Bach, the flamboyant son of Nagy, excites the audience with his wit and eagerness to please. The sudden growl of a saxophone silences the crowd and Nasty Canasta kneels in front of a stool wearing a hunter green pleated suit.

Creamy Stevens and Nasty Canasta

Like an acrobat in heat, Canasta shakes her jet-black bob, stands on her head, then quickly removes her jacket and skirt, exposing her dark chemise and suspender stockings. The sax, howling faster in anticipation, encourages the pale, petite dancer to reveal her patent pasties. Minutes later, Miss Delirium Tremens, a performer with heavy-set eyeshadow and Farrah Fawcett wings, appears in a gold wiggle dress with a black boa. Without hesitation, she unzips her dress, exposing a skimpy harem costume that, with a few seconds to unhook, displays metallic pasties that magically stay in place. After blowing many whistles, viewers wait for the fashion show to begin.

One of the many themes of Mode Merr's line was sexy pirate. Tremens appears in a low-cut black halter top with skull and crossbones. She perfects her outfit with a whiteout pencil skirt, a popular piece on the shop's website. GiGi LaFemme makes everyone gasp at her jailbreak peasant blouse with a fitted, cherry-satin skirt that
sparkles with the disco ball's reflection.

Miss Delirium Tremens

Amber Ray and Bitch Cakes

Models, like Angie Pontani, prefer a more Eastern look, such as her silk Chinese teal blouse, and an ebony pencil skirt with a crimson dragon rising on her thighs. Showing a fiercer look, Peekaboo Pointe joyously shakes to 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' in a contemporary powder-blue flapper dress and artist Liz Rosino's panther climbing on her left leg.

However, any lady with class will adore Bitch Cakes' strappy leopard dress with a fine lining of ruffles flowing below her knees. The show ends delightfully with Creamy Steven's rendition of a horny virgin on board. While *BoB* doesn't make her signature martinis with her breasts, the glittering showgirl does hop nearly nude to make her tassels twirl.

Mistress Cherry Esplande and World Famous Bob

If anyone knows how to combine fashion and partying into one exciting afternoon, it's Zampell, who's even impressed designer Jean Paul Gaultier with her online collection. Not only is the audience being introduced to some of burlesque's hottest dancers since queen bee Dita Von Teese, but they're also discovering one of the few existing labels that celebrate glamour in an array of sizes. 'I don't like the stagnant shows where the models don't relate to the audience,' Zampell says. 'I make clothes for the girl next door with curves.'

Angie Pontani

Mode Merr will return by popular demand at Marions on July 21^st. Visit www.modemerr.com for further details.

Photographs: Christopher Rosco

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