A Moment With...Mickey Boardman at GMHC Fashion Forward 2011

2011 November 18

Mickey Boardman
Billy Farrell Agency View Gallery

Last night's GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis) Fashion Forward 2011 annual bash at Metropolitan Pavilion, hosted by Brad Goreski and Tracee Ellis Ross, brought out the stylish set, including Joseph Altuzarra, Chrissy Teigen, Bryanboy, Peter Davis, Andrej Pejic, Timo Weiland's Alan Eckstein, Number:LAB's Luis Fernandez, Cameron Silver of Decades, and the evening's Style Vault Award winner Julie Macklowe. The annual charity event also featured a lively live and silent auction featuring a Vespa, a week's worth of summer fun at the Pines, and Bulgari watches, to name just a few prized items on the auction block, and high-fives and clinking glasses abounded for items well-won! Chic chatted with Paper mag's always-hilarious Mickey Boardman on his way into the shindig and learned about his uber-optimistic approach to dressing of yesteryear, plus his personal prowls on the runway! Also: the appeal, and mystique, of the dirndl...

GMHC Fashion Forward involves a fab runway show – have you ever stalked a catwalk, Mickey?
I’ve been on a couple of runways. Helloooo, Versace, Armani…just kidding. It was a show in the old Toy Building, which is now Eataly—there was an AIDS bikeathon from Boston to New York City, and there was a party and fashion show once the bikers finished the course.

Did you walk or take an alternate form of transportation down the runway?
I had to ride a bike in the fashion show in the craziest outfit, with totally wild makeup. They wanted people to ride out on the runway—I was like, “I’ll do it, I’ll ride a f*ckin’ bike.” It was during a time when if something looked like it would fit, I’d just wear it. So I basically thought anything in the world could fit. And it worked! I’d slip on the craziest, tiniest little things, like a women’s one-piece bathing suit, without a second thought.

What an adventure! Anything else happen that night, besides a moment in itty-bitty Versace?
Well, I had the biggest crush on this makeup artist, Pep Gay, and he had a model wearing lipstick kiss me everywhere so I was covered with kisses. But the makeup artist didn’t like the way it turned out, so he put lipstick on himself and re-kissed me!

How did you feel riding the catwalk?
It was really fun, but I’m not meant to be on the runway.

Why not?
I have too much personality! I hate when models look at the audience or stick out too much in any way. Even if they look amazing, it’s really about the clothes. Oh, and I’m not sample size and gorgeous.

Which models tend to distract you on the runway?
Milla Jovovich, who I worship and adore, is a great example. To me, she’s better in movies—you aren’t as distracted there as you are by her in a fashion show. All I can think is “It’s Milla! It’s Milla!” whenever I see her in anything.

Since this is the GMHC Fashion Forward bash, how is your life feeling fashion forward right about now?
You know, that’s a phrase, like ‘edgy,’ which doesn’t mean what it used to mean. I guess being fashion forward is about pushing and growing; not just being lazy about what you do. Although I am in a very lazy look myself right now, because I forgot I was going out tonight!

Who fits that bill?
My friend Lynn Yaeger. She used to be in big, poof-y ballerina skirts all the time; then she decided not to go out horizontally with what she was wearing, and to instead wear longer silhouettes with flaps popping out. She keeps progressing instead of stopping and being stagnant about it.

What words or phrases do you use in lieu of ‘fashion forward’ or ‘edgy’?
I’ve been using the word ‘fuselage’ a lot lately, though it has nothing to do with fashion. I’m also into the word dirndl. I’m not exactly sure what a dirndl skirt is, but I like the sound of it!