There have been some amazing looks turned out on the runway of RuPaul's Drag Race and as Season 10 officially comes to a close, there's no better time to take a look back at some of the shows most iconic...
Around five years ago, I was surfing through Netflix and stumbled across RuPaul’s Drag Race. A reality competition for drag queens? I thought, raising my eyebrows. At this stage, my awareness of drag was basically nil, and I hadn’t heard of either the show or RuPaul. But I was curious and bored (and avoiding writing an essay), so I clicked the hot pink thumbnail. Um, best decision of my life? Definitely one of them.
What won me over (as well as so many other die-hard fans) wasn’t just the drama, the lip-syncs, or the legendary catchphrases (Miss Vanjeee) - the runway segment was also key. It shattered my preconceptions about drag queens; preconceptions that they were either trying to look like women or trying to parody them. In a single episode, the pantomime dames traipsing about in my head became irrelevant, and I got the sense that it was all much, much bigger than that.
Season after season, the contestants seemed to go further and further in pushing the boundaries of clothing; challenging gender boundaries, creating masterpieces out of impossible materials, and pushing the female illusion to its loftiest heights. The most iconic styling choices were iconic for a reason - they were bold, daring and edgy; gag-worthy, even, to use the lingo.
Over the years, there have been many legendary fashion queens, but Violet Chachki broke some serious ground during her time in Season 7. We’ll start with the look that launched a thousand gifs, the black jumpsuit-except-wait-no-it’s-two-garments-in-one, and now it’s a plunging tartan cape affair. Cue an ‘oooOOOOOOH’ from the judges, and - let’s be honest - who wasn’t Carson Kressley in that moment?
Another knockout look came from the same challenge - a figure-fitting, crotch-bearing mini-dress that was all neon and warring patterns. The suspenders and white stockings give it some high-fashion sex appeal, as does the faceless...balaclava thing (is there a name for this? Someone let me know). But the violet hue - dripping down through the outfit from her roots to her thighs (even the eyebrows join in) - pulls everything together with precision. These were the touches that established Violet as the polished queen she’s known to be.
One queen who draws similarities with Violet is Season 10’s Aquaria. Queen RuPaul was especially blown away in the 11th episode, when Aquaria walked out in two different ensembles - one to represent her ‘best self’, and the other her ‘inner saboteur’. This ‘best self’ look is convincing AF - a one-sleeved, lilac one-piece, complete with a matching hat and perfectly poised feather. That whimsical sleeve with only four fingers; the dreamy combination of pastel purple and green? It’s like sorbet melting in your mouth.
Aquaria’s ‘inner saboteur’, meanwhile, struck an editorial note, with contrasting leopard print throughout, and a skeletal construction covering her mouth and running down her spine. Very conceptual, very weird - very fashion, darling.
A ‘gobsmacked’ RuPaul compared her to other runway rebels like Violet, Chad Michaels and Raja - and there’s one outfit in particular that springs to mind when thinking of Raja. Let’s throw things back to Season 3, when Raja swanned down the catwalk in a tribute to Marie Antoinette.
Straddling modern-day chic and pre-Revolution realness, Raja combined powdered wig and pearls with a bustier, leggings, and some razor-sharp stilettos. Just take off the wig and you could practically wear it to go shopping - and who doesn’t love some fashionable functionality?
Other swoon-worthy moments came from contestants like Naomi Smalls, who ‘game, set and snatched’ in this outfit from Season 8. A marvel in plastic, Naomi paired a pink cone bra with a coordinating, super-short skirt, topping the lookoff with spaghetti yellow hair and matching nails. Stare at it too long and you might get a headache, but those details are worth it. While the visor makes you think ‘Wimbledon on acid’, the hoops and chunky bangles transport you to a sweaty dance floor in Ibiza. It’s a weird kind of dream she’s conjuring, but it’s fun.
Wrapping things up, what better place to end than with this jaw-dropper from Season 6? A head-turner from the start, Courtney Act’s sense of style was quickly established - but this look takes the cake. Platinum hair slicked back, a hoop dangling from each ear, Courtney stepped out in thigh-highs, briefs, and a bustier that made her look ready for battle. Oh yeah, and then a gigantic pair of wings that sprang outwards when she pushed a lever. So there’s that.
With the end of Season 10, I know I’m not the only one mourning the loss of my weekly swoon session. With its flashing floors, swivelling floodlights, and the RuPaul songs you now accidentally know by heart, this runway is a guarantee of the most mind-blowing creations.
So if you could just hurry up and release Season 11, RuPaul, that would be great.
Feeling inspired? Shop the look on SHS...
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Follow: @dragracefashion
The looks we saw here were just the tip of the iceberg - if you want to dive in deeper, head straight to this account.
Check out: RuPaul: What’s The Tee?
RuPaul’s official podcast, he sits down with the equally sublime Michelle Visage to talk everything drag race. Get out the chinaware, folks.
Listen: Adore Delano, ‘Take Me There’
A lot of ex-racers have put out their own music - and, er, not all of it good. This, however, is a bop.
