Key West Shoe Drop – Behind the Scenes with Sushi

Before even thinking of getting into the shoe, Sushi has to make her dress and every year has to be more fabulous than the last. Sometime in November, she communes with her extensive collection of books on fashion icons, design, collections. (I’m sure RuPaul makes her own dresses – not!)

Sushi is a study in contrasts, often looking like a cross between Ava Gardner and Audrey Hepburn, but this year she was regal- a real lady!  See for yourself.

The dress took about 40 hours to make and was inspired by the 2007 Dior Haute Couture collection. I said inspired – because although Sushi always attributes, she is a true original! Her hair was done by Steven of Fort Lauderdale but she designed and created the headpiece – crafted of 2 chopsticks and paper cranes – likely a nod to her Japanese heritage. By the way, Sushi’s hair is all her own – no extensions. I know this first hand because I have pulled it twice (once with permission) because I didn’t believe her when she told me it was real.

Here’s a little action on stage as Sushi prepares backstage. The empty shoe descent.

The girls of 801 Bourbon perform on the street stage.

Sometimes boys are dressed as boys.

Thank god for Nick – our fabulous photographer who captured these images of Sushi before and during the shoe drop. Here is the all important dress arranging with her fabu minions helping! Thanks Nick, I owe you one!

Addressing the crowd.

The breathless dangle and countdown.

CNN has been covering this event since 2004 but last year they glossed over the event so I was happy to see that Sushi and the shoe got great play this year. Although Kathy Griffin made much about being contractually forbidden to swear, she was a good girl and followed orders. Sushi, however,  was under no such restrictions and when asked what she was thinking when she came down in the shoe, she said:

“Goddamnit, thank God I’m not Gloria Vanderbilt’s son!” – thus prolonging the tradition of swearing at the helpless Anderson Cooper on live TV.

Yay for the irreverence of Key West and all the iconoclasts therein!

This year’s event may be the biggest yet but stats are not in yet on how many attended but I will try and get that information to you later.  If you want to know more about any of the drag queens of the 801 and what they do, here is a commercial postcard that links to a website where you can order greetings from them. You can also see some of their stage numbers here.

Click on image to go to website:

Se ya next year from Josie P. Katt (and her own fabulous shoes) of 801 Bourbon.

Happy New Years from Bunny Island and may the other shoe never drop!