Prohibition-era New York City harlots, the hetaira of ancient Greece, the brothel queens of 19th-century New Orleans, the courtesans of 16th century Venice, and many others in the sex work industry throughout history set trends in art, literature, politics, etiquette, and shoes. Yves St Laurent rocked the fashion world in 1971 when he based a line on the style of bad girls of the 1940s. Many of the world’s most celebrated designers, including Versace, Alexander McQueen, and Vivienne Westwood, have all acknowledged their inspirations from the world’s most notorious profession. Even Barbie, who has been dressed as every worker from a dog walker to an astronaut, has her high heels firmly rooted in harlotry.

Jo Weldon’s fascination with the sex industry was aroused long before she started working in it. As an adolescent queer in an oppressively conservative environment, she was drawn to images and lore of erotic laborers. Even though these stories were often intended to discourage impressionable young women from entering the industry, Jo was attracted to their independence, outlaw energy, resistance to sexual shame, and above all, their style.

In WHAT I WORE TO WORK, An Illustrated Memoir of Dressing to Undress, find out what happened when this self-described “Fashion Whore-storian” followed the stiletto footsteps of her heroes into an underworld both more mundane and intriguing than expected, and discovered that the costumes and clothing worn in the industry – by strippers, escorts, streetwalkers, and dominatrices – were informed by conflicting desires: their own, their employers’, their clients’, and the law’s.

Jo’s histories of her “work clothes” – and the vivid and insightful dressing room conversations she shared with her peers about the why of what they wore – explore not only her own life in the sex industry, but the lineage of the items themselves, and their influence on the larger world. Her stories about learning how to keep her costumes in line with local blue laws, or the tan line craze of the 80s, or shopping for thigh-high boots pre-internet reveal as much about how women are expected to present themselves as they do about the realities of sex work.

Part illustrated lecture, part memoir, this show touches upon sex worker style iconography in literature, film, and news media, and reveals how sex workers have co-opted oppressive symbols as symbols of identity and resistance. Ultimately, Jo uncovers how sex workers are at the root of fashion itself.

Jo Weldon is an internationally recognized performing arts instructor, essayist, and author of two books, The Burlesque Handbook and Fierce: The History of Leopard Print. Jo has worked as a strip joint stripper, call girl, centerfold, dominatrix, burlesque performer, and more since 1979. She has been a sex workers’ rights activist and advocate since 1994, lobbying at city hall meetings, legislative events, and conferences, including at the United Nations. In 2023 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from GANYC (Guides Association of New York City) in recognition of her activism and contributions to the culture of the city. She is currently a scholar-in-residence at the New York Public Library Center for Research in the Humanities, where she is exploring the intersections of sex work, fashion, and culture. She lives in New York City and the Hudson Valley. http://www.joweldon.com

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SPIN CYCLE was created in 1998 based on nearly thirty years of combined experience by its founders, Chip Duckett and Ron Lasko. This innovative cultural communications company specializes in PR, marketing and special events, and is extremely diverse in its projects.

SPIN CYCLE was Joan Rivers’ exclusive New York producer for live dates for 17 years. Spin Cycle co-produced shows by artists including, Anthony Rapp, Gavin Creel, Holly Woodlawn, Lady Bunny, Alison Arngrim, Alec Mapa, Laura Bell Bundy, The Skivvies, Karen Finley, Ain Gordon, Alaska, Ginger Minj, Courtney Act, Shangela, BenDeLaCreme, Trixie Mattel, David Drake, Penny Arcade, Coco Peru, Kim Coles, Jackie Beat, Janet Hubert, Judy Tenuta, Peppermint, Kristine W, Annie Sprinkle, Raja, Mink Stole, Lady Bunny, Monet X Chnage and Sarah Dash, among many others.

SPIN CYCLE also co-produced the New York Premiere of The Vaudevillians with Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales, the World Premiere of The Donkey Show, the Rochester premiere of Woman Before A Glass (directed by Austin Pendleton), 9 different full-length premieres by Kiki & Herb (including the Obie winning Jesus Wept), Jacob Storm’s Tennessee Rising (directed by Alan Cumming), the long running immersive hit Bleach, and the World Premiere of Fruma-Sarah starring Jackie Hoffman.

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Tickets:
General Admission: $25.00
Seating/Bar: 7:00PM Show: 7:30PM

This event is indoors.

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Parking is limited at the venue so please utilize the three public parking lots in Town. One is across from the Post Office, one is behind Berkshire Bank and the other is just off Main Street. They are clearly marked. Do not park at Trúc Orient Express Restaurant or the Post Office or you might receive a ticket.

Visit Amici Berkshires for dinner before the show and with your ticket receive 10% off your meal.

All sales are final – The Foundry is unable to make any returns or exchanges.