NY Nightlife on Zoom

I love to dress up, but more specifically I like to put together outfits. To be honest, I prefer planning the outfit sometimes more than going to the party.

Last year with everything shut down and we were all in lock down there were no reasons to plan an outfit and like most of us I stayed in my PJs or sweats all day.

BUT… then something magical happened, NY Nightlife on Zoom. Susanne Bartsch, famous New York icon and event planner brought her Bartschland parties to ZOOM. If you have not heard of Susanne Bartsch, there is a documentary on Netflix & Amazon Susanne Bartsch: On Top

Check it out, her fashion and style are amazing and the parties she hosts around the world are legendary.

I have always wanted to go to one of her amazing parties but that seemed nearly impossible so when she started the ZOOM party I was beyond excited.

Right when I needed something to look forward to here it was, a weekly party every Thursday with a costume theme, live DJs, burlesque performances & drag queens, with Susanne hosting and I can be a part of it from my house. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!

You would buy a $10 ticket, they would send the ZOOM link and for 2-3 hours you were transported to a party with people all over the world parting from their homes. One of the funniest parts was that they would have the main screen randomly tag people and then you were on the screen for everyone to see.

Every week was a different theme, a couple of the party themes were – Circus Realness, Hollywood Glamour, Twins, Carmen Miranda, Black & White

Because we were in lock down, I had to use what I already had in my costume/wardrobe. Luckily, I tend to buy and collect clothes & costumes for future acts and parties. I like to have the outfit before I have the invite to the party, haha.

I loved seeing every ones looks and feeling connected to a glitter tribe of gorgeous people from all around the world. Planning an outfit and enjoying a fancy drink in my back yard dancing to a live DJ playing music really helped during such a unusual and scary time.

Like all parties, it has to end at some time.

But for every Thursday for almost 2 months in 2020, I was able to live out my New York club kid fantasy.

XOXO Lily O Lei