Belinda Carroll: Slutty Vintage

Belinda Carroll calls it “Slutty Vintage.” A look that is sexy while reminding you of a simpler time. She wears lots of low-cut dresses, heels, cool hats, LIPSTICK, and because she’s not straight, she can do all kinds of daring and fun things without her peers judging her for it. Belinda often rocks hairstyles and fashion that exude the confidence of a punk rocker who has her shit together.

DF: What’s an article of clothing you can’t live without?

BC: A black pencil skirt, it matches everything and you can wear it to death.

What’s your favorite season for getting dressed?

I love summer because I don’t have to keep track of a jacket. Oh, wait I live in Oregon never-mind.

Before they’ve even said a word, what do you think makes a comic look good?

Owning their own look. If it’s part of who you are keep dressing that way. Although, I do have a fondness for a comic who is well put together. Everything matches and everything fits right. It brings the audience’s attention to you.

What’s the worst you’ve ever dressed for being on stage? How did it go?

I don’t think I’ve ever not dressed for the stage. I’m sure that if I did comedy in sweatpants it would go horribly. Maybe that should be my new goal to stretch myself. Go onstage as someone that would shop at a Wal-mart.

Drew Anderson: Practical

I recently had a chance to ask a few questions of MoHDI founder Drew Anderson, a comedian, interviewer and artist whose personal style is, in his own words, “Practical.”

“I like wearing practical shoes and practical pants,” Drew says. “And I love pockets. Pockets you can put things into.” He mentions a pair of Blundstone boots which he really adores, then rants for five minutes on the usefulness, the practicality, of pockets.

I ask him what article of clothing he can’t live without. “It might be the boots. I don’t leave home without sunglasses.” Drew also rarely leaves home without his backpack, which would indicate that perhaps all these pockets are just for show.

Drew is happiest getting dressed during the Summer, “because I don’t have to put on a lot of clothes.” Presumably he will still have an appropriate number of pockets, despite the heat.

Now, to the relevant questions. “Before a comic says a single word on stage, what makes them look good?” Drew seems puzzled, like I asked him what water minus dogs was. “It depends. That’s a weird question because I see a comedian dress a certain way and expect a certain type of comedy.” The usual expectations for how to dress well are different for comedians.

“Once I wore a suit on stage, I looked nice but all my jokes are about being poor, and I wasn’t as funny. I don’t think they related to me.” He then realizes he hasn’t quite answered the question, what good comedians look like. “Comedians should have a good shirt, nice posture, and a good haircut.”

“I went out like a slob a lot. But when I wore the suit, that was the worst because the audience didn’t relate with me, even though I was dressed what most people would consider ‘well.’ You want the audience to relate to you, and when you wear the right clothes so they can, they’ll create a character for you in their head, which can really help your routine out.” Or hurt your routine, as the case may be.