Until three weeks ago, RuPaul’s Met Gala 2019 look was a gown. His stylist Zaldy, who conceived and created the design, had a change of heart. After months of planning a spectacular creation inspired by a dress with the longest ostrich feather he had ever seen in Busby Berkeley’s film Fashions of 1934, he switched it up and decided upon souped-up suiting instead.

Lest the separates run any microscopic risk of not ticking the box for the “camp” theme, Zaldy made sure to include a decadent detail. The hot-pink sequin suit with orange, black and white stripes had a 30-inch black ostrich feather running down the length of one sleeve, attached to a zebra head on the shoulder.

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“When Ru decided he wanted to go as Mr Ru [RuPaul Andre Charles] instead of RuPaul [his drag alias], I wanted to create a new silhouette and style that would be just as exciting as RuPaul walking down the red carpet in a gown and wig,” Zaldy told Vogue. “Ru’s personality is the same in and out of drag, but I wanted to bring in the femininity of the RuPaul character to create a new balance of who Ru essentially is.”

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Was the world’s most-famous drag queen disconcerted by the sartorial U-turn? The duo have been working together since RuPaul’s 1993 single “Supermodel” turned him into an overnight success, and they have an implicit understanding that they must do whatever it takes to look fierce. “Everyone loves RuPaul in and out of drag!” his dresser enthused. “I hope people will just enjoy the latest culmination of all the fun we have had together over the years.” Naturally, he will sissy that walk up the Met stairs with more attitude than anyone on the guest list.

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