︎001: Xander
Photography: Chad Hilliard
Interview: Ian Giocondo
It’s hard to imagine a dancefloor presence more quintessentially New York than Xander’s. From Tunnel to Twilo in the late 90s, to an iconic stint as doorgirl at Meatpacking club APT, and now as a central figure and original family member of New York institution The Carry Nation, Xander has been turning it severely to the sound of the city’s queer house music for the last 25 years. There’s no doubt: the looks are untouchable. She continues to raise the bar for New York City It Girls while also being a steadfast champion of authenticity and bringing out the best in everyone around her. Xander is head cheerleader for Team New York.
My prompt to Xander for the shoot was to style three looks and choose a location in the city that means a lot to them. We shot an editorial look, a streetwear look, and a third look on the playground at Maria Hernandez Park, Xander’s chosen location, just a few blocks away from his home. Our conversation begins with a reflection on the shoot and from there we talk about his upbringing in North Carolina, his early years in New York, the influence of Junior Vasquez, the value of time versus money in fashion, what it means to be a fabulous eccentric, and a feature on an upcoming Eli Escobar record. The look goes as follows…
Interview edited for flow and clarity.
My prompt to Xander for the shoot was to style three looks and choose a location in the city that means a lot to them. We shot an editorial look, a streetwear look, and a third look on the playground at Maria Hernandez Park, Xander’s chosen location, just a few blocks away from his home. Our conversation begins with a reflection on the shoot and from there we talk about his upbringing in North Carolina, his early years in New York, the influence of Junior Vasquez, the value of time versus money in fashion, what it means to be a fabulous eccentric, and a feature on an upcoming Eli Escobar record. The look goes as follows…
Interview edited for flow and clarity.