All Eyes on San Diego Fashion Icon May Star

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Local fashion icon May Star is (take a deep breath...) a musician, club developer, promoter, event coordinator, fashion show producer, model, clothing designer as well as a web and graphic designer. Phew.

As you can see, it's a tight squeeze - but May Star manages the lineup in strides, while always remaining in style.

Above all, May Star's first passion is music. Her band MAYSTAR, which she describes as melancholy music with a mix of fashion and theatric performance, is somewhat reminiscent of Blonde-Redhead meets The Cure meets Denalimeets Black Heart Procession, but stripped down just a little. The fashion and theatric aspects of MAYSTAR's shows include performing behind a scrim with red and blue lights displaying only band shadows, as well as changing into various outfits throughout the concert.

"People say our music is unique, indescribable, and makes them feel depressed, and even cry," she says. "So that's a good sign at least."

Although her music is an art that rhythmically reflects her emotive perspective on life, her presence during club nights portrays the complete opposite emotion, and this character is what May Star is really known for. Her Club Fashion Whore events are wildly fun and unique, taking over the local entertainment scene with an under-age angle, edgy music, as well as a daring fashion sense. She describes these events as "indie electro nights with an extra bit of style."

A signature Los Angeles club is what first inspired May Star to enter the nightlife market, "the club regulars always had the best style, with unique outfits that must have taken them hours to put together, and the go-go dancers were amazing theatrical performers."

May Star decided to finally manifest her own version in San Diego. In order to get variation in attendee attire, she organized outrageous themes to up the dress code status quo. She then added fashion shows to add a new element to the event. May Star chooses designers with bright clothing and innovative vision, crazy prints and items that most people in San Diego wouldn't have the guts to wear. Also included are custom-made glam and '80s influenced visuals that are projected either onto a central enlarged screen or white spinning cube.

Her 18 and up event, Pop Noir, is a huge success as well. People go crazy just dancing to the music of DJs GroundFloor and EdgarTronic, who put the finishing touches on the night. According to May Star, "I've hired a lot of DJs, and these two make the crowds dance more than I've ever seen."

While already making a big name for herself in the San Diego nightlife and entertainment scenes, May Star still has bigger plans, "This is not exactly what I want, but it will have to do until an investor drops into my lap and helps me open my own night club to design. Hint, hint, rich readers..."

As if promoting and running her own line of fashion events isn't enough, May Star is also a model and clothing designer. She started modeling in 2002, but has slowed down since due to her successful club nights. Another May Star passion is clothing design, "I have been making my own designs off and on throughout my life, but got my first official line of clothing done in 2006. Each piece is made with different fabrics, either vintage or now out-of-print fabrics. I refuse to sell my originals, and only take custom orders."

Her own fashion changes all the time, but is consistently wildly different from what everyone else is wearing. She dresses in themes, wearing long vintage ball gowns, tu-tu's, kimonos, vintage lace skirts, slips, nightgowns for dresses as well as twiggy and hippie-inspired outfits. She is attracted to brighter colors and on occasion likes to mix clothing styles from different eras. "What I'm wearing usually determines my level of confidence. Certain outfits make me feel strong; other ones make me feel like I'm hiding."

May Star is shy, though you wouldn't know it with all she achieves on a daily basis. "As a promoter, you need to be outgoing, so I force myself to play that role, but underneath it's actually really hard for me sometimes. I am strong, but sensitive. I take things very personally when it comes to my work - if just one person unsubscribes from my mailing list, I feel a little hurt. If I give someone I know a flyer and they don't come, I feel a little like my best friend missed my birthday party. But when it really comes down to it, I can endure or survive absolutely anything. I had a really hard and unique childhood that has helped me now overcome all kinds of things."

When asked about free time, May Star sighs, "Free time? What's that? I don't paint my nails, I barely sleep, I forget to eat, I ignore my friends, I don't exercise, and in fact, it's now afternoon and I still haven't found time to go to bed from last night."

If only there could be more people like May Star to bring vitality and originality to the scene in San Diego. Read up on Club Fashion Whore and Pop Noir here. And for more information on May Star - the performer, promoter, model, designer, and local icon, read visit her online here.