Dudes (and ladies) in dresses: Red Dress Run 2011

I had a great time at the Red Dress Run this year, despite some communications issues that led to there not being much of an actual run.  As usual, the crowds took liberal interpretations of what constitutes a "red dress" to make for some hilarious, beautiful, and downright disgusting sights.  I would've stayed in the quarter later into the evening, but I think the folks at the black tie gala that I photographed right afterward are glad I showered first.

Meet Romeo.  Partier, lady killer, ...bird. 

Mrs. Mad Hatter

There's a fine line between what dancing and stripping looks like.

Your earrings really bring out the color in your mustache.  

This off the shoulder piece allowed the meat cleaver tattoos to shine.

Lesson for festival goers:  Liquor results in less urine than beer.

Holding the swings while the kids waited in the beer line.

Why there are currently no red dresses in any stores within 30 miles of the city.  

The Red Dress... hula hoop?

"Dude, I'm serious.  Put on a dress and meet me in the French Quarter."

It's good to see our nation's first people represented.  

...sorry, man, that's not your shade of lipstick.  

Yes, I know what's down there, please don't raise the kilt. 

Just a typical Saturday in New Orleans.

That's a lovely dress you're wearing, sir.

There are some situations that require you to adjust your definition of "normal" behavior. For example, the scene above might come across as abnormal if you weren't given the context. Personally, under normal circumstances I'd probably be crossing the street to avoid this guy, or at least staying very close to the cop. One guy in a red dress on a Saturday morning is weird. However, put that one guy into a crowd of over 7,000 men and women also in red dresses and what was once socially questionable suddenly becomes fun. Really, there aren't too many times when a guy can buy himself a dress, wear that dress in public, commend other guys on their dress choices, and still come across as masculine.

One thing I've come to appreciate more since moving to New Orleans is the therapeutic value of doing things that you wouldn't normally do. For opportunities of that sort -- this city is great.

A few photos from the Red Dress Run 2010.