On Friday night at 3 Dollar Bill, a queer club in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighborhood, attendees danced and sang along to early 2000s hits by Fergie, Justin Timberlake and, of course, Sophie Ellis-Bextor whose “Murder on the Dancefloor” is currently having a renaissance.
The theme of the evening was the film ‘Saltburn’ which, judging by the number of attendees who arrived dressed in costume, is fast gaining cult status. The crowd cheered as the DJ played “Untouched” by the Veronicas. It was like jumping in a time machine to 2007. (Well, a 2007 in which everyone owns an iPhone and knows the words “novel coronavirus” well.)
The film, a psychological thriller set in the early years, is as gruesome as it is aesthetically rich. Come for the sex and the murders and the mind games, stay for the long, gorgeous shots of the miserable lives of the British upper class on summer vacation.
The same tone set the mood for the evening festivities. There were “bathwater” cocktails — made with pineapple juice, rum and coconut milk for an extra, soapy fizz — for sale at the bar. (The drink tasted good, even if its inspiration, a scene in the film where Barry Keoghan hits Jacob Elordi’s leftover bath water, is perhaps less than appetizing.)
Chloe Philips, one of the party hosts known online as Chlomosexual, wandered the stage in a plaid miniskirt and a chain headpiece. Several other guests also took their armor marks while getting dressed. Several pairs of antlers and wings were on full display as attendees lined up outside the club waiting to unleash their early 2000 alter egos. Many of the guests were in their early 20s and ready to live this particular moment in cultural history for the first time.
Amid the merriment, attendees discussed their outfit inspirations, Y2K nostalgia and, of course, the much-hyped bathtub scene.
Jo Widney
Creative director
Lives in: Crown Heights
Tell me about your outfit. I am the bathtub. I made these handles that turn and a little tap in the front. I was so worried that there would be other tubs, but I haven’t seen any yet.
What did you think of that bathtub scene? Well… there’s a reason I’m the bathtub.
Drew Carter
Buyer
Lives in: Ocean Hill
Where did you get your outfit? Everything was modest, except for the shoes. I have a hole in my Converse.
Who are you trying to emulate tonight? The only brown face in the main cast.
Farleigh? That’s his name. I liked the movie, but I don’t know anyone’s name.
Gail Lawton
Client Advisor at Tiffany & Company
Lives in: Hell’s Kitchen
How did you decide what to wear tonight? My friend—it’s his birthday—lent me his bathtub. But otherwise, I picked a cute outfit. The top is from the Mugler H&M collaboration. I slept one night to be the first company in the store.
Obviously I have to ask you about that bathtub scene. I sat there with my partner and thought, “Is this exciting or annoying?” It’s a bit of both.
Lives in: Bushwick
Tell me about your shirt. I wanted to emulate Farleigh. I had to copy him.
This shirt has an important cultural history that predates “Saltburn”. Are you familiar with this? Of course!
Melvin Findlay
Air hostess
Lives in: Bushwick
What took you out tonight? It’s my birthday and I’ve watched “Saltburn” probably seven times now.
What keeps you coming back? The cinematography is really great.
Nora Stock
Movie theater
Lives in: Bushwick
Where did you find this dress? I went to Beacon’s Closet about three hours ago and found this wedding dress. I said “I’m Elspeth.”
Who do you think married in it? I don’t know, I think she’s a young bride. I do not know why. Maybe it’s that 21-year-old girl who took her mom’s wedding dress and got married and then apparently got divorced, like last year.
Lives in: Upper East Side
Where did you get this suit? I texted my mother and said “I need this outfit ASAP. Please make it for me one night too.” And she said, “Okay, yes, I love my gay son.”
Where did he get it one night? New Jersey.
Zach DePaolo
Theater manager and barista
Lives in: Bedford-Stuyvesant
I love your horns. I’m trying to be a killer version of the Minotaur statue from the movie.
Are you a Shakespeare fan? Absolutely.
Who is the most overrated Shakespeare? “ROMEO AND JULIET.” It’s good but everyone’s doing it and it’s kind of boring.
Hugo Rojas
Visual merchandiser for Moschino
Lives in: Queens
Where did you get your wings? The wings I ordered from Bihbi, the same company that made Felix’s wings for the movie.
What about the rest of your outfit? Brand new. The jeans are probably six hours old. It’s from American Eagle. It kind of fits the aesthetic of the early 2000s.
And how old were you at the time? Six or 7.
Hannah Pinson and Pilar Violet
She works for a textile designer. and photographer, hairdresser and stripper
I live in: East Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant
What was your hair inspiration tonight?
PILAR VIOLET: I was doing the wings from that Galliano show with Kate Moss, but I did it all at the last minute, so I decided to go with the feathers over the hair.
What is “Saltburn” to you?
VIOLET: I love Barry Keoghan because he’s a hot little freak. Jacob Elordi is hot, but I love a weird little freak.
How about your outfit?
HANNAH PINSON: In the film I was inspired by Venice. She has so much money but she doesn’t know how to do her makeup or how to do her hair. Half of my makeup today was just wiping off the black eyeliner.