On Friday night at 3 Dollar Bill, a queer club in Brooklyn's East Williamsburg neighborhood, partygoers 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 revival.
The theme of the night was the movie “Saltburn,” which, based on the number of attendees who came in costume, is quickly gaining cult status. The crowd applauded as the DJ played “Untouched” by the Veronicas. It was like stepping into a time machine to 2007 (well, a 2007 where everyone owns an iPhone and has a working knowledge of the words “novel coronavirus”).
The film, a psychological thriller set in the early years of history, is as strange as it is aesthetically rich. Come for the sex, murder and mind games, stay for the gorgeous long takes on the debauched lives of the British upper class during the summer holidays.
The same tone set the mood for the evening's festivities. The bar sold “bathwater” cocktails, made with pineapple juice, rum and coconut milk for an extra soapy lather. (The drink tasted good, even if its inspiration, a scene in the film in which Barry Keoghan licks the remains of Jacob Elordi's bathwater, is perhaps less than appetizing.)
Chloe Philips, one of the party hosts known online as Chlomosexual, strolled around the scene in a plaid miniskirt and chain mail. Several other guests also followed the suit of armor as they dressed. Plenty of pairs of antlers and wings were on display as attendees lined up outside the club waiting to unleash their early 2000s alter egos. Many of the guests were in their early 20s and ready to experience that particular moment. of cultural history for the first time.
Amid the merriment, partygoers talked about 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 little handles that turn and a little faucet on the front. I was really worried there would be other bathtubs, 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 suit? Everything was secondhand, except the shoes. I have a hole in my Converse.
Who are you trying to emulate tonight? The only brown person in the main cast.
Farleigh? That's his name. I loved the movie, but I don't know anyone's name.
Gale 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, he lent me his bathtub. But otherwise, I just picked a cute outfit. The top is from the Mugler H&M collaboration. I slept all night to be the first group 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 disturbing?” It's a bit of both.
Lives in: Bushwick
Tell me about your shirt. I wanted to emulate Farleigh. I had to copy it.
This shirt has an important cultural history predating “Saltburn”. Are you familiar with it? Of course!
Melvin Findley
Flight attendant
Lives in: Bushwick
What did tonight bring you? It's my birthday and I've seen “Saltburn” probably seven times.
What keeps you coming back? The cinematography is really beautiful.
Nora Stock
Filmmaker
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 was like, “I'm Elspeth.”
Who do you think got married in this? I don't know, I think it's a young bride. I do not know why. Maybe it's this 21 year old girl who took her mother's wedding dress and got married and then obviously got divorced last year.
Lives in: Upper East Side
Where did you get this suit? I texted my mom and said, “I need this outfit ASAP. Please do it and let him spend the night for me.” And she said, “Okay, yeah, I love my gay son.”
Where did it come from overnight? New Jersey.
Zach DePaolo
Theater director and barista
Lives in: Bedford-Stuyvesant
I love your horns. I'm trying to be a murderous 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 does it and it's a bit boring.
Hugo Rojas
Visual Merchandiser for Moschino
Lives in: queens
Where did you get your wings? I ordered the wings from Bihbi, the same company that made Felix's wings for the movie.
What about the rest of your outfit? All new. The jeans are probably like six hours old. They are from American Eagle. It kind of fits into the early 2000s aesthetic.
And how old were you at that time? Six or seven.
Hannah Pinson and Pilar Violeta
Work for a textile designer; and photographer, hairdresser and stripper
Live in: East Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant
What was your hair inspiration tonight?
PILLAR VIOLET: I was doing the wings for that Galliano show with Kate Moss, but I was doing it all at the last minute, so I decided to wear the feathers on top of the hair.
What do you think of “Saltburn”?
VIOLET: I love Barry Keoghan because he's a sexy little monster. Jacob Elordi is hot, but I love a weird little monster.
How about your outfit?
HANNAH PINSON: I was inspired by Venetia in the movie. She has a lot of money but she doesn't know how to do makeup or hair. Half of my makeup today was just removing my black eyeliner.
