Kinky Community Unites to Help Fetish Fashion Elder--
Online fundraiser at http://gofundme.com/6258ro
There is a campaign on GoFundMe.com to assist Jeanette Zinkan aka MISTRESS ANTOINETTE,
the fetish fashion pioneer, now in her 70’s whom those in the know acknowledge as the person most responsible for bringing fetish dressing out of dark closets and into the light, sparking the public’s imagination.
The campaign was started by Ms. Zinkan’s daughter Tiffany and former porn stars Annie Sprinkle and Veronica Vera. Ms. Sprinkle, are among those who acknowledge Mistress Antoinette as a muse. Dr. Carol Queen, founding director, Center for Sex and Culture states, "There's not necessarily a retirement plan for culture-changing community leaders who have helped make our world more sexually diverse and positive. When someone like Mistress Antoinette needs help, it's only the community she helped create and people who enjoy the world she influenced who will step up to make a difference."
In the 80’’s, Ms. Zinkan and her husband Dr. Richard Zinkan, aka photographer Master Zorro, created Versatile Productions which published Reflections, “the magazine of the exotic lifestyle”, and made videotapes that shed light on BDSM and fetish themes. They paid homage to people such as Bettie Page and recognized them for their contributions to modern culture, long before Hollywood jumped on the bandwagon. “I referred to their company as a kinky conglomerate” says Ms.Vera, “but Dick, liked to call it “a mom and pop operation.” Ms. Zinkan began designing fashions for their readership and before long, Ms. Antoinette’s Versatile Fashion label became the focus of the company, which specialized in skin tight pvc garments, for women, men and transvestites.
Their bullet bras and costumes influenced, and were worn by, rockstars, including Madonna. The company became famous for its line of authentic wasp waist corsets which crossed over into the mainstream and were the first of that kind sold by Victoria’s Secret. Ms. Antoinette created an annual Dress To Thrill Ball and fashion show weekend (DTTW) in California and later Las Vegas. A video produced by Versatile Productions that is posted by the Leather Archives and Museum on youtube documents that 1997 Dress To Thrill Weekend The striptease artist Dita von Teese is featured, as are latex designer The Baroness and sex educator Ducky Doolittle. The video illustrates the high energy and uninhibited erotic style of the times.
In 2006, after a long illness, Richard Zinkan died, and medical expenses, plus a robbery, a flood and other business reversals decimated the Zinkan’s finances. Until recently, Jeanette Zinkan lived with her daughter Tiffany and family in Mormon country near Salt Lake City, Utah. “My daughter and her family are not Mormons”, said Ms. Zinkan, “but almost everyone else in the town is, so I’ve kept a low profile. “ Ms. Zinkan began to exhibit signs of Alzheimer’s that necessitated she move to an assisted living residence. The purpose of the GoFundMe campaign is to assist in paying for the medications and treatments that doctors say will slow the progress of Alzheimers, and as stated on the site, “keep Ms. Antoinette’s beautiful memories alive.” Now that word has begun to spread of their heroine’s predicament, members of the alternative lifestyle and fetish fashion communities are spreading the word and rallying support. Ms. Zinkan is receiving calls from colleagues and friends with whom she’d lost touch. Her spirits are lifted. “I feel humbled, grateful and overwhelmed, “ said Ms. Zinkan. “Jeanette had begun to doubt her choices in life,” says Ms. Sprinkle. She’d thought that because she was broke, her work had been of no use. The truth is, she brought many, many people lots of joy, sexy fun and liberation. The money will be a big help, but what is even more valuable is the rise in her own self esteem and human worth as Jeanette hears from fans and friends.” In her professional life Ms. Antoinette signed all her letters with the words, “I care", says Ms. Vera, "Now she is learning that others do."
The campaign has also changed the dynamic between mother and daughter. Until now, daughter Tiffany had only negative feelings about her mother’s career, seeing it as a hindrance to her own desire for a more traditional life. “I felt Versatile had sucked my parents dry, and after my dad died and my mom was so alone and left to her own devices, I thought her career was a fantasy and a sham. Now, I am thankful. As contributions and heartfelt letters of gratitude arrive, Tiffany has begun to appreciate Ms. Antoinette and to see the benefits of life in the public eye, even if that life was in a catsuit and 8 inch heels.
Also supporting the fundraiser are Urban Tantra's Barbara Carrellas, the author of the Ethical Slut Janet Hardy, sex educator bondage artist Midori, former porn actress Veronica Hart, performance artist Shree Rose, sexologist Dr. Carol Queen, sex worker activist Scarlot Harlot, Kinky Salon producer Polly Superstar and many others.
on a personal note~ when i was a stylist way back in the 80s, my partner MICHI and i would take trips to VERSITLE FASHIONS on a regular basis. we would borrow, rent and purchase fetish gear on a regular basis for all our shoots including herb ritts fashion campaigns, videos for pat benatar's "sex is a wepon", and tina turner.
we attended one of mistress antoinette & master zorro's private parties and had the time of our lives!
i even have photos!
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