Fashion is my Foreplay

Part 2 with Ruben is here 💚

In this episode of Fashion Is My Foreplay, we move beyond building sites and Berlin clubs and dive into:

• Shopping almost exclusively in charity shops
• Why making your own clothes changes how you shop
• Falling out of love with creativity (and how to stay in love with it)
• Sharing vulnerability online
• Body image, insecurity & confidence
• Going on I Kissed A Boy and being perceived by the public
• What reality TV teaches you about yourself
• Dressing for confidence (low-waisted trousers supremacy)
• Everything showers to set you up for a good day/night

We talk about being “perceived,” queer representation, platform vs identity, and what it really means to reinvent yourself publicly.

This is the softer, more reflective half of our conversation, and honestly one of my favourites.

Follow Ruben:
Fashion: https://www.instagram.com/rubenbodower/
Personal: https://www.instagram.com/rexyruben/

Follow me:
@fashionismyforeplay
fashionismyforeplay@gmail.com

⚠️ Content note: discussion of mental health, internalised homophobia, body image, queer identity and reality TV exposure.

This week on Fashion Is My Foreplay, I’m joined by Ruben, creative, designer, body-paint enthusiast and self-described fashion alien.

I originally found him on Instagram after a Reel where he talked about working on a construction site while secretly listening to Drag Race in his headphones. Fast forward to painting himself green, building avant-garde queer fashion, and unlearning internalised homophobia, and I was obsessed.

In Part 1 we talk about:

• Being queer in hyper-masculine spaces (like building sites)
• “Performing masculinity” vs performing authenticity
• Growing up in a Steiner school (yes… eurythmy included)
• Why lockdown changed everything
• Drag Race, Bimini & Gottmik’s impact
• Internalised homophobia & trying to be “palatable”
• From furniture design to Berlin nightlife fashion
• Making clothes for queer bodies , without formal fashion training

This is about creativity, queerness, identity, fantasy, and the freedom that comes when you stop trying to be “normal.”

This is Part 1 — Part 2 drops next week.

Follow Ruben:
Fashion: https://www.instagram.com/rubenbodower/
Personal: https://www.instagram.com/rexyruben/

Follow the podcast:
Host: @fashionismyforeplay
Email: fashionismyforeplay@gmail.com

⚠️ Content note: Discussion of mental health, internalised homophobia, queer identity, nightlife culture and brief mentions of anxiety/depression.

This week on Fashion Is My Foreplay, I’m joined by Ben, the creator of Brighton’s brand new monthly queer night: Dirty Talk

This episode is a little different, more of an event special, where we talk all about what Dirty Talk is, why Brighton needs more queer nightlife spaces, and what you can expect from the launch night this Friday 6th February at CHALK.

We cover:
– The vision behind Dirty Talk
– Drag, pole, go-go dancers + runway moments
– Building inclusive, accessible queer spaces
– Brighton nightlife culture
– What to wear, who it’s for, and why you should come dance

Dirty Talk Launch Night
📍 CHALK, Brighton
🗓 Friday 6th February
🎟 Tickets: https://www.fatsoma.com/e/cyajde51/dirty-talk-01

Follow the event: @dirtytalk.btn
https://www.instagram.com/dirtytalk.btn

Content Warnings:
Adult themes, mild sexual humour/language, queer nightlife discussion.

Follow the pod: @fashionismyforeplay
Guest enquiries: fashionismyforeplay@gmail.com