So today is kind of a hard day. Decemeber 29, 2021 marks the two year anniversary of Amy (Mistress Adrienne NYC) Draa's death and succumbing to stage 4 ovarian cancer. It is not made easier for the weekly times I see posers and scammers using her images and pretending to be her. It also reminds me of how much I have missed over the last two years. Adoring leather, one of the things I could always count on is weekly, if not daily, Amy posting some new fab pic of her in gorgeous leather. She was one of a kind, and she is missed.
So to celebrate her life, here are some of my favorite shots I was fortunate enought to take of her.
The first image is one of my favorites – The Moschino balloon cuff gloves were actually my gift to her. I came across them at a steal, and just knew they deserved to express life, and that they did. There are easily a half a dozen different shoots where they make an appearance. They are a statement piece, and she did know how to make statements.
Next, the Gucci pussy-bow lambskin leather blouse. As much as I enjoyed dressing Amy, she was slim to say the least. She was dedicated in maintaining her body and while 34 can be tight on most, she would oven need a 32 in the French sizes. While I have owned easily 8 of these Tom Ford creations, the Gucci or the Yves Saint Laurent when he was doing double duty – This was the only 34 I ever have seen. For an Italian size, that is often a piece where only a couple are made in a run, where most would be 36 – 40. This blouse became a center-piece of a project we worked on. Sadly, though it fit her like it was made for her, she could be mercurial at times, and she decided to pass on it. I warned her to take it if she even had the slightest notion she would change her mind, because it was one of those pieces I know will only be seen once because of the size. She had made up her mind, though inquired about wanting it 6 months later, but it was gone.
Likewise, this red calfskin leather empress coat from Claude Montana was to tie for. It was a size 38 which was 2 sizes too big maybe 3 because of the style, but the large oversize collar was almost a cross between a cowl and almost a hood… the leather flowed and it really was a piece she should have taken and had tailored. That would have been oodles with the amount needed, but the leather was special – and having handled easily 1000 leather high end garment – this leather drew you it. Sadder still. It was a throw in piece we only videos for some Q&A pieces. I never got the chance to really shoot her properly, nor find the right setting.
The red leather top is Versace, and this series of the collection was made famous by Halle Berry who wore the pieces in black for “Die Another Day” and the skirt is a fabulous Jean Claude Jitrois that had a perfect shape, a gorgeous semi-aniline leather, and… what can I say, Jitrois is just magnifique!
This was on our 1st night together shooting. Amy had a thing for eclectic rooms and we had found a B&B that just had this crazy vibe too it. Unfortunately from the time we had booked the room to when we had arrived, the owner had "remodeled" the room and what went from a really bizarre feel was completely sanitized and generic. We had been running around all day, arrived late at night and with the manager no longer on the property, we decided to not stay but did some shooting in the funky library. This was sort of a gorilla shoot with other guests asleep in their rooms, so was more of a little rushed.
And last but not least – Fashion and fetish blend. North Bound Leather sleeveless body suit, Versace lace up boots, Jitrois long leather dress coat, and the phallus… well just adds that little “punch” to the picture.
I never did any play with Adrienne. I procured fabulous pieces, we hung out, I photographed and videoed her. She came to visit me, and the few days were packed trying to shoot what we could of the amazing leather collection I had built over decades. These pictures only scratch the surface. But where this fits in even more, though it never came to fruition. Amy did have a soft spot for so many of drag community. One project that we had tried to bring to life was have me source out some amazing leathers for a certain performer she just adored. Adrienne’s vision was both of them head to toe, draped and wrapped up in luxurious leather, and I was to spend that weekend not only shooting, but being their feminized leather bitch/maid/slave. To say I was enthusiastic is to put it mildly, but so many conflicting dates, venues, etc. just made it so it was never so. C’est la vie. As that project crumbled, so much of what became the majority of these images came to be.
You are missed, not forgotten, and often in my prayers. I do miss not seeing new images on your twitter on instagram feeds, whether from this, or Mistress Opera. Rest in Peace
Feel free to drop a line to me and we can see where it goes