How these comedians make fashion their punchline

Funny Funny Fashion, a comedy variety hour, has taken up residence at iO Theater in Chicago. Combining aspects of comedy, fashion and entertainment, Funny Funny Fashion named itself “the world’s premiere comedy variety hour played for laughs and a mob of adoring paparazzi,” in the caption of their first Instagram post. 

Luke Herman poses as a lampshade. Photo courtesy of Maiyah Lewis.

Before the penultimate show of their first run at iO, I sat down with producers Luke Herman and Lazarus Howell, as well as a member of the show’s improv group, “The Fashionistas,” Melina Arevalo, to gather their collective insights on the core tenets of the show and how exactly it fits into the Chicago comedy scene.

Howell explains that this show was born out of necessity. He remarks, “When I was a college student … everyone needed pictures, like cool pictures … and I said, what if we produced a show just to take pictures?” Therein lies the premise of this variety hour that takes place on a runway, fashion and humor have equal roles in the show. 

Before the show was scheduled weekly at i.O., it was a one-night-only occasion. Herman reminisces on the first night.

 “We had so much fun in that first show. The turnout was crazy, everybody was dressed to the nines, and I knew that the idea was really fun, but I didn’t know just how much it would resonate with an audience,” he said. 

Maia Rasof struts down the runway. Photo courtesy of Maiyah Lewis.

The first show brought such success that Herman and Howell, both of whom are iO interns, pitched the idea to their team, and the team enthusiastically agreed.

At a Funny Funny Fashion show, all the performers dress to a specific theme. Themes range from cottagecore and fantasy to objectively sexy objects. The themed outfits may or may not tie directly into the artist’s performance, but before their set, all performers strut the red carpet, which extends out into the audience, and pose for the camera. The themes vary and allow for much flexibility, merely acting as a prompt, allotting the performing artists the freedom to express themselves as they please. 

Self-expression guides the ethos of Funny Funny Fashion. The producers recognize clothing and style as a form of self and artistic expression in the same way that they view their comedic work. Herman comments that “no one in comedy thinks twice about the way that they’re dressed, but Funny Funny Fashion asks the question, ‘what if they did?’” 

By incorporating dress as a means of expression in tandem with comedy, the show defies the norms of the genre. Avevelo also notes the timeliness of the show and expresses how it reflects the many different styles represented in different spheres of social media.

Herman notes the nature of their show as a means of empowerment to comedians, who are often so used to laughing at themselves. 

“By putting normal people on a red carpet, it leads them to be a larger-than-life version of themselves, and it is an empowering thing to do in comedy where a lot of people are pretty self-deprecating,” he said.

Lazarus Howell strikes a pose for the camera. Photo Courtesy of Maiyah Lewis.

While Herman appreciates the ability to laugh at oneself, he acknowledges that the two are not mutually exclusive in comedy and that “you can both laugh at yourself and celebrate yourself.”

A celebration is exactly how someone would describe a Funny Funny Fashion show. It is a celebration of culture and talent, highlighting a diverse range of comedians throughout the city of Chicago, but also a celebration of the beauty that is found in collaboration with others. The show’s improv group, “The Fashionistas,” comprised of: Eli Carey, Ally Montgomery, Melina Arevalo and Skylar Harts, are masterful in their improv. Their performance flows so smoothly, never missing a beat, as if rehearsed.

“They’re all such strong improvisers independently, and with such a strong sense of self and style, putting them all in one group has been ecstasy … it has been magical,” Herman said. 

The group’s performance brims with joy and creativity; even the transition between scenes is sure to evoke a smile when the performers chant, “pose, pose, pose, pose,” to mark the end of one scene and the beginning of the next.

Eli Carey models down the runway dressed as red wine. Photo courtesy of Maiyah Lewis.

Since the show closed out its first run at iO Theater on February 8, the future of Funny Funny Fashion is still up in the air. Herman describes the challenge of keeping up novelty, saying:  “It was so fun the first time. First time because you feel that this is special for everyone, not just people in the show. People watching the show felt it was a one-time thing.” 

However, Herman assures avid Funny Funny Fashion fans that they do not need to fret. He emphasizes the growing interest from many Chicago comedians wanting to participate in the show, and that Funny Funny Fashion will most likely continue in the form of a monthly show. Until then, the minds of Herman and Avevelo bring you Sans Titre—an absurdist sketch show that combines aspects of performance art and comedy. 

Stay updated on what’s happening with Funny Funny Fashion, @funnyfunnyfashion on Instagram.

Header by Samarah Nasir