FranCon Unleashed: Dive into the Wild World of Fran Lebowitz Fashion Celebrations!

Hold onto your hats because last night the East Village was THE place to be as the fourth annual FranCon took over the Holiday Cocktail Lounge! Devotees gathered to celebrate the iconic Fran Lebowitz—think intellect, wit, and her unmistakable fashion flair. Spoiler alert: Fran would have been horrified.

This cultural powerhouse has cemented herself in history with a style that's almost too simple to be epic—yet it is. Grab your white Oxford shirt, a navy blazer, blue jeans, cowboy boots, and those quintessential tortoiseshell glasses, because it's never been so easy—or trendy—to transform into Fran. Everyone's closet holds the magic ingredients. But how does she make it seem SO distinctively hers? Jane August, a co-host of FranCon, spills the tea, declaring, “It's very streamlined and simple, but it’s so definitive.”

In a bid to level up social interactions, August says the uniform creates a unifying factor, deftly brushing aside outfit judgments. It's all about deeper connections, people! Attendees flaunted their unique spins though—Helen Hong jazzed it up with a cropped top and ripped jeans, while Marcus Drew sported a vintage pinstripe blazer from his 2008 Burlington haul. Talk about throwing it back!

If you've ever dreamed of a The Devil Wears Prada glow-up, you'll appreciate this: swapping the glam of Andy Sachs for the calculated cool of Fran Lebowitz. The fashion closet worked its magic again, decking attendants in a white button-up, an oversized navy blue pinstripe blazer from The Frankie Shop, and high-in-demand Khaite jeans. Polish off the look with Frye boots and tortoiseshell glasses from Warby Parker.

Inside, "Frans" flaunted their matching bobs and blazers while sipping on cheekily named cocktails like the “Franhattan.” Some attendees dared to challenge the norms, donning Spider-Man tees and bright green "fran" graphics. The debates over whether Fran would approve of this spectacle were as swirling as a good martini. “I think she would love it,” one attendee mused, sparking a provocative back-and-forth.

This year's event captivated a vibrant queer crowd, offering a nostalgic nod to the underappreciated butch aesthetic of the nineties. “It’s representative of that time,” said attendee Rosella Tursi. Her partner Christine Champagne echoed sentiments of newfound confidence: “I feel confident dressed like this,” she admitted, embracing a style outside her norm.

Don't miss this spicy tidbit: Co-host Micaela Fagan rocks Fran's style year-round, owning its gender-fluid charm and finding empowerment in its mix of femininity and masculinity. Now there's a trend we can all get behind!