Photos: Mosswood Meltdown is the Bay Area’s best alt fashion show
Oakland’s annual punk festival brings together drag queens, Midwest punks, and runway models. The question is: Who’s the best dressed?
Ally Johnson, a flight attendant, bought her red one-piece from L.A.-based retro-reproduction clothier Miracle Eye. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
How do you get drag queens, Midwest punks, and runway models under one roof?
You don’t — you get them to go to a public park in Oakland.
One of the most eclectically dressed festival crowds out there converged Saturday for the start of Mosswood Meltdown, Oakland’s annual punk music festival. The event takes place in Oakland’s Mosswood Park — a four-acre patch of grass off Interstate 580 bounded by trees and a looming Kaiser Permanente hospital.
As far as festivals go, the all-ages Mosswood is relatively tame. There was some moshing during sets from Niis (pronounced “nice”) and Prison Affair, but nothing crazy. Devo — yes, the New Wave one — headlined the event, as evidenced by the innumerable neon Energy Dome hats poking above the throng.
“It’s completely Oakland,” Aaron Toon said of the scene.
Toon wore a denim vest his mother had given him shortly before her death, while his fiancé, Christopher Evangelista, wore a black Santigold T-shirt. Oakland natives, they’ve been to Mosswood Meltdown every year since 2021.
Jennifer Oakes shows off the lining of her homemade jacket fashioned out of fabric from a country ham bag. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Valerie Cook thrifted her outfit from Issio in the Mission. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Aaron Toon and Christopher Evangelista have been attending Mosswood Meltdown for four years. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Adriana Perez, who recently moved to the Bay Area from Chicago, bought her 1960s dress from Decades of Fashion in the Haight. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Sarah “Sstarrbaby” Ssetnongo and Peter “Lightning” Wallner. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Chris Storm and Damon Diaz — decked out in “mostly Chris’ stuff” — browse a rack of plastic earrings. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Attendees mosh during punk-grunge outfit Niis’ set. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
John Waters returned for his 11th year emceeing the festival. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Zac Amendolia made his skull-and-crossbones necklace using an injection mold machine. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Sierra Moore and Ryan Kwok try to beat the heat. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Io Herbent’s outfit is a medley of thrifted pieces. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Ken K. and JD L. strike a pose in their Energy Domes. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard
Glowwiaa, Melanie, and Moira rock retro shades and bold lips. | Source: Thomas Sawano/The Standard