Paris is Burning (1990) 71 min

This film seems to have become the definitive guide to being fabulous in NYC in the early 90's.  Filmed in the late 80's director Jennie Livingston may not have known exactly what she stumbled upon when she witnessed a few "voguers" going at it in a park in the city.  She inquired about their style and was invited to attend a local "ball" in Harlem where gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals alike meet to compete in categories that provide a forum for all to live a fantasy.  Drag queens coming together to compete in categories that go way beyond just voguing or walking the cat walk.  The participants explain that if you can "walk" in a category, such as "Executive Realness", "School Student", "Butch Queen"....with the entire purpose being to appear as your straight counterpart and not give away the fact that you are gay...then you have succeeded.  Paris is Burning is the name of an annual ball hosted by one of the film's subjects, Paris Dupree. Also the number one voguer of the time, Willi Ninja, describes how he would like to take a bunch of voguers to Paris and watch the real Paris burn with envy as they vogue and display what real style and fashion sense is all about.