Chrissy64_uk
19-04-2009, 12:32 PM
Women in attendance at the inaugural Bras for a Cause fundraiser place some dollars in the bra of Tim Sova, one of 21 men the Women's Council of Realtors convinced to strap up for Thursday's event, which was raising funds for breast cancer research at Crystal Gardens banquet center in Genoa Township. (Photo by GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS)
George Moses stood tall, and talked with a deadpan face while wearing a model locomotive and choo-choo train on his left and right breasts, and a caboose light across his bra strap.
That's right, his bra, tightly wrapped around his bare chest.
Moses, publisher of The Marketeer, was one of 21 men the Women's Council of Realtors, Livingston chapter, convinced to strap up for Thursday's inaugural Bras for a Cause, a fundraiser for breast cancer research at Crystal Gardens banquet center in Genoa Township.
Moses said he managed to override his male pride with the help of his wife, Melanie, a cancer survivor.
"I'm comfortable in my masculinity, so I'm not worried about it," Moses assured.
Realtor Dan Mulvihill placed U.S. Army helmets on each breast, strapped up thick boots and aptly named his creation "Commando."
It took some assistance to get Mulvihill's bra to attach in back. He admitted he imbibed in a cocktail or two before suiting up backstage.
"You have to have some relaxation to get that feminine side out, to get the walk down," Mulvihill explained.
The thin Lance McCarty, apparently overconfident in his upper-torso endowment, named his bra "Elements of Destruction," with water and fire painted on his bra cups.
"They're double-Ds," McCarty claimed.
The backstage humor soon ended and McCarty, the first model out, had to prove he had the goods.
He said he happily dressed in semi-drag in honor of his mother, a cancer survivor.
Before long, the audience — mostly women — were stuffing dollar bills into the men's bras, and later became less discreet about where they deposited their tips.
Wives and girlfriends played a major role in preparing the men for their big night.
Realtor Pam Shearer assembled a bra in honor of a colleague who only the day before underwent breast cancer surgery.
Her colleague requested that fellow Realtor Dan Callan wear Shearer's creation.
"I had to put a couple expanders on the back to make sure it fit," Shearer said.
Lisa Nelson, owner of Hush Intimate Apparel in Brighton, fitted her husband, Brandon, and four male friends in bras the same way she would her female customers.
The men comprised five of the six official Village People.
Nelson said she took greatest pride in fitting her husband.
"I think he looks really cute. It's really outside his comfort zone so I'm very, very proud of him," Nelson said.
No male cross-dressing fashion show is complete without a lawmaker present.
State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, gladly filled that void.
Rogers chose a biker theme for his bra, which he stuffed with candy for lucky audience members.
The freshman legislator had no qualms about standing in for a friend at the last minute.
"Evidently, I'm supposed to be one of the biker babes. And I'm full of sweetness," Rogers said, proudly showing of his silver and gold chains.
"I'm full of sweetness," he repeated, pulling a piece of wrapped candy from his bra.
Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Christopher Behnan at (517) 548-7108 or at cbehnan@
gannett.com.
George Moses stood tall, and talked with a deadpan face while wearing a model locomotive and choo-choo train on his left and right breasts, and a caboose light across his bra strap.
That's right, his bra, tightly wrapped around his bare chest.
Moses, publisher of The Marketeer, was one of 21 men the Women's Council of Realtors, Livingston chapter, convinced to strap up for Thursday's inaugural Bras for a Cause, a fundraiser for breast cancer research at Crystal Gardens banquet center in Genoa Township.
Moses said he managed to override his male pride with the help of his wife, Melanie, a cancer survivor.
"I'm comfortable in my masculinity, so I'm not worried about it," Moses assured.
Realtor Dan Mulvihill placed U.S. Army helmets on each breast, strapped up thick boots and aptly named his creation "Commando."
It took some assistance to get Mulvihill's bra to attach in back. He admitted he imbibed in a cocktail or two before suiting up backstage.
"You have to have some relaxation to get that feminine side out, to get the walk down," Mulvihill explained.
The thin Lance McCarty, apparently overconfident in his upper-torso endowment, named his bra "Elements of Destruction," with water and fire painted on his bra cups.
"They're double-Ds," McCarty claimed.
The backstage humor soon ended and McCarty, the first model out, had to prove he had the goods.
He said he happily dressed in semi-drag in honor of his mother, a cancer survivor.
Before long, the audience — mostly women — were stuffing dollar bills into the men's bras, and later became less discreet about where they deposited their tips.
Wives and girlfriends played a major role in preparing the men for their big night.
Realtor Pam Shearer assembled a bra in honor of a colleague who only the day before underwent breast cancer surgery.
Her colleague requested that fellow Realtor Dan Callan wear Shearer's creation.
"I had to put a couple expanders on the back to make sure it fit," Shearer said.
Lisa Nelson, owner of Hush Intimate Apparel in Brighton, fitted her husband, Brandon, and four male friends in bras the same way she would her female customers.
The men comprised five of the six official Village People.
Nelson said she took greatest pride in fitting her husband.
"I think he looks really cute. It's really outside his comfort zone so I'm very, very proud of him," Nelson said.
No male cross-dressing fashion show is complete without a lawmaker present.
State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, gladly filled that void.
Rogers chose a biker theme for his bra, which he stuffed with candy for lucky audience members.
The freshman legislator had no qualms about standing in for a friend at the last minute.
"Evidently, I'm supposed to be one of the biker babes. And I'm full of sweetness," Rogers said, proudly showing of his silver and gold chains.
"I'm full of sweetness," he repeated, pulling a piece of wrapped candy from his bra.
Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Christopher Behnan at (517) 548-7108 or at cbehnan@
gannett.com.