Advertisement

Fabulous fashion at Brighton Pride

Pride fashion: Lily Nyangoi shows off the unofficial Pride uniform – rainbows and glitter. (Christian Cassiel)
Pride fashion: Lily Nyangoi shows off the unofficial Pride uniform – rainbows and glitter. (Christian Cassiel)

Around 80,000 people turned up to Preston Park to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Brighton Pride over the weekend of 6 and 7 August.

Pride is a protest, but it’s also an excuse for the LGBTQ+ community – and its allies – to wear their most fabulous outfits and show up in style.

Read more: Christina Aguilera uses Pride show to highlight Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

Brian Sweeney made his own outfit for Brighton Pride. (Christian Cassiel)
Brian Sweeney made his own outfit for Brighton Pride. (Christian Cassiel)

Brian Sweeney’s DIY efforts did not go unnoticed on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old from Dublin, Ireland paired his Versace shades with his own custom pieces.

He proudly sported a fishnet tank from ASOS, which he spent five hours meticulously bedazzling, and a pair of black jean shorts from Primark, which got quite the makeover after he distressed, bleached and painted them himself.

Sweeney said his style is constantly changing. “I’m a chameleon,” he said. “I’ll be wearing something completely different tomorrow.”

La-Toyah Beckford showed up as an ally at Brighton Pride. (Christian Cassiel)
La-Toyah Beckford showed up as an ally at Brighton Pride. (Christian Cassiel)

La-Toyah Beckford, 36, came to Pride to show her support for the LGBTQ+ community.

“This is my second year at Pride. I’m here as an ally for my bestie and her wife,” she said, showing off her individuality in a lime green top from Oh Polly and a zebra skirt from Pretty Little Thing, accessorised with a rainbow flower garland.

Read more: Brighton Pride festival finally back after pandemic

“I would describe my style as individual. I just like what I like and think my clothes and accessories are very much part of my personality,” Beckford explained.

Local resident Hannah Dooley turned heads in top-to-toe red and Lolita-style shades. (Christian Cassiel)
Local resident Hannah Dooley turned heads in top-to-toe red and Lolita-style shades. (Christian Cassiel)

Hannah Dooley, a local Brighton resident, and her salon showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community, all wearing different block colours of the rainbow.

Matching her fiery red locks, Dooley was dressed head-to-toe in a vibrant red bodice, flowing chiffon maxi skirt and over-the-knee lace tights.

Read more: Kiss FM presenter Harriet Rose: ‘My first ever Pride’

Dooley did not hold back with the accessories, topping off her look with a rainbow flower crown and oversized heart-shaped sunnies.

And although Dooley’s outfit and accessories were perfectly matched, she assured us that her style isn’t always as put together.

“My style is changeable,” she laughed. “Tomorrow I’ll be in a t-shirt and sweatpants picking litter on the beach, but today I’m in a corset.”

Watch: Kiss FM's Harriet Rose: My first ever Pride parade