Shrewd, Tattooed & Semi-Nude
From fanny packs to hair curlers to motorized scooters, we salute those who embrace Iowa State Fair fashion
By Jared Curtis, Matt Miller, Doug Harsh and Annie Gardner
Nothing says summer more than the annual Iowa State Fair. No other single Iowa event can produce so many eye-catching fashion phenomenons. We’re talking facial piercings, back hair, beer bellies, mullets, short skirts, face paint, tube tops, mustaches and more. Take your pick — the fashion walks and rides among us. But that’s why the Iowa State Fair is special. You’re bound to see something different, and that makes our annual guide that much more enjoyable.
Through it all, our annual State Fair Fashion issue has become a staple of the summer event. Granted the fair has its own “Avenue of the Breeds,” but one has to wonder if walking the fair concourse is not exemplified enough by the outlandish fashion faux paus displayed there. Fairgoers amaze us by over-dressing the part in hopes of making our pages. We are pleased to oblige, as we do still have a tacky reputation of our own to uphold.
So without further adieu, here are the pictures…
Clarence Blair of Des Moines is a shining example of what can happen when you cross Clint Eastwood and Mr. Magoo.
Sure Dorothy (Crystal Kirkpatrick) and the cowardly lion (Jack Kirkpatrick) have changed some since last visiting the Land of Oz, but four decades can do that to the best of us.
Shannon O’Hair of Indianola shares a moment with her biggest fans at Mr. Ed’s Hair Salon.
Birdie Harris of Pleasant Hill and Bob Andersen of Melcher-Dallas are the original East-siders. Seriously.
OMG. Can you believe that KaSondra Giardina would wear white pants at the fair before Labor Day?
A bubble gun and a rainbow wig are the secrets to making the ladies swoon... not. Good try, though, Andrew Tinker. It’s too bad you came all the way from Jacksonville, Fla., to test your new recipe for love.
Greg Sime is all smiles. And why not? A pair of cool shades, comfortable shoes, three hot babes and an exposed chest left us showing some teeth, too.
Top side gangster look; bottom side cowboy digs. Cody Huber of
Albia mixes it up like only he can.
Buy state fair tickets. Check. Put on my cowboy hat. Check. Put the snake back in the cage. Damn! Oren Roorda of Pella knew he forgot something.
Yes, B.A. Baracus is back. Kind of. Or so Steven Kogler of St. Paul, Minn., thinks. He pities the fool who would make fun of this shoes.
He’s not Donald Trump, but Wade Green of Indianola will gladly put your ass in the unemployment line.
This picture of Steve Corrigan pretty much says it all.
Grand Mound’s Karen Whitman courageously works through her knee injury, showing just how dangerous the sport of baton twirling can be.
Back in black... or red — Tom Franklin, Marshalltown, shows his love for his two favorite bands — AC/DC and Simply Red.
Fresh off a trip from Sturgis, Dorothy informed Ed that he would not be wearing “The Bitch Fell Off” T-shirt to the state fair.
Valerie Keeney loves to shop at the fair, but what do you buy for a guy like Donald Duckett who already has everything? CV
