I finally made it over to Strange Beauty Show salon (1118 North Ashland) to get my nails done by The Gaudy God himself, Matt Kasin. I’ve gotten to know him socially at underground fashion events and he is surprisingly approachable and down to earth for someone with such a fashionable and colorful personality. Matt has a heart of gold (which also happens to be both of our favorite color!) so it was really enjoyable to finally sit down with him one-on-one and talk fashion, pop culture, and the forces of celebrity.

Matt exudes warmth and is very easy to talk to – perfect qualities for a beautician to have. Personal stylists often serve a variety of functions beyond the usual business of beautifying, including pep talker, dating coach, and confidant. Kanye West has Cassius Marcellus Cornelius Clay, Jessica Simpson has Ken Paves, and now you can have The Gaudy God as your own personal celebrity-maker!

As you can see from the photo of my nails below, The Gaudy God is a talented manicurist in addition to his roles as a film student at Columbia College, fashion designer and underground vintage apparel vendor. He often co-hosts events along with SisterMan. Their next event is SPACE TRASH 2000 at Berlin nightclub on Monday, January 24th at 10pm. Check out the event info on Facebook.

Call the Strange Beauty Show salon at 773-252-9522 to make an appointment. Or you can take a chance and drop in Friday or Saturday afternoon on an impulse if you happen to be spending the day in Wicker Park, although it is best to still call ahead to make sure Matt is working.