Noah Shakoor has been hosting his NYC party PIT//STOP for the last three years, but it was the most recent edition that got him in a bit of hot water. Before the September rave, Shakoor made a Public Service Announcement on his Instagram story instructing attendees how to come through. “WE’D LIKE TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING NO SHADE … BUT NO BUSHWICK FASHION PLEASE!! THIS CONTENT IS BEING PICKED UP BY DAZED MAGAZINE,” he wrote. “NO CLUNKY BOOTS, NO FISHNETS NOR LEOTARDS. NO CAT EARS + DOG COLLAR COMBOS. NO CRUNCHY MAKEUP LOOKS. DRESS UP LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO STUDIO 54, NOT HOT TOPIC.”
The fashion directive, while loud and clear, didn’t exactly go down well. “I was accused of propagating classism, gentrification and heteronormativity. That’s something I’m grappling with as the party continues to grow,” he says,over email after the party. “I genuinely do want everyone to feel welcome, but at the same time I need to protect the qualities of PIT//STOP that make it special.”
PIT//STOP was founded by Shakoor in 2023, after a one-off Pride party led the creative director to discover he had a knack for party planning. “I knew I wanted it to be entirely DIY because the best raves I’ve been to have all been semi-legal productions,” he says. “I think there is a unique beauty to the ephemeral nature of a DIY party that can’t be replicated in the club.” Resident DJs Sevyn 0000 and Princess Peggie play a selection of bouncy techno, electro and EDM, while volume seven had additional DJs like AceMo, Cem, Yaki, Star Amerasu and DJ USA also grace the decks.
Back to the fashion, though. To Shakoor, what links all the aspects of a successful club night together is visual identity. “I like to think that I am able to discern an objectively bad outfit from something that’s not my style but is still well put together,” he continues. “I see a lot of both at my party.” Of the latter, attendees rocked up to PIT//STOP Volume VII in tulle ball gowns, Marilyn Monroe tees, graphic tank tops and tongue-in-cheek merch that said ‘PROTECT ME FROM THE DOLLS’. Elsewhere, slogan tees continue to prove popular, while lace camis and underwear as outerwear are still on trend. “There were other points in the night where I wasn’t sure if the fashion had evolved, plateaued or taken a wrong turn. But ultimately, it’s not that serious,” says Shakooor. “I am indescribably grateful for my attendees’ patronage of both the party and the brand, even if some of them dress the way they do.”
Scroll through the gallery above to see all the looks from the night