Did River Medway's outfit look expensive?

Her outfit symbolizes wealth and opulence. I don’t think the outfits has to literally be expensive.

If it wasn’t a cultural dress most people would say no .. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Idk but it just look like she ordered it off line . People might think certain African prints might look cheep and I could agree based on possible poor presentation.. if this dress was made with the intent of being used in actual ceremony it would probably made with a better fabric and have more intricate details .. don’t get me wrong she’s beautiful but this doesn’t come off as expensive.. Sorry to compare queens but Plastic’s garments that similar to this runway look more expensive plus the elaborate headpieces she has just take it to a whole other level .

Kyla

honestly i grade everyone on UK on a curve. i actually love that it isn’t just a contest about who can afford to spend the most on their looks like US has become. this looks expensive BUT only UK expenny henny, not US drag race and also mostly in comparison to the others, none of whom looked expensive to me at all. at least she had a good concept (execution not so much maybe)

Brandie

To a point, the neckline fit took me out of it. There were a few times where attention to detail would have made these looks look the part. For example, if scarlet had dropped the hem of her pants and instead of that coat one of those fluffy stoles would have sold it more.

Cush

as an asian person (CN/PH) i appreciate what river did but i def agree with bob. her pics on IG look a lot more elegant and expensive than how it looks in this photo or how it did on the runway. but also on her IG she admits that she ordered it from off the rack (before editing tf out of it) and it just kinda confirms the fact that it looks like something off of aliex bc it probably is lmao. ive ordered hanfu off of aliex that give the same kind of costume-y vibes. i still think she looked a lot better than most of the other queens on the runway tbh. people are talking about how it would have looked nicer if it was steamed/ironed/pressed but i think it was, it's just that THAT type of fabric wrinkles with so little effort it probably got a little janky before she hit the runway.

You can’t say Scarlett’s looks expensive because it gave opulence and then say River’s didn’t.

That dress COULD have looked more expensive had it not been wrinkled up.

Nichele Rose

It looked like she was royalty which read to me as expensive

AngelusBuffy

It was a stunning representation of her rich culture, however it did not complete the the task by looking over the top expensive. She didn't look cheap, just not expensive And that is why it is reading cheap on the runway.

Everything but that shoe looked expensive

Gabe

Girl no. That was a styled up fit from Ali Express. I say that as a working queen with a closet full of cheap shit from Amazon that looks nice. She looked gorgeous, did phenomenal in the challenge, and werked it out on the runway. That dress wasn’t expensive tho.

Marc Marcs

I think it couldve used some more sparkle…

Moira Rose

Concept? Yes. expensive. Execution? Questionable. I think it just honestly mostly comes down to the choice of red fabric and the fact that red is difficult under TV lighting. It probably looked more expensive in person. But for me it was just the red fabric looking cheap, but again!! Probably not her fault, I'm assuming it was just the lighting. So yes and no.

Violet

It looked really expensive

This is the most correct answer. I’m American and it doesn’t look expensive to me but I gotta think that in other cultures wearing dead animals with suits probably doesn’t look expensive to them either.

Rolandilil

I honestly think this boils down to culture. The same way scarlet is using furs and suits to signify wealth, River is doing it with signifiers from Asian culture. So perhaps the effect is lost on Bob and Monet because they’re not as familiar with Asian culture?

Tye De Yoe

Nope. Gorgeous dress but didn’t look 🤑

Noelle

i think she looks expensive in the same way yall said scarlet lookes expensive. the fabric doesnt look that expensive but the look harkens back to images of what expensive is. she looks wealthy

Jadie

No

she didn't look expensive... beautiful tho.

does the outfit look expensive... the dress itself I think I would see regal people wear, it's not what you'd see a basic bitch wearing, so yes I think it looks expensive. the material and the finer details maybe not, but the look, just like Scarlet Harlet's, is an expensive high status look.

I was a bit torn. Parts of it looked expensive and I appreciate that from a Chinese cultural point of view it implies expensive, but the basic gown fabric didn't really look it to me...

I personally really like it but i can see what Bob and Monét is saying.

Giselle Fendi

wait but is it fashion

M

I’m south East Asian. The material looked very costumey.. that style of traditional costume is so much more intricate n luxurious in reality.

I’ve seen it done better but still love the concept

Dittochu

I'm south Asian, not south east Asian. But of someone came to a wedding looking like that I would be blown away thinking it's expensive. :o

Ynb

river ate.. could've got a badge honestly

g

the sleeves though

OWEN MCKINNEY

I see Bob's point that the material didn't look that expensive. I think the silhouette with those giant sleeves is what made it look expensive to me.

in the same way that scarletts looked expensive because you know the history behind the outfit, Rivers looked expensive. Did the fabric look expensive? no, but the outfit itself represents wealth

Rachel Claire Adams

YESSSSS, she looked so much more expensive then Scarlett!!!

Cora Gurry

umm yes it looks expensive and very regal.. and its definitely looks WAY more expensive than scarlett's basic ass cheap fake fur coat...

pyxis

The colors represent wealth and I think that was giving the category. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive to represent expensive? Like it would be a really tacky category if it was just like “spend every dollar you have on this one”. So interpreting it like River did as a representation of wealth with symbols from her culture is cool

Mae Knight

I do think cultural connotations of what looks expensive differ a LOT. I'm from India and a lot of our expensive garments can often be very "gaudy" by western standards of opulence, for example. Coming from such perspectives I completely thought that river looked expensive, but I can see why it wouldn't seem that way from western aesthetics.

Stan R

I said the same thing for the same reason, especially when you consider how Choriza interpreted the challenge. Gold Rush immediately connotes rich or money, not expensive. There's a difference.

Joanne Robertson

It didnt though, but that's okay she's just starting out. River however does have a good eye, and I'm sure will evolve beautifully

Xandii We

YALLL, can you please do a podcast episode about running drag shows/hosting and just drag shows in general? Like crazy stories you have, stuff not to do. TY!

Carlos Solorio

looked like asian royalty to me. so it looks expensive.

Rinni

Can you two, or at least one of you, talk about Drag Race Canada? I’m loving it. Even if you don’t do a full review, maybe do a little ten minute review in your Drag Race UK watcheries.

Yes! For the culture that is what expensive mean. It isn't just expensive within the western culture.

jessica bw

There's a definite strain of $$ elitism on Drag Race. Queens lucky enough to have the finances can create gorgeous looks without a doubt. And just like the larger society, fancier and more expensive can mean "better" to some people. It feels funny judging people because they aren't well off.

Debby Randolph

But... it isn't well known. Everyone isn't Asian or interested in ingesting knowledge related to those culture.

How is cultural relevance expensive?

That's a really odd question. Like, yeah, they probably would, if they were competing on their seasons with the same people they competed with. There were multiple girls on Bobs season with more elevated wardrobes than she had at the time and she still won.

The more money some queens can invest, sets a level of those on a budget. It seems to be worth the investment now, as some looks are just so high quality and well-designed. A good seem stress can just scrape by on a budget, but is drag in 2021 just acrobatics and an expensive wardrobe? Would either of you win drag race as 2021 as first time contestants on your original budgets? Actually, that's a better poll for the 2 of you?

yes it looked so expensive. it reminded me of chinese eleganza

Beautiful, elegant, fierce? Yes. Expensive? Sorry, no.

I think to be fair, at first glance I could see some of what Bob was saying, but River SOLD it to me. I was almost crying at the end she looked so beautiful and proud 😭❤️

RefriedBeansUK

Did anyone's?? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Shit, Tina Burner could've had a chance with this crew! Maybe they knew they weren't getting a badge, so they didn't put in the extra effort for the look? Probably the most disappointing episode of DR in a while. Even Ru wasn't feeling it.

Knightslion

She looked regal/royal which conveys expensive implicitly, so I think she looked expensive

I think river looks expensive simply bc her culture values those colors like she said as expensive

Jas

The fact that this was such an issue for this podcast that a poll was posted says a lot about the taste level of some of the siblings…and not in a good way. River looked expensive. Period. No poll needed.

Tia Kofi’s rich uncle

Even if the material itself didn't look expensive, I don't think that should count too much against her. I don't think having more money for expensive fabrics should put you at an advantage here

For me, she looked amazing and was my fave runway look BUT I think the material didn't look good on camera and therefore didn't like look expensive. I do think depending on the photo and angle it did, but the runway didn't give this outfit the best showing because of the lights and material. But, assignment met and she looked gorgeous and probably the most expensive on the runway.

Monifa

Everyone knows what the look is referencing. The head piece itself and gown style gives a hint that is suppose to be a royal gown. The finishing and materials looked cheap, the idea was good, but it didn't look expensive. Kahmora Hall Dragon Outfit, Jujubee AS5 Finale Look, Plastique Tiara Finale look, those look expensive. If you were to put River next to the previous 3 queens I mentioned, River's look would look like a custome from party city.

Speaking as someone that is both East and South East Asian, I was so proud of what River did. She was royalty.

Francis Nelson

The only Nope for me was the inexplicable pink shoe! But red and gold always denote wealth, which is why kids get toy (and real) money in red envelopes. I thought Scarlett’s suit looked like it came from Next! I also thought Crystal’s catsuit with visible nipples was plain lazy and she should have been the house down. The lip sync was one of the best I’ve seen, Scarlett was genius and Charity plain awful, ugh!

Kate

naur

SaltyPepper

There's a lot of little of things that makes River's look cheap, like the fabric choice and how the phoenix looks glued to the garment. Expensive to me is looks custom made with a high attention to detail. If we wanna compare Asian culture inspired looks, in Kahmora, Plastique, Priyanka and Jujubee's garments the materials used, the embroidery, the beadwork, every single inch, the back and front, from the top of the head to floor - and in Kahmora's case few feet down the floor too - are all perfect. River's just kinda stops at the hip. Also, each of their garments are all from different Asian cultures so references doesn't really need to be taken into account anyway I do like her runway the most on this episode tho

I mean, expensive is relative. As a broke ass student, yes it looked expensive!

It looked so expensive going after Choriza

Memohh

The thing about River's look is that it was a cultural reference. Anyone who has seen a Chinese or Japanese historical fantasy will immediately recognize the look as royalty, especially the headdress. It wasn't just the look, it was also the way she delivered it on the runway. So yes, it looked expensive as hell. Bob said something about Scarlett's look evoking a memory or referencing something expensive, but I think Bob & Monet are just not familiar enough with east Asian culture and media to understand River's reference as well. I got it, and I loved it, and it was by far the most expensive look on the runway.

Not expensive , the look is beautiful but the fabric / material is giving spirit halloween

bella bunni

After y’all compared kahmoras look I understand 100% the difference. River looks amazing but, expensive is more like her promo look!

FatKellyP

she was a literal princess. of course she was expensive!

Ben C

If Scarlett’s outfit looked expensive to Bob and Monet, idk how River’s or Charity’s didn’t. Both of their garments were better than Scarlett’s.

Expensive no, well made and beautiful yes. Expensive and nice are not mutually exclusive

mostly just compared to everyone elses

Jaenell

Shoulder up yes

Alan Alcaraz

I legit don’t understand how anyone could vote no…. Says a lot about taste level.

Kevin Anthony

doesn't look like the most expensive garment ever made. but it does look like it cost a coin. i think she understood the assignment. it def does NOT look cheap. don't do that. 😂

Swankk e. Smalls

i think the prompt the girls got was probably not “expensive” but “money” since so many of em had legit just money on their outfits 🤔 thought river looked gorgeous

Okay but 99% of y’all saying it didn’t look expensive can’t afford to buy what she was wearing sooooooo lmao

It looked expensive in comparison but stand-alone it doesn’t look expensive at all. IMO

If you said no, you hate Asians. (Jk, Kimora)

i hear ya. but its tough because expensive fabrics are, well, expensive. i personally think All Stars is the time to expect big budget outfits because the queens have a bit more money and/or can borrow from the network of queens they now have from being on the show. i think river's looked well-made and she was beautiful <3

compared to the others, yes. alone? mmmm not very. i think it’s mostly because of the fabric

She looks more expensive than some of the other queens did. 😆😆

Juan Quinonez

yes. she was one of the few dressed expensive enough to go to a high priced event

At first glance yes but then you look at it and the glitter looks interesting to say the least

Quentin.

It doesn't look expensive. The idea behind was nice but the materials looked cheap. I think as well people in general are afraid to say something looks cheap when it's a traditional/ethnic outfit because we live in very sensitive times.

1312 votes. Sorry i cant vote, it’s perfect

Ben C

Red and gold doesnt make it expensive :/

Sage

Out of all the looks yes but they all looked cheap really

Michael Gonzalez

Loved the story, hated the look :(

i definitely think it’s fabric that made it look cheap for me

In comparison to the rest, for sure! But she could have gone a little further with it

Angieeee

it could have looked more expensive but outta the bunch, it was definitely one of my favorites

Isabella Kelley

I think that’s the best explanation ever.

Andrew F

It's a cheap version of what that outfit would look like

River seems really hypersensitive to online critiques so I wouldn't fuck with her like this. Unless this is Monet just looking to cook up some more drama. XD

Marchmain

in comparison to the others, yes.

Kevin R

It looked GREAT. I loved it, the outfit as a whole was an expensive concept. It served expensive. But for some reason the fabric looked like low/mid price fabric, even the detailing looked like budget detailing. Again, it looked great and the concept was expensive... but the quality of the fabric and details made it look less pricey.

ARCHER

Satin always looks cheap in light like those.

Gailan Gray

I definitely think the materials could be upgraded to improve the design but I don't think drag queens need to go 40K in debt to be on the show so I do think the gown was beautiful and fit the description of the runway well enough.

Marchmain

My immediate reaction was “oh…it looks cheap” in terms of the fabric and construction. Not the styling.

Now I never thought about it like that. River's imagery evokes the same sense of opulence and luxury that Scarlett's did. Fair.

Joanne Robertson

I think of it as how much of the event cost to attend. Crystal's outfit was a $20 event, Rivers was a $200 or $300 event. Nobody was at the met gala.

It was pretty. I believe that the brief description the queens received might have said money as opposed to expensive

Joanne Robertson

Define expensive cause I feel like that’s not really the same for everyone, I do think she looks beautiful.

Nah it looks cheap

Devon Hunt

Yall are acting like it's not known that gold/red are known as wealth in Asia 💀💀💀 it's well known but this look, when looking at the fabric, doesn't look very expensive. She looks amazing, but the fabric does not, if the fabric was better it would've looked expensive. Her photo on insta makes the fabric look better so on insta it looks great and expensive, but on the runway you can see the fabric doesnt look the best.

David Rocha

I know its bizarre but I love Choriza

Team bob

It looks like an expensive garment from her culture, I think it's beautiful

Don’t call me out pls

My Name Is Jose

Nah. It was pretty, but it looked inexpensive.

EscApie

It was pretty, it was not "EXPENSIVE"

Sean

the headpiece was EXQUISITE

mariah beth

did anyone this week actually look expensive though

Calvin Maragnano

she is not Kahmora Hall

You lot are poor

THANK YOU

It didn’t look cheep but I definitely wouldn’t say it looked expensive

I see lots of people logged on to Beyonce's internet today and decided to lie

i don’t think it looks cheap, i think it’s a little racist of us to make judgements based on our western views. none of us are totally familiar with what would be considered expensive or luxurious in eastern cultures, regardless of what other RPDR girls have done.

seals 🦭

The garment is beautiful but the base fabric looks like cheap tent material.. and honestly I do think the girls that choose cultural outfits, do so with the confidence of knowing no one is going to be hypercritical.

Like who looked expensive honestly

it's rich... in culture

Yes and River should have won the challenge

Not what I would immediately think of for expensive but I get that her idea was royalty which is expensive. Still a good look. I don’t know why the queens didn’t lean into more cruella/old money type looks or even Kim k or Beyoncé.

Sarah Kat

More expensive than a lot of other girlies

Kim, Gia, and Yuhua have each presented expensive looking traditional East Asian fashion. Yall really think it looks like River spent the same amount as Yuhua's finale look? Kim's Crazy Rich Asian look? Or Gia's variety show look?

Amaru Lewis

Y'all are just saying what the judges said. The headpiece was small and had mardi gras beads and the embroidery looked small and alone and could have been more ornate.

Jalapeño Popstar

That's not what is being asked.

Short answer: No Long answer: … No

DeShawn (@frootytreblez)

Was it expensive? Probably not. Did it look expensive? Yes.

GioB.

Its a no from me because after Kamora Hall and juJubee, i just dont see the glamor.

Tara

They're signs of wealth I agree, but an outfit being red and gold doesn't immediately make it look expensive I feel

David Rocha

The fabric looks noisy. It's a no for me.

Adriana

The fabric did not look expensive. Looks like fabric used in a lot of cheap Halloween costumes. Though she did look great.

yarpyarp

I don't think they're incorporating the cultural component, yall cant tell me this isn't giving rich East Asian

It’s a no from me.

Deepfriendofthepod

If you vote no, you're uncultured. Legally

Ian Pimental

I got what the message behind the outfit's color's (red and yellow) signified wealth in traditional south east asian culture. I thought it was a unique interpretation and touching tribute to her culture

Keenan Murray

She looks absolutely beautiful but I don’t see it as expenny hennyyyyyyyy

Lauren Tunstall

compared to the other girlies she was expensive as all hell

Now y’all know better than to have a poll about this.

Darrin Brown

As someone who sews drag costumes. That outfit looked more expensive them all of them combined. Yardage an apliqued ain't cheap

No, The Fabric Looks Cheap Like Does She Look Good? Yes But Does She Look Expensive? No. The Headpiece Though Looks Somewhat Expensive

Justin Bruce

yes and the red and gold color reminded me of money envelopes from chinese new year

River just needed finer materials, but she was also referencing images of opulence like Scarlet just not through a western perspective

It was expenny but not like couture expenny. It was more theatrical costume expenny

Yuhua did it first and better!!

Bilal

It didn't look cheap but it didn't look very expensive either

R

Bob and Monet raving about Scarlett as the western view of expendy, ignoring the eastern view of expendy... shady

The Idea of it, Yes! The actual Fabric Choices made it a No

Kyle David

she looks amazing but if it was a more expensive fabric/material that would have been better

eddie

I thought it was pretty. But the fabric doesn’t scream expensive. This look in a more expensive fabrics would be even more amazing than it is now.

She looked pretty good😗

The shade 😩😩

Makeema

wait how all yall here within a minute 😭😅

Cleo Lepolo-Gaines

The fabric by itself, no. But with the construction of the garment and the styling (makeup, hair and THAT HEADPIECE !!!!), the full look did read as expensive

Daniel Massarani

She looked like asian royalty but yes she could look richer

Fräulein

River looked like a queen, royalty are rich, therefore she looks expensive

Will

i’m not in the live but YES

Riky

I saw the look and it was expensive

this is soooo messy 😂

The embroidery was luxe imo.

in theory, yes

Owen

Girl no

soCreigh

y’all are shady 😭

benjamin surrette

Red and gold is a sign of wealth.

I thought it looked expensive

Bob is right, River looks great, but the fabric of the dress and the material of the gold ascents do not look expensive.

David Rocha