Inside Born x Raised’s Annual “Prom for Bad Kids”

For the uninitiated, Sadie Hawkins Day (named for a character in the comic strip Li’l Abner) is traditionally a dance where women ask men, but for Born x Raised, the dance is about upending traditional gender roles in general. “We can always throw a party for guys standing around in T-shirts,” explained 2Tone of the decisively glamorous gathering. “But this [theme] creates a real vibe. It’s kind of become the unofficial Los Angeles holiday party where everyone gets dressed up to the nines and dances all night.”

At the party, literally hundreds of couples lined up for prom style photo ops, while others opted to lounge around the Roosevelt’s iconic pool (known for its David Hockney mural), or made their way into the Blossom Ballroom (site of the first Academy Awards) to drink and dance. “I wanted to give Los Angeles a party where they could all celebrate each other,” said Spanto in between seemingly endless hugs and fist bumps. “Every year it just gets bigger and bigger.”

With no shortage of star-studded fashion parties, Los Angelenos have a well-deserved reputation for being jaded, but all in attendance were won over by the evening’s authentic atmosphere. “It’s my first time here, but I’d heard about this party from my brother [Myles], who’s DJing tonight. He has been bragging about it for years,” said Shaqir O’Neal as he surveyed the scene, decked out in head-to-toe Vivienne Westwood. “It has the reputation as the best party of the year.” Other DJs included KCRW’s Mathieu Schreyer, Dâm-Funk and Zack Bia, who invited first-timer Winnie Harlow. “It’s very epic,” she said, as the crowd hit the dance floor. “It’s a real vibe.”