.The Sky’s the Limit for Jenny Dee Young of JenDee Designs

This episode is an update. It has been two years since my last sit down with sentient rainbow Jenny Dee Young. Our last interview was formal, occasioned by the much lamented closure of “Disguise the Limit”—that costume shop, customs shop, freak stop, and joy spinner owned and operated by Jenny and her wife—the hair stylist, Heather Young. 

This interview was arranged by happenstance, at a gay bar birthday party. It was carried on in snatches shouted over music as a super massive sound system played our ear drums like war toms. 

I gathered Jenny Dee Young had refocused on her design brand, mostly because she was vending at this club-hosted event. There, right behind her, was her table, with presentations of her signature “GLAM-danas,” faux-fur reversible bucket hats, booty-shorts and “Scoodies” (scarf-mitten-hoodies), which chase her aesthetic hero, Lisa Frank, out onto the dance floor. Breaking off to dance, we continued our conversation in the white quiet of email space. 

Cincinnatus Hibbard: Darling, what have you been up to all this while? 

Jenny Dee Young: After closing Disguise the Limit in 2023—a bittersweet goodbye to a store that was more like a living art installation and a community hub—I gave myself permission to evolve. But truthfully, I never stopped creating. 

Even while running the shop, I had my own line, JenDee Designs, quietly blooming in the background. My handmade pieces are playful and functional—GLAM-danas that double as cooling wraps and flow toys, clip-on ears and my signature stash tails, which are cleverly designed as wearable tails that are themselves stash pockets, sometimes with remote-controlled LED lights inside… 

I saw video of you working a flaming bull whip at an underground fashion show. That was fearsome. 

The closing of the store also gave me space to return to performance, a deep part of my artistic identity. I started go-go dancing in my 20s in the queer clubs of L.A. After double hip surgery in 2020, I’ve stepped back into the spotlight—dancing once more in my late 40s with more fire than ever … literally (laughs). 

Ha. I understand that your wife, Heather, has had a health struggle herself… 

Heather … she’s not just my partner; she’s my best friend, and right now she’s suffering more than ever from severe rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease, osteoporosis and anemia. Her everyday pain at levels ranges from seven to 10. A dear friend of ours—an angel in human form, really—encouraged us to do this fundraiser and reminded us that Heather is so worthy of healing and support.

Tell us about the fundraiser. 

It’s really a community-powered love letter to Heather. We’ve got an amazing lineup of local DJs, including DYOPS, Josh Retro Porter, Ryu and Charley Madrid Mora. There will also be a dance performance by Lindsay LaRue. The energy’s going to be incredible. And, of course, I’ll be vending as JenDee Designs, alongside my dear friend, Amae Love Designs. 

There will also be a silent auction with art, vintage treasures, handmade goods and services all donated by friends, artists and community members. Plus we’ll have a pool tournament, bingo (because why not?) and games with prizes—all designed to keep things joyful while raising the funds Heather needs. 

Thank you, Jenny. 

Love and light till we ignite. 

Learn more. The health benefit for Heather Young is being held at The Redwood Underground  in Santa Rosa, 7pm to 2am, beginning Saturday, Aug. 2. 

Follow @jendeedesigns or @theredwoodunderground to learn more about the event. Check out Jenny Dee Young’s prismatic designs at jendeedesigns.com

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