Quad Style: Allan Lake
Meet Allan Lake, a fourth year Visual Arts and Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies double major. On campus he’s involved with OBS (Organization of Black Students), and in his free time he enjoys making art and pursuing photography.
What are you wearing for this shoot?
Fit one is my casual, work vibe. I’m wearing Levis blue denim, a denim shirt, dark walnut Timberland boots and a Deko Workman's jacket. Fit two is my eccentric look. I’m wearing white chino pants, 1/4 button up shirt, a white lightweight jacket, a Gucci Mane Le Flaire Ice Cream Hat, Reebok Classics and a Cancer Medallion.
How would you describe your personal style?
I would describe my personal style as either practical and [informed by] classic looking workers' wear, or loud and proud and all about the fits that just show off a plethora of things on a budget.
Where do you find style inspiration?
My style inspirations come from classic imitations of labor jobs and every glow-up scene a developing character has had. From Nerd to Noice.
Where do you like to shop?
I shop at like Sears and Target but also thrifts stores. I try and aim for [thrift stores] that have articles that aren’t typically in every store or stuff that’s a diamond among coals. Who knows what you will find in those kinds of stores.
Do you have any fashion regrets?
The biggest would be this cloak I got that doesn’t really fit any colors or styles I wear. It’s very blue and hand crafted so it’s nice but it doesn't fit the styles I wear.
What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?
My relationship to fashion is one that has definitely evolved over time but never lost its true form. I love to dress comfortably but still have a distinct style and make subtle flashes of high fashion for low prices (HFLP) into a everyday stunt.
Why is fashion important to you?
Fashion to me means any style or non-style that a person might wear being on display and amassing a group of people to agree, disagree or even change their own perspective and sense of style to show their relationship to those fashions… Every decision you make for a fit to convey a certain style can be fashionable, even if no one likes the colorway you got going on.
“Every decision you make for a fit to convey a certain style can be fashionable, even if no one likes the colorway you got going on.”
All images courtesy of Ashley Mao
