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Read MoreA Week of Looks: Gabby Kinlock
I have always been fascinated in the way people choose their clothing. They way they choose the colors that seem to represent them for that whole day, or even what drives people to have multiple outfit changes a day (myself included). This new series is one where I want to go on an exploration in the different ways people wear their clothes, what drives them to get dress everyday, and even how their day can totally be affected by their choices they make in front of their closet in the morning for an entire week (well the five days).
The first person I thought of to begin with was Gabby Kinlock, who is by far has one of the coolest styles of anyone I know. Gabby Kinlock is a first year in college, majoring in English. While their not in class, you can catch them getting their coin as a museum educator at the Smart Museum, writing for MODA, working with ACSA, OBS, Students Working Against Prisons, and UC United, or just loitering around Hallowed Grounds. Knowing Gabby personally, I wanted to explore more into what inspires their day to day, but I also wanted to delve into their head about how they truly feel about fashion.
Is there anything in fashion that scares you?
Nothing about fashion scares me anymore. Growing up in New York City has really afforded me confidence in developing a unique style. While I still get anxious over being started at and catcalled, I’ve started to take the unwanted attention as a moment of empowerment. My self-expression is a necessity that I could never sacrifice because of other people’s judgements or disapproval.
How can an outfit dictate your mood?
The flip side of fashion being so integral to my identity is that I find it hard to be in a good mood if I dislike the outfit I’m in. On several occasions, I’ve sacrificed precious time to go back to my dorm and do an out change if I’m not feeling my outfit. I’m also trying to be less materialistic and more eco-conscious about these habits, though.
How do your style choices change from day to day?
I’m non-binary, so dysphoria plays a large part in my day to day style choices. My identity of non-binary manifests in gender fluid ways —some days I code more masculine and some days more feminine, although I am always hundred percent neither. On my more ‘masc’ days, I go for straighter silhouettes —oversized and long, straight skirts or baggy pants. On my ‘femme’ days, I love wearing mini-skirts, babydoll dresses, band-tees and crop tops. A full face and platforms are always a staple. It’s important to recognize that no item of clothing or makeup us inherently gendered, and that the social constructs that dictate fashion are arbitrary.
Monday
What was your inspiration for Monday’s fit?
My inspiration for this outfit is my favorite film Heathers. It was my introduction to 80’s culture, and the fashion of that decade: shoulder pads, big hair, headbands, gaudy jewelry, and neon really struck me. I styled this outfit with my favorite decade in mind, and with the cold weather of the day, layers were a must.
I love the subtle dominatrix vibe of these Demonia boots. I originally got them for prom, but they’ve since become a winter staple piece. Completing the look with thick eyeliner and pink glitter shadow, I really felt like punked-up Veronica Sawyer at the end of the movie, having been dragged to hell and back.
Tuesday
What was your inspiration for Tuesday’s fit?
On Tuesday, my inspiration was another fashion icon of mine: Charli XCX, specifically in her True Romance era style. I remember watching the music video for her song “What I Like” in middle school and thinking: this is exactly what I want to look like when I’m 18. While my style has evolved a bit past the Tumblr pastel grunge she was serving in that video, I, for sure, adopted Buffalo Towers into my shoe collection. For weather practicality purposes and because of some feeling s of dysphoria, I opted for plaid pants in place of her iconic plaid mini-skirt, and a comfortable sweater I borrowed from a friend.
Like her makeup in the video, I did a dark cat-eye shadow, with some blue tones to match the tones of my outfit. I also wore a bike chain as a choker (because why not).
Wednesday
What was your inspiration for Wednesday’s fit?
Today, my fashion inspiration came from a very specific picture of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious of Sex Pistols’ fame. When I first started getting into punk music and trying to convey punk through my style, I admired Nancy’s incorporation of animal prints (specifically leopard) into her outfits. However, I’ve kind of run the whole leopard print thing into the ground, and I also don’t like the Sex Pistols very much. So, I’ve tried to reappropriate her style into something more my own. Hence, the excessive zebra print and pink. This Bauhaus is my favorite band tee, so I’d describe this outfit as more post-punk than punk.
Thursday
What was your inspiration for Thursday’s fit?
On Thursday, I was inspired by nothing more than the glistening of the snow and the beauty of the dress I bought off of Depop. Velvet maxi dresses are my secret weapon for surviving the cold. They are, surprisingly enough, great at trapping the heat from thermal leggings, and also hide thick socks and snow boots. This dress specifically has glitter detail that are stunning and a neckline that frames my shoulders in a way I like.
I listened to a lot of industrial music while getting ready, specifically this band I just discovered called Black Dresses, so I went for darker details to compliment the dress: a smokey eye and my spiked choker.
Friday
What was your inspiration for Friday’s fit?
For Valentine’s Day, I was feeling romantic and wanted to offset the punk of my outfit with some pink. I would consider this outfit a perfect blend of masculine and femme energies that I negotiate when I am considering an outfit. I borrowed this striped sweater from my roommate and matched it with my UNIF messenger bag again. I thrifted these crust pants years ago and have been (slowly but surely) handsewing DIY patches to them ever since. Since it was also a five degree day, I layered with some knee-length fuzzy striped socks and my snow proof Doc Martens.
I accessorized with these “The Clash” earrings gifted to me by someone special, sourced from Blasphemy Clothing on Etsy. I also matched my silver makeup with my horseshoe steel choker from Nasty Gem.
All Photos Courtesy of Yvonne Yu
Minimalist Fashion for Beginners
Although minimalism fundamentally extends to all aesthetics of life, fashion makes up a substantial part of it. We accumulate unnecessary and low-quality clothes every season and forget about them the following month. We buy the trendiest items, but never really know how to integrate them into our personal style. It all just gets very messy and, more importantly, very expensive. Minimalism offers a way to get rid of the excess in life, and concentrate on the beauties of what's at hand. Blogger theclassysimplelife describes this approach quite elegantly in her guide to minimalism:
"Minimalism and simpler living has helped me focus on abundance instead of lack, gratitude over fear, and quality over quantity."
The movement originated as a post-World War II Western art movement, mostly prominent among the American visual artists in the 1960s and 1970s, though it has since extended to other domains such as architecture and literature. For all fellow history-lovers: minimalism has been used to describe the plays and novels of Samuel Beckett, the films of Robert Bresson, the stories of Raymond Carver, and the automobile designs of Colin Chapman, and surely, Kasimir Malevich's Black Square.
Minimalism has its perks. Not only does it enable you to spend less time deciding on outfits given that every single piece is easy to mix and match, but you'll also spend less time shopping - only buying quality clothes that you are actually willing to wear. I'm not claiming that everyone should only own two pairs of jeans and five tees or anything, but an effort to target basic and quality pieces ultimately saves a lot of time, and enhances your overall style with minimal effort. Ideally, one would have a capsule wardrobe with items to match for any occasion, and a few statement pieces that can be very individualistic and personal when worn. Sounds enticing? Here are 5 essential pieces to start off your minimalist capsule wardrobe, and some outfit inspiration from my favourite female bloggers inspired by the minimalist style.
Denim Jacket
Denim jackets are great because thrifting them is super easy. It is not uncommon to find a vintage Levi's jacket in a simple thrift store for only 30 bucks. The versatile jacket can instantly make a bland outfit into a very cool one, and render your look more edgy with its structural features.
A Good Plain Shirt
Plain white shirts are key to clean and sleek looks. Your top can be a simple and cotton loose-fit t-shirt, but dressier shirts can also be adapted to everyday looks, and they are definitely favoured by many minimalist bloggers looking to add more sophistication to their style. The important part is finding out what kind of shirts you like. You should be considering things like the neckline, length and fit, and of course, the fabric. My go-to plain shirts have mostly been from Zara and Banana Republic, and my friends are still in awe with the variety of my white shirt collection.
The Little Black Dress
One is never overdressed or underdressed with a little black dress. Karl Lagerfeld, anyone? One little black dress can take you from a casual date night when paired with sneakers, to a sophisticated bar date when paired with heels and some make-up.
A Good Pair of Jeans
When deciding on which jeans to buy, it's a smart move to find a brand, style and size that suits you, and sticking to that particular fit. Dedicating a day to jeans-shopping usually does the trick. For a good pair of jeans and a good amount of variety, I'd recommend JBrand, Topshop, Madewell and Levi's. Jeans you feel comfortable in and can wear confidently on any given day are sure to be worth your money, so consider your priorities when you're in the changing room, and choose wisely.
White Sneakers
These shoes are bound to match any neutral-colour outfit, and are essential during the spring and summer time. Thank God for the 21st century. Adidas, Puma or Balenciaga, pick one and make sure to wipe them clean every now and then.
All images are taken from the following three minimalistic Instagram feeds:
@andicsinger, @harperandharley and @josefinehj
Feature image via
Dressing Classy: Fishnet Tights
Fishnet tights can add an edgy accent to any outfit, show some attitude, or work as a statement piece. But they can be tricky to style without looking over the top. Dip your toes into the trend (literally) with dainty ankle socks or go full on DIY layering for the ultimate sophisticated pinky look. And get yourself a pair of fishnet tights here to start experimenting new ways to spin this quintessential grungy trend.
For a put-together, but still rebellious look, layer your tights under ripped denim jeans, shorts or even a skirt. If you're confident in your DIY skills, you can always distress an old or thrifted pair of jeans and give them new life when paired with your fishnets. The most practical look this is not (hello chilly spring winds) but definitely packs a sartorial punch.
Alternatively, pair with high-waisted bottoms for a playful look that will show off your figure. Styling fishnet tights like this has been recently popularized by street style standouts like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, so it's definitely a supermodel-certified look!
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If you're less willing to commit to the whole look, opt for fishnet socks instead of tights. Throw on a pair of killer heels for a night out, or simply grab your favorite sneakers for a perfect day-to-day look that still has a little bit of edge.
Style Inspiration: Twin Peaks
2017 is finally here, and in the entertainment world at least, it already looks promising. There are many new movies, albums, and TV shows to look forward to, but one in particular has me very excited: Twin Peaks. Originally airing in 1990, the cult classic is making its comeback this year on Showtime. Without spoiling too much, Twin Peaks tells the story of a town struggling to investigate and cope with, the murder of one of its members, Laura Palmer, and the supernatural events that follow her death. Famous for its thrilling plot, eerie music, and beautiful cinematography, one thing that captivated me about the show were the outfits. While the 90's have been trending in the fashion world with items like chokers, slip dresses, and white sneakers, check out the character's outfits below to channel a different, and more winter friendly, version of this decade.
Donna Hayward
Audrey Horne
Shelly Johnson
Josie Packard
featured image via
Tunes and Trends: Kero Kero Bonito
Despite being a Wednesday night, Kero Kero Bonito’s fans packed into the Subterranean patiently waiting to jam out with the British, J-pop band. Starting off the show with a back and forth chant of their name, a composition of the Japanese onomatopoetic words for frog croaks and a type of fish, KKB didn’t have to do much more to hype up the crowd. Vocalist Sarah Midori Perry’s sweet but engaging voice flooded the crowded room as their fans eagerly sang and rapped along (some of the most dedicated even learned the Japanese verses) over producers Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled's bubblegum, electronic beats. Their lyric’s appraisal of originality and self expression was echoed through the set as Perry danced around the stage and even changed into a cap and gown for the song Graduation. The concert’s feel-good vibe can be summed up by Perry’s verse in their hit Flamingo, “You don’t need to change- It’s boring being the same- you’re pretty either way.” Scroll through the gallery to take a look at the show and some of my favorite outfits of the night.
Featured image via