StyleLikeU » Minimalist

Kaelen Haworth

Ramona_Canino — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:00:34 +0000

Never completely outrageous, but always in something you wouldn’t expect– an Alexander McQueen cream-coloured tunic or Charlotte Olympia uber-pumps with a mustard-ish plastic heel, Kaelen dresses with a certain knowing intelligence when it comes to clothes. Every piece matters, nothing is dispensable, and, in a Rick Owens cropped leather jacket, a skirt from The Row, and a pair of Martin Margiela’s chunky “Puss in Boots” boots, silhouette is everything. Aside from her matte red lipstick, which she points out is definitely “not her mother’s kind of shiny,” there are no insane patterns or color schemes. Kaelen’s art, personally and professionally, is subdued, always more of a whisper than a scream; “office-esque,” she calls it. Her concept of herself as a conservative dresser makes it all the more ironic that one of Kaelen’s friends wanted to dress up as Kaelen– for Halloween.

It is refreshing to come across a designer who doesn’t trumpet about wearing a single brand from head-to-toe. Instead, she supports the re-inventing and evolution of a single piece over time, the same way her favorite books take her on a sprawling journey. The characters are what make the novel, she says, discussing her current favorite, the enduring East of Eden, just like character “makes” her outfits, with a vintage poncho thrown over a Zero + Maria Cornejo black tunic dress. Of the earthy and refined knits of her own design, especially the extra-long cardigan that she wears with an Equipment blouse, she says, “My sweaters are three dimensional and very solid, like my Canadian heritage.” The bookworm that she is, Kaelen comes home from the bar at 4 AM and reads. She believes that art made with thought and intelligence outlasts trends and passing fads. Kaelen says, “Trends matter, in the sense that they’re relevant currently. But it also matters that they stay relevant to whoever buys them.”

If you love Kaelen, you may also like Natalie Toren, Karen & Sara Brown and Lindsey Thornburg.

Stacy Nikkila

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:26:39 +0000

“Boyish-type girls” like the iconic Jean Seberg are the ones who Stacy resembles and is drawn to, looking so simultaneously carefree and smart that it seems as though they spend no time on their hair or clothes. When she sees someone who looks uncomfortable in something that is supposed to be sexy, she gets uncomfortable for them and it doesn’t appear sexy or glamorous to her – AMEN. Stacy will take her “shapeless,” understated and easy on the eyes bubble dresses any day and she exudes an effortless confidence in them. She will never subscribe to a flip flop or an open-toe shoe, always deferring to black tights and the enduring flat like Edie Sedgwick, even in the sweltering heat of Phoenix, where she worked in advertising and was the only one in a vest and long sleeve shirt, channeling Mad Men.

Stacy describes getting scouted for this site in a uniform that’s her style though she did not choose it as an “odd” chapter in the mental chronicling of her life. In the words of the writer that she is, she says, “I thought about the [coincidence] just in terms of a narrative, and what I do when I dress each day, it too is a uniform… but for me it’s really mostly about function, like building something everyday.” Her work uniform, which she wears at her job at the magic-filled Boom Boom Room, is a mod, boxy, white satin dress that evokes a nurse from The Jetsons. In it, Stacy feels that serving cocktails is more about cinema and ambiance, like stepping onto a stage. “In terms of style, when I tried on that uniform, I knew that I was meant to work there for a while.”

She is currently writing a book about her experience at what is one of New York’s hottest clubs on top of The Standard Hotel, with its 360-degree view of Manhattan and curated cast of characters. That, and every day since she arrived in New York City two years ago, has comprised the best chapter of her life. Known to be a floater and a loner, having the freedom to move on is what propels Stacy forward. Whether it’s leaving her hometown of Portland to go to Tuscon – she drove her car spontaneously into the middle of the desert to get out of the rain – or purging her closet of excess clothing so that she could make peace with living in the confines of a NYC apartment.

What remains in Stacy’s wardrobe would give anyone a sigh of relief with its trendless function and class. Among her pieces are heritage brands that are simple, utilitarian and not loud, like her ex’s Converse and the exemplary pair of Levi’s, or a vintage cashmere plaid coat with a built-in scarf. There isn’t a bit of waste or glut to be found and lots of breathing room for reading her coveted short stories while beginning a new life as the author of her own novel. Always harkening back to something utilitarian while chic, the experience is key for Stacy, whether it’s the relationship she’s developed with owners of Out of the Closet, her favorite vintage store in Bridgehampton, or her fantasies of dressing for the airport in the ’60s, hatboxes in tow.

If you love Stacy, you may also like Hannah Dilworth, Kim Johnson and Sarah Hamilton.

Kevin Hwang

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:01:17 +0000

Kevin is the thinking man’s lover of traditional clothes. He both dislikes the unconscious worship of comfort over being conscious enough to look unique – there’s a difference between the Margiela or original utilitarian chino and subsequent sea of average derivatives – and the blind value of extravagance over substance, in other words flash over quality and craftsmanship. On the style of American men, Kevin says, “Everything has to be easy and convenient. They just want to throw on clothes and get out, so everything has to be fast. That shouldn’t always be the case. … It’s not that hard to do it, to have everyone meet a certain standard of being presentable.”

A big fan of Maison Martin Margiela for their design innovations, Kevin appreciates the way they make a garment with just one seam and the fashion house’s use of satire, like his cut-up blazer. Similarly, the message of his medieval dragon tattoo is that you can turn ordinary objects into something more precious. Kevin does so with the touch of his crystal and suede medallion necklace paired with a basic crew neck knit top, his perfectly worn dove gray Converse sneakers, a pair of charcoal socks peeking out from a black ankle boot or a strappy brown sandal and rolling your pants up just right so that you can see the subtle detail.

Kevin is consistent with his more of less style, just as he listens to the same song over and over and eats the same food, making his ability to distinguish himself from the crowd that much more skillful and considered. Bill Maher said recently on Real Time that convenience is the downfall of America – I agree.

If you love Kevin, you may also like Philip Crangi, Robbie Baauw and Daniel Peddle.

Nina Stotler

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:13:27 +0000

When I do these interviews, I have found myself just as interested, if not more so, with what informs our muses as what they are wearing. For example, it is not a coincidence that Nina subscribes to minimal color, clean silhouettes and photography with spare landscapes, and has enough space in her head to read volumes of profound literature. Until recently, she was a purveyor of trends for forecasting companies, which led her to opt out of the overstimulation of fashion fluctuations in favor of a very considered wardrobe that is interchangeable and that she can pack in a carry on in fifteen minutes.

Of her own writing Nina says, “I find the prospect of realizing a narrative and visual concept really exciting, like the creation of a small fleeting world that really communicates who you are.” The spare, rhythmic sentences of Joan Didion’s writing are an influence on Nina, as is the distinctly handsome and beautiful phenomenon of Tilda Swinton. Like them, Nina’s image is a manifestation of her monochromatic mood with her striking platinum hair and white pieces, including a leather Junya Wantanabe motorcycle jacket, Uniqlo jeans and Phi booties. Being understated and distinct at the same time is not easy to achieve. Nina’s oversized chambray shirt with the quest-ending over the knee black boots could stop traffic with its suggestion of a timeless classicism that is provocative but tasteful.

If you love Nina, you may also enjoy Fatima Al Qadiri, Celia Ingesson and Natia Dune.

Lindsey Caldwell

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:50:50 +0000

I was drooling listening to Lindsey’s stories about her experience in Atlanta’s rich, underground music scene during the ’90s. She recalls what is now, sadly, an almost extinct phenomenon: sweaty nights of dancing at low-key clubs with ratty sofas, where people like Erykah Badu, Andre 3000, India Arie or Chilli might pop in and sing. Lindsey says, “Everyone wanted to know everyone… everything was a mix… it wasn’t pretentious.” For Lindsey, it was in this environment that she fell in love with drums and beats and rave and learned to be a skilled DJ, the kind with two turntables who knows how to blend songs and genres. In order to make her own imprint as a DJ, Lindsey moved to NYC with hundreds of vinyls in tow. It was while living on St. Marks Place that her drums and beats identity morphed into something solely her own, the long-running Negroclash night in NYC. The party was “a celebration of the African-American contribution to electronic music, it was a little bit electronic, soul classics, some top forty and hip-hop, both current and contemporary.” Personal style is Lindsey’s middle name, whether it’s expressed through music or clothes. From a Minnie Mouse sweatshirt to high-waisted jeans and a fedora to a Marc Jacobs demure silk dress, she appears in her clothes as she does in life – humble and distinct. I love how Lindsay describes authentic DJing as equivalent to passing down a family recipe. The knowledge of music gets passed down and reinterpreted as something new and original, just like her.

If you like Lindsey, you may also enjoy Erica Yarbrough , Ugo Mozie, and Dalad Kambhu.

Terence Koh

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:38:42 +0000

StyleLikeU is an exploration into the minds and imaginations of visual thinkers, using style as the door through which we discover the roots of their creativity. Approaching Terence Koh’s door for our interview was a monumental turning point for me since launching SLU a year and half ago. He is notorious for his highly expressive and individual sense of dressing and is world-renowned for his out-of-the-box thinking and his challenging of cultural norms in his art. However, for Terence, art IS life. I was blown away earlier this year at MOMA where I saw his brilliant, daring and highly conceptual commentary on the power of ideas as told through his unique perspective on art history. He did this in the form of a lecture delivered completely in gibberish. As I was leaving to meet Terence, I anticipated that being in the presence of someone who I respect as deeply as him would render me speechless. However, when I arrived, it was he who was not talking. Terence had decided to stop speaking a few days before our shoot. While on the set of a shoot for Vogue, he noticed the power of communicating through a gesture and a smile. The challenge of doing a video interview on the stories behind Terence’s wardrobe without him speaking was initially extremely daunting. In the end, however, I realized that I could receive everything he had to offer in his silence. Terence, using the old-fashioned virtue of pencil and paper, validated all of my assumptions regarding the creative connection made between people when their hearts are open and their egos are left at the door. He saw my love of people and I felt in him the precision of mind that he had found in the quiet and his decision to wear only white for the rest of his life.

Christina Mannatt

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:16:14 +0000

I have been reminded over and over again that missing the Phi sample sale when the company closed was a bad mistake. Christina’s black, chunky ankle boots with buckles, and others like it, have popped up in a lot of SLU closets, and give me that “I wish I had a pair” feeling. They are edgy perfection and I love how Christina wears them with the modern take on a classic paper bag Shipley and Helmos shift dress. A little girly in her Marni garnet suede platform mary-janes, and a little tough in her worn Urban Outfitters red ankle booties, Christina has that irresistible charm of being both sweet and gutsy in taste and in life. In her, there is a genuine and almost innocent appreciation for experiencing new places and seeing the world, and at the same time, a strong inner voice and resolve that makes her do things in the moment, like move to New York, after deciding to leave her home town of Seal Beach, CA. Once in Manhattan, she ultimately landed a dream job as the Cultural Editor for Stylesight, a job that fits all of her qualities to the tee, in its use of seeking out the new and deciding what is important in trends. Christina is reminiscent of the Toulouse-Lautrec painting she has in her room, of a woman collapsed on her bed. Like the eternal iconography of the painting, Christina, in her boater hat, patent Lanvin pumps and thick long hair pulled to one side, captures the art of less-is-more and all things classic.

If you Christina, you may also enjoy Legacy Russell, Dalad Kambhu and Hannah Dilworth

Ansoni

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:05:31 +0000

Ansoni grew up in Japan, where the structure of rituals and traditions have played a role in shaping his ideals and his appreciation for the meticulousness of deeply rooted aesthetics. Grounded, like a modern day Buddha, with his warm and dreamy inner smile, he speaks fondly of the Japanese tea ceremonies of his childhood, “they follow the rules religously…certain colors, all the ornaments have to be in the right order.” Ideologies like these helped teach him to look at things holistically, while also creating his appreciation for detail. “I find in myself, whether it is getting dressed or making music… how clothes look as an entire composition not just from the front. I try to listen to my music in totally different scenarios.” By simplifying and eliminating, it is within the strict rules that Ansoni finds his focus and stride, including in his clothes. Underpinnings of crisp white shirts, fitted blazers with attached vests and sleeves pre-rolled up, and just the right combinations of shades from black to white are a constant, like OM. Focused and committed to “strict ideals,” there is an inner peace and wisdom beyond Ansoni’s young years, “it could be the way I dress, or paint, or compose..it’s important to filter what you are not interested in and have concentration.”

If you like Ansoni, you may also enjoy Fatima Al Qadiri and James Gillespie.

Shaun Ross

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:37:07 +0000

I think I will go with my favorite line that has been thrown at Shaun and try to pretend that the others were not said, which is, “oh my god he is everything!” Though he has had to suffer immensely for having Albinism, yet another sad embarrassement of the ignorance and fear of the egos of mankind, he, and others of any monority are here to bring us face to face with our ignorance and thus, evoke reactions that offer up some wisdom and give hope for some evolution of thinking, like this one. I have a personal identification with Shaun’s immunity to how people stare at him, because I have a gay son, who doesn’t see the homophobic glares coming at him from everywhere, but I do (let’s just say, he is my teacher in how he rises above, like Shaun does.) Shaun has a very supportive mom, “my mother always kept me going.” I looove how Shaun makes his rare and very defining characteristics a look that can only be his own. He is the antidote to the all too common bland homogeneity, with his Warhol shades, uber minimal use of black and clean lines and the touches of haute hip hop, like his RAD Chris Habana hat. With the way Shaun embraces his differences, he opens eyes and elevates consciousness.

If you like Shaun, you may also like Antino Crowley and Sah D’Simone.

Samuel Hindes

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:17:44 +0000

Samuel’s first single, I Heart NY, is blowing up. When I went to the apartment where he grew up to interview him, he was still in the perfecting stages of tweaking the most recent mixes. He told me that the songs won’t be done until he can go out to the store and buy the album or download it on itunes, “because then everyone else will be hearing it.” So, I guess they must be “done” now. This is really the story of the “underdog” rising. Unlike high school, where Samuel was kicked out, music is not an obligation, but comes from a love of storytelling and singing (“alot of the songs on the album are true” and are written by Samuel.) I love how he was “discovered”, kind of the old fashioned way. The label, “respected the fact that we started ourselves..It’s actually a pretty cool thing that everyone on our label has been like, ‘your collective… it’s very grassroots, it’s very us.’ We never had anybody tell us something that we couldn’t do.” Like his music, which is clean, simple and understated, so is his style. There is not an ounce of pretension, clothes are meant to be worn, get dirty, be comfortable and most of all, to be relatable. Samuel is “not a big fan of going over the top.”

If like Samuel, you may also enjoy Max Vernon, Lexie or Rachel Smith, and Justin Giunta.