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Miranda Levitt

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occupation: student, actress, musician, and manager of the clothing line Veda

“People should never underestimate the power of being reckless, spontaneous, and carefree. I think we lose that as we get older and become more aware of how precious life is. But I hope to look back on my life and never say ‘I wish I had done that.’” Miranda Levitt

I couldn’t be more with Miranda that long and flowy is the new jean. She literally takes my breath away for the way she captures hippie meets Victorian in the most cosmopolitan sense, with her floor-length floral French chiffon skirt from the ’20s, Kiki De Montparnasse bloomers (hidden, but so there), thick black tights, navy Shetland Miu Miu sweater, waist-length black hair, and pale skin. At times, she imagines herself with a long train held by the perfect antique “ringed” hand (much like her own, with her heirloom family ring worn everyday) and possibly a Gothic mourning necklace with a lock of hair that is a hundred-years-old. Miranda is from a family of performers, actors, and singers, both of which she is, though she is currently focusing on acting. Life is her stage, and right now she is passionate about the electricity of NYC (despite her love of nature). Although Miranda’s Manhattan is of many eras – there’s the 2010 “very Miranda” leather jacket with fur trim, and then the Pre-Raphaelite Miranda, in hooded velvet cape that makes her feel as if she is part of a secret old world society, where “women never lift a finger” and are always in heels.

To learn more about Miranda, click on the detailed captions page.

If you like Miranda, you might also enjoy Jordan Robin, Alessandra Calabi, or Carly Mark.


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Paul Alexander

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occupation: artist and singer in The Ones

“I love Vivienne Westwood’s idea that you can take anything and wear it, and make it your passion.” Paul Alexander

Imbued with the exotic grace and the thoughtful attitude of a muse in a Modigliani painting, Paul who is well versed in the past couple of decades of New York street fashion, humbly spoke of his present love of quality workmanship and the virtue of expensive clothes. My eyes were darting back and forth between his oversized Indian cuffs embellishing both upper arms, layers of indigenous necklaces, and denim clogs from Israel. Paul was in design school with another promising young talent named Marc Jacobs, but ended up instead a musician in his band The Ones and with a hit single Flawless. A true veteran, who gets the importance of cut and silhouette, he believes strongly in investing in prized pieces slowly rather than constantly buying and throwing out less significant purchases – “a hundred years ago things were hand made and treasured.” Paul can interchange his flawless reserves and always reflect his distinctly multifaceted self, like pairing Commes des Garcon’s “perverted” take on the preppie madras plaid blazer or an asymmetrically draped Vivienne Westwood striped t-shirt with his spectacular African beaded necklaces. However, you will never see him in the same visual explosion of his plaids, stripes, color, textures, and interesting take on proportion twice – “a different day, a different way to put it together.” White Doc Martens, black leather sleeves, cut-off pants with hose, an orange lace top, a necklace that he made by wrapping acid colored scarves in string, and his favorite short sleeve jacket, this is Paul all grown-up, “being an individual,” but not trying to be too much on the “outside.” I can only imagine how extraordinary the outfits were in the ’80s at the parties of his legendary friend Keith Haring, one of which was where Madonna debued Like a Virgin.

To learn more about Paul, click on the detailed captions page.

If you like Paul, you might also enjoy Freddie Leiba, Carlyle Hanson, or Justin Guinta.


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Kristine Barilli

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occupation: DJ, student, and musician

“I am obsessed with anything from London in the late ’70s, Seditionaries, Anton LaVey, black metal, Clockwork Orange, anything black, anything dead, the New Atlantis by Francis Bacon, Bas Jan Ader, anyone crazed and creative.” Kristine Barilli

I always leave a SLU shoot inspired by a tip or idea. In Kristine’s case, it was many things, but the one I followed through on was the Rick Owens onesie (birthday present to myself). She fully convinced me of its worthiness for every day and every occasion (you could sleep in it or wear it for black tie), which is pretty much how Kristine always dresses. She despises Halloween, because for her, every day is an organic expression of “dressing up” as she feels. It’s all about her uniform of all black (never jeans) and an architectureal silhouette. You might see Kristine walking to the corner bodega in her only vintage piece, an ostrich feathered bolero, inspired by her ultimate style hero Brian Eno, or in one of her cutting-edge pair of boots to the gym. She actually works out in her favorite band T shirt that she wears all the time, Suicidal Tendencies, and reluctantly caved into purchasing sneakers, but the closest ones to her armory of wedges. Admittedly hardcore about her passion for music (she is habitually either djing or home researching bands and songs), she is equally driven to perfection with her impeccable futuristic goth wardrobe.

To learn more about Kristine, click on the detailed credits page.

If you like Kristine, you might also enjoy Antino Crowley, James Gillespie, or Becka Diamond.


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Chase Cohl

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occupation: headdress maker, poet, singer, and songwriter

“Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario is my favorite place in the universe. Something about the silence that you witness in the evenings in Algonquin, the simplicity of existence there, life is at its most naked. The water is the clearest you could ever swim in, the nights are the darkest you’ve ever seen, being that close to bare earth is truly ethereal.” Chase Cohl

Chase’s goal is to “remain childlike in her creativity…and among other things to find a good man and have 9 children and pet wolves and live in the woods.” Based on her recent move outwest and the magical world that she has manifested there, it seems as though her fairytale is coming true. Chase’s style is a lifestyle in the truest sense, everything in her world is a reflection of her imagination and visions. Her particular infatuation for Native American culture can be seen in everything from her thesis in college (native culture, poetry, and religion) to the teepee in her backyard (she loves forts) to her authentic “slave” turqouise and silver bracelet (will give you a heart attack) to her perfect smushy suede vintage boots that she wears with everything either high or low (refreshingly timeless). Chase has such a strong sense of her aesthetic that there isn’t anything in her closet but dresses and none that she doesn’t feel great in, as long as they are worn “her way” made “dirty and rugged”. And she doesn’t wait for someone to make it happen for her. Much as Chase loved the Big Apple, she yearned for the nostalgia of 60’s rock and roll (check her reference to the documentary Groupies), a sense of community with enough city, but more nature, so she re-rooted across the country. Chase has also started her own business of making the over-the-top fantasy accessories that she wears and loves (Littledoe), for the public to own. The idea being that anything done from one’s passion has the power to influence, who said dreams don’t come true?

To learn more about Chase, click on the detailed captions page.

If you like Chase, you might also enjoy Liza Thorn, Jordan Betten, or Julie Kauss.


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Fatima Al Qadiri

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occupation: musician and artist

“[My favorite thing about fashion is] its capacity to transform. For instance, moldy ducklings into randy swans, and vice versa.” Fatima Al Qadiri

Fatima was born in Senegal and grew up in Kuwait. Her adolescence in the early ’90s was right after the first Gulf War and during a very conservative time where she and her sister were in the house and had nothing else to do but draw and make music. “My entire adolescence was like an internal existence, because we couldn’t go out. I can count on both hands the amount of times I went out alone, it was really hardcore.” Fatima remembers reading a lot of avant garde magazines like I.D. and The Face, and attributes some of that exposure to her present interest in fashion. A minimalist in every sense of the word, from her understated and modest demeanor to her chicer than chic short haircut, those insular days seems to have contributed to creating a thoroughbred of taste. The feeling of always being an outsider in her home country has worked for her style-wise. Fatima has one of the best-kept secrets around – she is able to uncover some of the most state-of-the-art designer pieces in her hometown of Kuwait for 90% off because they are underappreciated there. Thus her couture Yohji Yamamoto skirt for $20, that someone stopped her on the street about, alerting her to the that fact that there were only 10 to 15 ever made. I love her sense of the impact that the subtleties make, like buttoning her shirt all the way up, not wearing jewelry, and her appreciation of the ultimate WilliWear trench (she is a first on SLU to have something from this design icon). Fatima achieves in her dress, in my opinion, the perfection of balance between feminine and masculine and thus is an emblem of our times in her dashing androgyny. I can’t help but see the comparison of how equally iconic her youth was as a teenager, locked indoors in a Middle Eastern war-torn country.

To learn more about Fatima, go to the captions on the detailed page.

If you like Fatima, you might also enjoy Malcolm Harris, Adia Tischler, Lux Leekley,
or Erik Bergrin.


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