THE WARDROBE_REMIX(ER) BEING REVEALED:
name: V-STAR (haha)
flickr handle: I change it frequently. Right now it’s he looks at my
dick and then he says goddamn.
age: 12.24.1983
location: I live in a village in WI USA right now.
DEEP(ER) QUESTIONS:
what do you do for a living?
I’m an industrial designer working at a design consultancy. Current projects I’m working on include footwear and medical equipment. As far as personal work, I’m gestating a project dealing with casual interaction of people with objects where the experience of the interaction accidentally becomes design process.
what are your passions/obsessions/hobbies/aspirations?
People watching. Questioning everything. Becoming a better person.
what inspires you?
Everything.
Usually, exuberant charismatic people, politics, history, behavioral patterns, patterns in general, genetic mutations, cultures different from my own.
how do you define "style"?
Clothing is merely one of the communication tools of personal expression, and ”style” is the pattern of how one chooses (through time) to articulate, construct, accent within the structure/system that is created with this particular tool.
how would you describe your personal style?
It’s flexible. Mercurial. Guarded.
how does your background (personal history, passions, culture,
nationality, etc.) come through in the clothes you like and wear, if
at all?
On object level, since I grew up in Russia in Uzbekistan, I tend to own/appreciate clothing items from those cultures. Slightly gender confused, I’m enamored by androgyny and try to include it subtly in my outfits.
choose one item in your closet that you feel completely expresses
your personal style and/or aesthetic. describe it. what is it and
why is it "you"?
It probably would have to be my thrifted red/blue sweater:
Its vibrant colors, its pixelated pixilated (hehe) look, its comfy bagginess summarize what I generally want out of my clothing: colorful, tech-y, whimsical, not accentuating my body. Too bad it got a bleach stain on it. I might have to make a blanket out of it.
do you collect anything? if so, what?
Junk and memories.
what are some of your favorite places to shop when you want to add
to your wardrobe? online? locally? anywhere in the world? why are
these places favorites of yours?
I am dealing with an internal battle. I do realize the cyclical nature of fashion and am angry at manufacturers/businesses for creating hype over “what’s in? what’s out?” to drive up sales of flimsy clothes manufactured by underpaid workers in countries w/ sub par working conditions and barely existent environment protection systems. Yet, as an industrial designer I'm fascinated by fads, especially fashion fads, since clothing/accessories have such a quick turn around production (the only quicker produced forms of mass expression are print/video/music, really) they are the most direct visual object-based manifestation of what a society is going through right now. I am both repulsed by mass-produced clothing and am craving items that would allow me to participate in current culture...a guilt ridden mix of cheap new, expensive new, cheap thrifted used, expensive vintage used bought on-line, local goodwill, given for free by a friend. I make some of my clothing myself, mainly knit.
what do you think is next in terms of fashion? perhaps something
that is currently flying under the radar, but could be really cool an
popular later, or perhaps something amazing you'd like to see more
of that needs to come back or be the new thing?
Sustainability and “green” hopefully will become more than buzz words abused by the media and the western society would be able to gain a deeper understanding of how their purchasing actions affect the world.
I think, the escapism that brought us neo-baroque, current gothic revival, everything romantic/nostalgic, fascination with cute/child-like will fade away as people are now more then in the previous years are ready to face the issues they’ve been hiding from. The fade of the escapism, I think, might show itself in more unisex approach to
clothing. Not a “traditional” bland, uniform like unisex, though...more ornate, flamboyant, drag like.
Becoming more accepting of different cultures and lifestyles, I think, people would allow themselves and others follow their inner fashion sense. US-wise, increased
immigration in next 20-30 years, might present some interesting examples of how other cultures’ interpretations of American subcultures juxtapose with the actual subcultures. Gosh, that was a mouthful, but I’m not sure how to say it differently.
Personally, I would like to see a move away from traditionally “sexy” female clothes, unless we start objectifying a male body in mainstream culture in the similar manner, but since when objectification is a good thing? It still won’t make it acceptable in my mind... I just, personally, would like to live in a place where women don’t feel pressured to dress “sexy” at all times, dressed not in what they themselves find sexy, but rather what they are told is “sexy”.
you are super creative with your clothes! share a creative tip or
idea about a way people can remix/style their clothing in a fun or
innovative way.
When you see an item or an outfit you have a strong opinion (positive or negative) ask yourself “why?” Deconstruct your opinion, see what underlying reasons are…once you break it all down, you’d be surprised how much it will help you crystallize what is “you”.
style icons: do you have any?
Not rly. I’m mainly inspired by men’s wear, any stylish male that would fit the description of kinda dior homme kinda on acid w/ a folk flair of sorts.
how did you come across wardrobe_remix? why do you post there? What do you like about it? has anything positive come about for you as a result of posting to the community?
I think I started participating in W_R at the end of 2005 after you, bits and bobbins, started experimenting with it on your LJ...it was a fun thing to do. Has anything positive come out of it? Gosh...lots of new on-line friends, being featured in Adorn and LetGo magazines.
other favorite wardrobe_remix(ers)? who, and why?
I mainly check out what guys are wearing. My favorites are usually lewis.samuel,
fixes, hunn. (I wish fixes and hunn posted more...but those few outfits they did contribute to W_R, I totally love them). As far as gals, sjwhidden and hogan wren (I often feel that there’s something in their attitude similar to mine).
anything else you'd like to say?
Well, first of all, thanks for giving me a chance to blab
about clothes in self-indulgent manner!
And, this is my favorite quote LIKE EVER by Iona Opie...
“A child who does not feel wonder is but an inlet
for apple pie.”
Have passions, ask questions, be amazed.
thanks v.!
if you have any intelligent questions you'd like to hear wardrobe_remix(ers) expound upon or wardrobe_remix(ers) who you'd like to see revealed, feel free to send those suggestions my way! thanks!