Marc Jacobs said, “I still appreciate individuality. Style is much more interesting than fashion, really.” Fashion is a conundrum and a construct as the lines between it and “style” are forever blurred. In simpler terms of differentiating the two, I think fashion tells us what we should wear and style is what we actually want to wear. Our choice of clothing acts as an illustration of ourselves as individuals.
My name is Nicholas Park. I am an Advertising and Marketing Communications major at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Born and raised, I am a New Yorker in heart, soul and spirit. New York’s reputation as a cultural hub and fashion capital does not fall short of its expectations. Inspiration is omnipresent here.
We are most certainly influenced by everything around us. I would describe my personal style as functional integration. Combining styles has become very common and practical in recent times. I completely embrace the practicality of streetwear, yet still admire the grandeur of the presentation in runway shows. In references to both aspects, some of my favorite designers are currently Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto and Kris Van Assche.
My interest in fashion stemmed originally from my adolescent infatuation with sneakers. My love for sports brought me to all kinds of sneakers before expanding to other footwear. My interest in sneakers came from the idea that something we wore could carry such innovation and history. I would go on to discover that the same went for clothes. Each trend represented a different time, acting as voices of the generations. To think that values, ideals and emotions were represented by different fabrics was truly profound. From the archives of classical designers to the exposure of contemporary shows, my curiosity heightened and continues to grow.
Today’s look is kept simple with a vintage AllSaints T-shirt, Diesel indigo wash denim joggers and H&M brown suede Chelsea boots. The vintage finish is very common as AllSaints currently carries similar styles. The denim joggers offer the appearance of jeans with the comfort of sweatpants, embracing the idea of integration. Lastly and without question, Chelsea boots are an essential in every closet to perfectly mix casual and classy.
As a Fashionisto, my main goals are to inform and to inspire. Fashion is an art form and individual styles are our representations of it. While giving advice, I also hope that everyone would see how profound the idea of fashion truly is.
Until next time, remember to look beyond the fabrics.
