Growing up I would collect fashion ads taking inspirations from all over the world and from all spectrums of fashion. At the time my gooey eyed 8-year-old frolicky self dreamed of being the guy: behind the lens, the model, the designer, the magazine editor, the writer, the talk show host....well fuck I just about wanted to be everything lol But most of all I wanted to sit front row at a high-end fashion show....now that became a reality this year at DC Fashion Week 2016.
Now my expectations of these events were solely based on what I saw growing up everytime NY Fashion week rolled around every year. With individuality and ambivalent attitude towards all social standards lighting a fire in my desire to take part and showcase that fashionista that lay dormant in my heart for so long. The day before the event I spent shopping for the perfect outfit, it was a pivotal point in my life. That day, not content with any of the men's fashions, I stepped over into the women's department at Zara, Express, Diesel, Top Shop, Guess, and Off the 5th. I dove deep into the heart of the genderless sentient being draped in the carcass I walk in every day and indulged. With my new purposed self-identity and new found confidence,I prepared myself for the big day the following afternoon.
Eyebrows by Tarte on Fleek ✔️Black Curvex Jeans Cuffed Mid Calf✔️Black Horizontally Striped See Through Diesel Top✔️Aldo Black Suede Shoes No Socks✔️ Express Accent Silver Necklaces✔️ Black Sunnies✔️Domke Camera pouch/murse✔️
I was pretty much looking like a bald headed, gothic, skinny as fuck version of Jackie O.
Every bone in my body was vibrating with joy I was making a childhood dream come true. It was the same feeling I had when I was standing in the middle of a massive intersection at 2 am in Shinjuku, Japan in awe of the pretty lights and liveliness of the city #tokyoDRIFTfan4LIFE lol. So I walked into the showroom and whomp whomp whooooooooommppppp oh to my surprise, bless their little DC hearts....
My first thought, Dear God, Who died? I swear it was like walking into church on a Sunday morning and everyone had their best Sunday outfit on. Where were the passionate outfits with the crazy shoes? the clashing of genders? The men in skirts and women in outlandish outfits? The outfits that pushed boundaries of what we consider normal? The outfits that you have to take a second look at and ask yourself, WTF? but then come to the conclusion that as crazy as it looks it fucking works and you can't hate because that person is straight up rocking the look without a care in the world.
But there I stood in a see-through number in a sea of grays and pastels with pops of subtle individuality here and there. DC why so bland? I understand you're on a bland personality diet issued to you the day you took your picture at the DMV. With that lady, patting her half ass synthetic weave, not even giving you a chance to smile but this is the week to be that person you left at the front door! And I get it, Washington DC is a city full of politicians, doctors, boring brooks brothers suits, J. Crew off the mannequin outfits, and crushed dreams.
But it doesn't have to be... Don't let your boring mundane day job bleed into your OWN PERSONAL time. Take the time to remember that crazy teenager in high school, that experimental collegiate student that at some point probably ate Cheeto off the floor, and may or may not have kissed a girl and decided you DID'NT like it. Most of all take the time to decide how you want the world to perceive the person you are on the inside. Not by "What you do", where you went to school, or who you know. Fashion is very much the key to that notion. It gives the world a peek into who you are behind that white coat, or gray suit, that ugly tie, or those ragged one-inch black aero-sole heels...
....because as impressed as I was by the amazing designers showcased that week...it left me wondering.... Where's the fashion D.C.?
