Avant-Garde New Yorkers Share What They Learned About Themselves From Their Closets

What does avant-garde fashion look like in one of the world’s most cutting-edge cities? These dressers, spotted on the streets of New York, personify avant garde; rather than kowtowing to commercial trends, they interpret them with their own aesthetic. Below, they share what they’ve learned about themselves from their closets.

Liisa Jokinen, street-style photographer and founder of the the NYC Vintage Map, knows a thing or two about vintage fashion. For 2018, rather than following a particular style trend, Jokinen has curated a wardrobe that’s entirely vintage. For this feature, she photographed some avant-garde dressers on the streets of New York City who also curate wardrobes from their vintage finds.

Marion, @marionyc

Spotted at ‘A Current Affair’ vintage fair in Industry City.

Spotted on the streets of New York City, Marion

Lace, @thyckgurl69

Spotted at MoMa PS1.

Spotted on the streets of New York City, Lace

Culture Trip: What do you look for when shopping vintage?
Lace: Suits and sets, unusual jackets, oversized men’s items, and silk scarves.
CT: What is your favorite decade to shop?
L: The ’70s, because I love the silhouettes, and I’m a sucker for a weird print and a synthetic fabric.
CT: What is your favorite vintage find and why?
L: This incredible green paisley Oscar de la Renta suit I found on eBay. It’s weird and fun, and I can wear it with sneakers and a T-shirt or dress it up for a wedding. It’s super versatile without being boring.
CT: Who is your favorite designer?
L: Gucci. I’m really into the maximalism.
CT: What have you learned about yourself from your closet?
L: My tastes change constantly! You can look through my whole closet and see every different phase I’ve had in the past few years.

Blake, @blakennotstirred

Spotted in Tribeca.

Spotted on the streets of New York City, Blake

Culture Trip: What do you look for when shopping vintage?
Blake: That hidden gem, the best find, a piece that makes the hunt worth while. Right now, that could means a high-waist menswear trouser, a cropped children’s blazer a lá Thom Browne, an interesting bag, hat or a piece of jewelry.
CT: What is your favorite decade to shop?
B: All decades. Although recently my favorites have been a fusion of ’40s menswear and ’70s womenswear.
CT: What is your favorite vintage find and why?
B: In Tarpon Springs, Florida, I found a ’70s three-piece Yves Saint Laurent cashmere wool blend suit in light grey, perfectly tailored to my body as if it were bespoke. $17.99. I almost fainted.
CT: Who is your favorite designer?
B: It changes often, but I will always love (old) McQueen, Thom Browne, 1970s YSL, and Loewe. Currently, I’m obsessed with Gucci and the F/W 2018 collection of Carlos Campos; I want every single piece, male and female.
CT: What have you learned about yourself from your closet?
B: I cannot stop shopping. In all seriousness I am a lover of all decades and apparel. I love to mix decades and genders together creating an idiosyncratic silhouette and aesthetic which is my personal style.

Leigh, @pinkvintagehrt

Spotted outside the Manhattan Vintage Fair.

Spotted on the streets of New York City, Leigh

CT: What do you look for when shopping vintage?
L: Because I have such a massive vintage collection I look for the pieces on my vintage shopping list. At the moment I’m looking for T-shirts, trousers, and maxi cotton dresses. I also keep my eye out for very special pieces.
CT: What is your favorite decade to shop?
L: The ’80s and ’90s but sometimes I am attracted to pieces from the ’20s, ’40s, ’50s and ’70s.
CT: What is your favorite vintage find and why?
L: Wow. I have so many. My favorite recent vintage was a straw purse from Omnia Vintage at the past Manhattan Vintage Show.
CT: Who is your favorite designer?
L: Being a fashion lover, I totally should follow designers a bit better. I love seeing Nancy Tran, Greta Constantine and Runa Ray during the shows.
CT: What have you learned about yourself from your closet?
L: Change is so good. I must have a zest for life, [which explains] all the color I tend to wear.

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