This Gen-Z influencer is one of the established and breakout names informing fashion and, more importantly, culture today. More from the series →
Musician
If you opened TikTok within the past two years, you’ve definitely heard a Doja Cat song and it’s probably stuck in your head. And the pop star hasn’t just created the de facto soundtrack of Gen Z, she’s also become a fashion icon. Her love for bold and meme-worthy style combined with her penchant for throwback looks exemplifies the individualistic fashion spirit beloved by her audience.
The 2021 VMAs were a big fashion moment for you. How did you choose the outfits you wore as host?
“I saw that chair hat, and I was like, ‘I need that hat. I need to have it,’ like I needed those chicken feet [I wore]. And Brett Alan Nelson, my stylist, made it happen. And it was very comfortable. It wasn’t a huge inconvenience for me. I could take it off my head and sit down on it, so that was a really fun part of it for me, too. Hopefully I can keep it. Probably not. But I will fight.
And obviously, the Thom Browne dress also got a ton of buzz — everyone was calling it the ‘worm’ dress.”
Did you anticipate the level of buzz?
“I loved it, and I remember seeing [the dress] on the model and just being obsessed. There was a lot of back and forth of like, ‘Should I wear it? Am I too short to wear this dress? Can I walk in this dress?’ I tried, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if this is going to work.’ But I just looked at it, and I was like, ‘How can I not wear this? It’s too good.’
I would say the silhouette is a little wormy, but it’s such a beautiful dress as far as the color choices and the embroidery.”
Where do you look for fashion inspiration?
“I stay on Instagram. Also, the Vogue app on my phone has been a lot of help, because you can really see what’s out there and what all these major and newer designers are doing.”
Who is your favorite designer?
“I’ve worked with many, and I don’t want to necessarily favorite anyone, but I’ll give you my top five: Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake, love Thom Browne. I’m really into Celine right now. This isn’t even my top five, this is just me throwing a bunch of names. AVAVAV Firenze is amazing, as well.”
Who is your fashion icon?
“Vivienne Westwood. Absolutely Vivienne Westwood.”
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