Written by: Olivia Bowman | Photographed by: Elizabeth Freeman and Katy Larson
It was my love of music that first lit the spark for my love for clothing. As a teenager, I attended as many concerts as I could, and I found that fans at the indie shows I went to clung tightly to clothing as a form of expression. As I moved through adolescence, I too began carving out my identity through style. Over the years, I’ve continued to observe how fans dress at concerts while experimenting with my own clothing choices, and I remain enthralled. I believe that clothing can provide an intentional means of expression on an individual and group level. The clothing choices of certain fan bases come to define the group itself - a visual encapsulation of the music and fans’ experiences.
With this in mind, I began to think: if a fan base can capture their culture through clothing, could I do the same for an individual song? I wanted to visualize the meaning and sound of a song using only the tools in front of me: my closet. With this in mind, I carefully selected three songs that were sonically distinct from each other, and attempted to craft ensembles to match. I wanted to reflect not only the message of each song, but their overall tone and emotion.
Upper West Side - King Princess
I’ve been obsessed with King Princess for months, and have been lamenting her limited discography from the beginning. I’ve listened to her first and only EP, Make My Bed, on repeat, but Upper West Side was the last of its songs to grab my attention. Its sound is subdued but its story is compelling - a love ballad about a girl who wants fame and attention, but doesn’t want anyone to know. The lifestyles of the artist and her muse couldn’t be more different, and King Princess is fascinated but critical: “I can’t stop judging everything you do/But I can’t get enough of you.”
To create this outfit, I emulated how I thought the girl in the song might dress. She wants to impress, but obviously it’s uncool to look like a try-hard. The look is comprised mostly of dark colors, a nod to the mellow guitar riff that floats through the song. I paired casual elements, such as the sweater and jeans, with elevated accessories - heeled booties, a layered necklace, and a lace bralette. I believe the contrast reflects the love interest’s desire to be noticed, but only by the right person.
Kiwi - Harry Styles
Harry Styles and I have something in common: we both love a patterned blazer. While he’s been known to rock one on a red carpet, I opted for a slightly less glamorous photo op: the alley ways of Eugene, Oregon.
My song choice may have been fueled partially by my longtime interest (technically, obsession) in One Direction, but Styles’ solo work stands on its own. Kiwi is a clever, foot-tapping anthem for the hard-edged and mysterious cool girl that men love to write about. I mean, what woman wouldn’t want to be described as “hard liquor mixed with a bit of intellect”?
Most of my inspiration came directly from the lyrics. The all-black top and jeans were a reference to the line “In a black dress, she's such an actress.” The blazer, belt and boots top off the look, giving it a masculine touch to correspond with the rock n’ roll vibes of the song.
After the Storm - Kali Uchis ft. Tyler, the Creator and Bootsy Collins
Two words come to mind when listening to After the Storm: uplifting and groovy. Kali Uchis blurs genre lines while her voice wafts softly over the instrumentals. At its heart, the song is optimistic and reassuring, reminding listeners of their worth: “I know times are rough/ But winners don't quit/So don't you give up.” Bootsy Collins croons over the introductory verse. My favorite flower boy, Tyler, the Creator follows with a raspy and mellow rap to tie the song together.
To match the relaxed mood of the song, I kept my look simple. I paired a flowing floral jumpsuit with boots and a trench coat. The floral pattern and ruffles of the jumpsuit were meant to represent the romantic mood of the music, and the layered trench coat made it seasonally appropriate. While the shapes of the coat and jumpsuit complemented each other, they also served as a visual interpretation of the storm metaphor expressed in the lyrics “‘Cause after the storm’s/When the flowers bloom.”
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