Looking into someone’s closet is like getting a guided tour of someone’s life. Clothes show us not only the personal style of the individual, but also their experience of the world. The pieces that we choose to wear or not give insight into who we are as people and how we live. This series’ goal is to look inside the closets of New School students, asking them personal questions about the importance of their clothes and what their personal style means to them, and seeing what we learn about them.
The first student to be interviewed was Leilt Demissie (she/her), a second year studying strategic design at Parsons. Demissie took NSFP reporters through a guided tour of her closet. Leilt’s home was adorned with plants, pictures, and a rack of clothing in the living room, providing a look of all her favorite pieces when you walk in. First, Leilt made a disclaimer that all but one of the pieces in her closet are thrifted: “I love thrifting for the reason that usually it’s never like anything anyone else has.” She loves having pieces that are unique and that only few have.
Taken in Demissie’s apartment, you see a couch covered with blankets on the arm chair as well as small trinkets upon the coffee table. The light shines through two windows illuminating the living room.
Leilt started describing a few of her signature or favorite pieces in her closet. Her favorite pair of shoes came from the Goodwill bins, a haven for those who have the patience to sift through a warehouse full of bins in order to find those few amazing pieces. Leilt found her favorite shoes there, a pair of brown leather patchwork heels which she loves due to the detailing on the shoes and because they make her taller.
Next she described her other favorite pieces, including a sequined high-low halter dress; Leilt clarified that while she doesn’t usually like sequins, she likes this dress because of the subtle sparkle. Her favorite bag, a large slouchy leather patchwork tote, hailed from the 23rd Street Housing Works. She loves this bag because of its aesthetic and functionality, as it works as both a purse and a school tote. Her favorite pair of pants are a pair of baggy black pants with a slit at the bottom, which appeal to her because of the wide leg and how easy they are to wear with different shoes.
Leilt then showed us her favorite jacket, a brown velvet jacket with a burnt orange and yellow paisley silk lining. When asked why she would never get rid of it, “It’s funny because the piece that I chose I’ve never worn before. And I think that’s why I would never get rid of it.”
When asked her biggest style inspiration, Leilt gave a surprising answer: she didn’t have one. Leilt shared the aspects of her personal style, without comparing it to something that someone else has done. Her style is incredibly individualistic, simply in the way that she is not attempting to emulate someone or something else.
Leilt Demissie shows off her fingers covered in her various rings from her personal collection, as well as her stacked necklaces and top portion of her outfit.
Leilt attempted to sum up her personal style, saying that she loves layering and wears mostly warm earth tones. In certain moods, she changes it up: “When I’m feeling happy and when I’m feeling in the spring mood I like to play with colors.” The most important aspect of her personal style, as she describes, is contrast: “That’s my main thing is clashing but in a way that works.”
We always refer to fashion and clothing as a sort of self expression, with this series we hope to get to get to know the individual behind the clothes. The person behind these amazing outfits and how their personal style reflects who they truly are.
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