Getting to know Sara Arnold...
I’m not a style-stalking type of person but if someone really catches my eye then I’m going to hunt him/her down and hassle them like a mad woman. Or in this particular case, it involved a bit of Facebook stalking (guff… by the by, no point in stalking my Facebook as it’s so inactive and mouldy, I might as well delete it…) and a bit of smart detective work. Previously Sara Arnold was just the really cool girl who I had seen working at Dover Street Market and out and about in and around Old Street. Of course, coming up to her in person would have been all too embarrassing for me so naturally I hid behind the protective internet screens and asked her to compile a seven day style diary for Style Bubble.
Shockingly, she very kindly said yes and also agreed to answer some questions…
Her style is exactly how she describes it ‘eclectic and chaotic’ and I know for a fact some of you will shriek and say ‘Ick…that’s not my style at all…’. Precisely. It’s HER style and not something that people can OWN easily. It’s the sort of resourceful, playful yet strangely articulate style that I find completely awesome. I see customised Converse attached to wooden heels, granny influences, measuring tape braces, experimental headgear…the list goes on…and that’s just seven days of her wardrobe, with a lot of outfit changing going on throughout the day. Sara did say it was a very honest reflection of her outfits whilst lounging around the house, going out and hanging out, and if you read her thoughts regarding dealing with outsider perception, it’s most definitely sound advice to carry around…
Name/Age?
Sara K Arnold, 21
What do you do?
Fashion student at Central st Martins and part-time sales assistant at Dover street market.
How would you describe your style?
Eclectic, chaotic and constantly morphing.
What are your favourite designers to wear/admire?
Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe, Victor and Rolf, Hussien Chalayan, Manish Arora, Gareth Pugh, Boudicca.
Day 1 - Outfit 1 - Comme des Garcons skirt, Junya Watanabe jacket and boots, my Grandfather’s glasses that he got free on the NHS.
Day 1 - Outfit 2 - Hair and earrings from Dalston, customised jacket from Mango (I cut of the sleeves, added shoulder pads and attached wigs), I’ve cut out the crotch of a pair of nude tights to be worn as a top, plugs as nipple tassels, from a plumping shop, American Apparel high waisted hot pants, tights were a gift. // Outfit 3 - Hot pants and tights as above, Vivienne Westwood bondage tracksuit bottoms, jumper from Jakarta, blanket from India.
Day 2 - Outfit 1 - Ganryu (Comme des Garcons) hat, shirt from a market in Uganda, Karen Millen jacket from Oxfam Dalston, Junya Watanabe leather jacket, American Apparel leggings, vintage shoes from Beakon's Closet, New York. // Outfit 2 - One piece from Beacon's Closet, New York, Alexander McQueen ankle boots, silk scarf, Indian necklace worn as head piece.
Day 3 - Outfit 1 - Ganryu (Comme des Garcons) hat, Junya Watanabe leather jacket, Vintage dress, Junya Watanabe/Converse shoes.
How do you go about putting an outfit together (thought processes, etc)? What are your usual inspirations?
My mood… the weather…exposing and hiding strength and
vulnerability… nostalgia… futurism…surreal humour…the fashion don’ts
rather than the do’s … my many alter egos… exploring, revealing and
concealing the layers of who I am…but ultimately the need to protest
against the dictation of what is beauty and taste.
Day 3 - Outfit 2 - Junya Watanabe leather jacket, Silver Vivienne Westwood jacket, Vivienne Westwood penis T-shirt, American Apparel skirt, leggingS from a market in Uganda, Junya Watanabe/Converse shoes.
Day 4 - Outfit 1 - Karen Millen jacket from Oxfam Dalston, black top from Mango, Miss Sixty jeans. // Outfit 2 - T-shirt from Bali, leggings from Uganda.
How do you handle the attention your dress sense gets (like stares on the streets etc)?
I block it out. It has to be an extreme reaction for me to notice or respond. I do this because I don’t want other people’s perceptions to affect the way I construct my image. I don’t want to feel social pressure to conform. If people approach me politely and want to talk to me about what I’m wearing, I’m usually happy to explain, however I do not dress to provoke attention.
Day 4 - Outfit 3 - Hat from a charity shop, vintage one piece, customised jacket, shoes from Office.
Day 5 - Outfit 1 - Shirt from a market in Uganda, American Apparel leggings, Vintage shoes from Beakens Closet, New York. // Outfit 2 - American Apparel skirt and leggings, Junya Watanabe/Converse shoes, vintage T-shirt and jacket.
Why do you think personal style is important?
To encourage people to see more possibilities. Fashion is not
just the adornment of the body, but a way of gauging a social mindset.
Boundaries and codes of beauty are a powerful illusion but one that we
as individuals can uphold or shatter simply by what we wear. Throughout
history clothing has been used to divide people by hierarchical system.
Today’s world is ruled by commerce and capitalism – a hierarchy
identifiable by branding. In a capitalist democracy such as ours we are
increasingly empowered only through our purchasing power. We should use
our money wisely as a tool for social change in all arenas, including
fashion, thereby consciously conceiving our own personal style to
express our own selfhood and political agendas.
Day 6 - Outfit 1 - American Apparel leggings, Junya Watanabe skirt, vintage T-shirt, jacket and shoes.
Day 7 - Outfit 1 - Hat from charity shop, my mum’s cardigan, skirt from a market in Jakarta, Junya Watanabe/Converse shoes.
**EDIT** Sara has sent me the clothes credits for her pics so you can see where she got her outfits from...and the mystery of those Converse are solved....they're a Junya Watanabe collaboration...doh!
She looks like the coolest person I will never know...
Posted by: The Clothes Horse | 22 July 2008 at 14:34
Amazing. Those wooden-platforms converse have got to be the coolest shoes ever.
She can also rock that super dark red shade of lipstick super well.
ha, susie, this was really cool.
Posted by: Laia | 22 July 2008 at 14:48
wow, she's more than fabulous, so incredible! i'm speechless. thanks for sharing, it's great inspiration.
Posted by: Daiane | 22 July 2008 at 15:25
It's so fun and inspiring to see someone dress in a different/innovative/odd way.
Would love to see more like her!
Posted by: Jesse | 22 July 2008 at 16:02
i have seen her at dover street market before too and totally admire her for being so amazingly different and not being afraid of it. she has great style and total personality! susie, great idea, so inspirational!
kx
www.fashionistadiary.co.uk
Posted by: fashionistadiary | 22 July 2008 at 16:02
Amazing outfits and answers! She's so articulate about her decisions, and about the context (political, economic, social, etc.) in which she is able to make them.
Posted by: Mimi | 22 July 2008 at 16:03
She's wild! Reminds me of some people I knew in the '80s. She must have to put up with a lot of comments/stares, but good for her for doing her own thing.
Posted by: WendyB | 22 July 2008 at 16:17
Wow clever lady!
Posted by: maya | 22 July 2008 at 16:33
Nothing but interesting clothes would do :-)
Posted by: maya | 22 July 2008 at 16:34
wow, i have only one word to describe her, C.O.O.L.!
Posted by: Siewkwan | 22 July 2008 at 16:44
sorry but it just seems like in most pictures she stepped out of the 80's. it's like she looked at music videos and movies from the 80's and just copied them. She looks great though but not new or different at all. I guess the NYTimes is right and the 80's are back.
However, that blazer she has on in one picture is really nice.
Posted by: | 22 July 2008 at 16:55
I love your blog! Keep it up! It keeps getting better and better.
--serg
Posted by: Serg Riva | 22 July 2008 at 16:56
It' s so interesting to read her answers and see how much thought has gone into her style. I'm sure many people see her and think she's crazy, but she really believes in what she's doing. Gutsy! This was a really cool post Susie.
www.shinylittlethings.com
Posted by: shinylittlethings | 22 July 2008 at 17:12
wow, some...most of her outfits are so un-conventional ! i wouldn't be brave enough to wear them ! but she does work it.
first off i was thinking the style choices were ugly... but you get round to see her way and they make sense.... yeah, thankyou for stalking her out for us Susie !
Posted by: Girl Harry | 22 July 2008 at 17:32
This is really cool. It's always interesting to read about people's various philosphies on getting dressed.
Aand her hair is awesome.
Posted by: ali | 22 July 2008 at 17:32
love Day 7 - Outfit 1
Posted by: Opinionated Girl | 22 July 2008 at 17:47
She does have a lot of wonderful insights about style and especially with resisting that need to conform...
Posted by: giancinephile | 22 July 2008 at 18:04
Definitely an original girl for sure..esp like the last outfit where she mixes florals and green to great effect!
Posted by: miss woo | 22 July 2008 at 18:20
Her personal style is very gutsy, and I love how articulate her responses to your questions were.
Posted by: lisa | 22 July 2008 at 18:32
I wanna know how these customised Converse shoes work! Can anybody explain it to me?
Posted by: Cloudbustin' Mummy | 22 July 2008 at 18:37
wow they were really chotic outfits but some where really nice i liked outfit 2,3 and 5, really good answers to your questions aswell!
Posted by: vintage clothes | 22 July 2008 at 18:44
MADNESS!!!!!!!!! but she looks awesome in all the outfits! on the streets i would surely stare, but for all the good reasons.
Posted by: jo | 22 July 2008 at 19:17
OH yes and i need to start attaching wooden soles to my converses!
Posted by: jo | 22 July 2008 at 19:19
her answers are unbelievable, pushing boundaries and hierarchy, amazing. what an inspiration!
Posted by: selina | 22 July 2008 at 20:43
wow, she has a lot of personality... really interesting use of her clothes, in the first one, is that a coat made into a skirt? it's crazy!
Posted by: lady coveted | 22 July 2008 at 20:43
I love her style, she reminds me of Welcome to the Dollhouse and Leslie Hall.
xxx Mademoiselle Robot
ps: it is so good you linked the Lazy Ones, they deserve all the attention. Are you friends with them as well? If yes, maybe you and I crossed paths at some point. You do look familiar!
Posted by: Mademoiselle Robot | 22 July 2008 at 21:08
I love her!
Posted by: Rowena | 22 July 2008 at 21:24
I like her style and the way she articulates it, but personally i don't feel its original. Iv always lights the roots of the punk movement straight edge that's by in fact rebelling we are all conforming.
However this being said while the base of a lot of these outfits seem rooted in the 80's i like the textures shes mixing in the fabric. That seems a lot Fresher.
I do admire people who understand fashion like clearly Sara does.
Jen
Posted by: Jen | 22 July 2008 at 21:42
Btw i meant Liked not Light in the second sentence above (opps)
Posted by: Jen | 22 July 2008 at 21:46
Punk meets granny meets hooker meets geek.
Not my cup of tea but she certainly has some strong and interesting views for a 21 year old.
Posted by: Bloss | 22 July 2008 at 21:51
Possible the best pair of customised converse I will ever see. But I've got a feeling that's what I thought about the last pair I saw. Hey ho! Even if her style isn't entirely compatible with my current tastes, I admire her for her attitudes, firstly towards dressing daringly for something that matters, rather than just for a few turned heads, and secondly because she really seems to know what she's talking about, but without sounding like a stroppy teenager trying to tell has that capitalism is like, bad, man. In fact, if her style did suit my tastes, her point would be somewhat lost. I wouldn't stop and ponder, I'd simply think "Oh, she's cool" and continue on my merry way.
Posted by: Grace | 22 July 2008 at 22:12
I'm in love with the shirt in outfit 1 day 5. This girl is amazing and so unique, she's absolutely inspirational.
Posted by: Copycat Sasha | 22 July 2008 at 22:26
WOW! While I don't wish to emulate her style, she really makes me want to take chances with own!
Posted by: Katlin | 22 July 2008 at 23:11
Chutzpah! (Love that word.) Great interview Susie!
Posted by: rollergirl | 22 July 2008 at 23:47
her style is not for me at all.
far too try hard.
but anything goes i sapose
Posted by: steams | 23 July 2008 at 00:24
I love how she talks about a hierachy identified by branding. Her style is very full on but it's her and she is being true to herself.
Posted by: L. | 23 July 2008 at 01:46
absolutely fantasitic style!!
does she blog at all?
Posted by: Anastasia | 23 July 2008 at 02:04
day 4, outfit 1 is my favorite... putting the sleeveless leather jacket over the brown one is a great idea! such amazing stuff, it must not hurt to have an employee discount at dover st. though!
her dark dark lipstick is also looks amazingly great...
Posted by: fawn lust | 23 July 2008 at 02:14
oh, and also the vinyl/patent-leather jacket in the first picture! love it.
Posted by: fawn lust | 23 July 2008 at 02:15
Day 5 Outfitt 1! Love. Her hair is fantastic too and the old-school glasses kick :)
Posted by: Ann Dorian | 23 July 2008 at 03:29
Agh this is so impossibly fantastic/inspiring! I love people who go all out and wear the crazy things that they love, I'm so freaking sick of "minimal" and "chic." Thank you Susie!
Posted by: Stephanie | 23 July 2008 at 03:43
LOVE her Chucks and I'm quite drawn to day 6 outfit 1. Super fun post!
Posted by: adahpotato | 23 July 2008 at 04:26
That was great. I love her thought process, and her strong sense of self to really step outside the box.
It is really nice to see.
Posted by: arline jernigana | 23 July 2008 at 04:28
....
lush !lush !inpirational plusssh...combos...
striking colours...fabulous layers..
crazi maze of a lady!.
pure electricity and wihked sence of self!
i love her philosophy of fashion...and bringing the truth to the ground.
non satorial - pure creative expressionate soul!
stus' rock !
Posted by: emi loo | 23 July 2008 at 04:32
I love her eclectic style! Especially the skirt in the first pic...where can I get one???
xx
Posted by: Enkha Xe | 23 July 2008 at 04:56
OK she DEFINITELY deserves the best human ever award!! I am an instant fan!!! Does she have a blog or website other than facebook?
Posted by: Nicole | 23 July 2008 at 05:47
The last picture really sealed the deal for me because shes versatile. I like that she thinks about how she feels and how she wants to reflect that, which is really an art people brush on but don't tap into as completely as she seems to. Thanks Susie!!
Posted by: Chloe | 23 July 2008 at 06:38
Wow i think she is amazing, so much thought and effort has been poured into an outfit which may be worn just to do some cleaning
imhaute.blogspot.com
Posted by: terry D | 23 July 2008 at 07:00
Hmm, I don't know. She's taking herself verrry seriously (judging from her answers). I'm more drawn to people who dress for fun, not those that dress to make a statement (be it either "I wear brands, I have money" or "I rebel against society's boundaries/express my political view").
But I may be a bit biased because I simply hate the way she's looking into the lens of the camera :/.
As a student of St. Martins, it will be interesting to see whether she sticks to her views and how she will express them in her work. That would be a great follow-up for this post too.
Posted by: kim | 23 July 2008 at 08:42
Im a little bit scared. Is that a normal reaction?
Posted by: Francis Girard | 23 July 2008 at 09:09