HIGHLIGHTING THE ART OF GETTING READY IN ALL ITS FORMS
AN INTERVIEW SERIES
CLOSET CONFIDENTIALS is an interview series
dedicated to highlighting the art of getting ready,
through the stories of some badass individuals,
in all of its shapes & forms.
This entry follows the tale of ELLE LEGARÇON, a hot young fashion designer in the making with legs for days & days & days. She's the queen of the dance floor, the one snacking on végé pâté & pesto sandwiches, & the life of the quarantine dress up party. She's the man.
The minute I started questioning my identity, I turned to clothing to sort of cope with how confused I was.
PERSONAL STYLE
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
My personal style is very fluid. I always want to show aspects of my sexuality through what I wear. It's definitely how I express myself. My style is really just a reflection of my gender from day to day & changes depending on the statement that I want to make.
Q: WHAT DOES YOUR STYLE SAY ABOUT YOU? I have no idea how I want to be perceived through what I wear & I'm not entirely sure how I get perceived by other people either. Quite honestly, I don't think I actually care. A lot of people have told me that I am quite intimidating before they get to know me, as I have a lot of confidence & I carry myself in that way. I really don't want to intimidate anyone, but sometimes just owning who you are can come across as that. It's funny just how different people's perception of you can be & there's no way you can control that. I might as well just wear whatever I want & let them think whatever they want!
Q: WHAT ASPECT OF FASHION EXCITES YOU THE MOST?
Ouh! I think it would have to be the whole self expression side of it. I feel like this will be a common theme throughout this whole interview, but it's true! I love how easy it is to use fashion to break away from the norm. Clothes aren't gendered but we can use them to express our gender. Before I got into fashion I used to just wear the same thing every day & a lot of the time it was black. It's really just been the last two to three years that I started expressing myself through my clothes. The minute I started questioning my identity, I turned to clothing to sort of cope with how confused I was. Fashion was not only a creative outlet for me but a kind of therapeutic one. I'm now in a spot where I know pretty much who I am, I know how I like to dress, so I challenge myself less. I'm getting comfortable. I want to get back to that initial reason of why I used to dress. I want to push my boundaries in fashion a little bit more & be a little less comfortable.
Q: FOR YOU PERSONALLY, WHAT FINAL DETAIL CAN MAKE OR BREAK A LOOK?
It's definitely the shoes. I don't have many shoes, but it's always what I notice first in someone's look. When someone has a good pair of shoes it just ties everything together! That's it. Easy.
THE PROCESS
Q: WHAT DRIVES YOU TO GET READY?
Oh gosh...I don't think I've ever thought of that before. It's not that I need to always be in a look to feel like myself, but I definitely feel more disconnected from myself when I'm not in a good outfit. Even if I just spend the day at home, I like to get ready. I guess the motivation comes from needing to feel like myself!
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF YOUR GETTING READY PROCESS?
I like the part at the start, when I have no idea what I'm gonna wear, there's clothes being thrown everywhere & I'm just trying to piece an outfit together. I also like the end of the process when I'm adding accessories & I see the whole look come together. That's always the best time to play with the final details!
Q: DOES THIS PROCESS AFFECT HOW YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO THE WORLD?
Not really. I don't usually have a strict process when getting ready. Sometimes I'll start with the makeup, then go & find an outfit, & I'll even switch up the makeup after if it doesn't fit. There's no strict start or finish, everything just flows! It's a pretty fluid process. But regardless of how I get ready, I definitely feel more confident out in the world when I'm all done up. I'm working on getting up to the point where I don't have to have a full look to have the same amount of confidence. I've been trying to pull some more casual looks here & there, & allow myself to let go of trying to look "perfect".
Q: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO SHOW SELF-CARE?
I just drink a lot of water. I probably drink about four litres a day. It makes me feel better in my body when I'm just constantly drinking water. It's the easiest self care I can do!
Clothing is like my super power!
THE CLOSET
Q: WHAT ITEM CAN YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?
Probably a choker. I often forget to wear rings or other jewelry but I always have a choker on me. I think it just completes any look. It's definitely a staple piece for me.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ITEMS IN YOUR CLOSET?
Oh god. Okay, let's see. I really like this vintage dress that I got from the Dress Up Collective shoot. I like to wear it with just a baggy hoodie over it. In the winter, it's definitely one of my go-to looks. Another favourite item would be my bleached pants. It's something that I've always seen around & really wanted, & one day finally did it! It's actually just SO EASY to do yourself. I also love these pants that we're thrifted for me. They have little sheep prancing all over them, wearing skull heads, chokers & harnesses. The last items would have to be this two-piece set that I made from old tapestry. I was inspired by my sister who had made herself pants from similar fabric. Initially, I was going to make pants that go up into some sort of bustier, but ended up with a set instead!
Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHARING YOUR CLOTHES?
I'm totally fine with it. I actually really like styling others or seeing people in outfits that I've made. It's rare that people wear my clothes, but when they do, I find it exciting to see my favourite pieces on bodies other than my own. I feel like I can appreciate my clothes even more. I'm also very blessed that people have given me a lot of clothing too. I love it!
CONFIDENTIAL
Q: WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST YOURSELF?
It would probably be when I'm with people that are very sure of their identities, they know who they are & they know how to express that side of them. It definitely inspires me to express how I feel & be my authentic self. To be surrounded by that kind of energy is very liberating.
Q: WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL?
I feel the most beautiful when I feel confident. A lot of the time, my confidence comes through when I'm wearing something I love. I put a lot of importance into my clothing, so when I'm in a really good outfit I feel amazing. It's truly all about the clothes. Clothing is like my super power!
THANK YOU ELLE FOR SHARING YOUR CLOSET WITH LION|OF|THE|CEA!
XX
PHOTOGRAPHY: CÉLINE BLAIS @babycealion
MODEL + STYLING: ELLE LEGARÇON @ellelegarcon
OUTFIT ANTHEM: GLAMOUR GIRL BY CHICKS ON SPEED