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 SOLÈNE, a soft beauty from the South of France
with a fierce heart, a playful wardrobe & a love for puzzles, baking & K-POP.
No matter what you wear, pulling it off confidently is the key.
PERSONAL STYLE
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
SOLÈNE: I think my personal style is quite diverse. It's very comfortable, very moody. It definitely changes with my mood. Sometimes I just want to not care at all about how I dress, so I'll put on very baggy & comfy things, but other times I want to dress up super cute! I'm not the greatest at planning my outfits ahead of time, so it really depends on how I feel that day! I tend to wear things depending on the weather & what I have to do. My style is very practical. Over the years, it has become a little more daring. The people I've met throughout my life have had an important influence on me & my style. I'm starting to wear more funky pieces, playing with more patterns & colours. It's still evolving now! I think the growth in my style has also come from how I feel about my body. I feel more comfortable in my body which has made me more comfortable being daring with my clothes!
Q: WHAT DOES YOUR STYLE SAY ABOUT YOU?
S: I've never put much thought into it. I feel like the way my style is dependent on my mood is linked to how I see myself. Sometimes I feel super confident & my clothes will reflect that, but some days I just feel very low & want to hide in my clothes. On days like that I can feel like I won't ever be pleased with what I wear or that nothing I put on will really work out. It's very representative of how I feel about myself on that day. The most exciting outfits I've had usually come from when I'm in a really good place & feel like I have the energy to create fun outfits that bring me joy! As much as I am self aware & introspective, I am also very aware of people's impression & perspective of me. This is something that has been ingrained in me since I was super young. So as much as I want to push my limits with what I wear, I want to be comfortable enough that I can be seen outside where I know I can pull it of with confidence!
Q: WHAT ASPECT OF FASHION EXCITES YOU THE MOST?
S: I really love the fact that fashion can show someone's personality & perspective. For me, it's really about liberation. It's about being able to wear whatever you want to wear without judgement. I have a lot of respect for people who go out & wear such extravagant outfits & push the boundaries of what is considered "normal." They feel so much confidence & it's beautiful to see. In fashion, things change so quickly. It's not because there's one trend that is better than another, it's that people's tastes change. But no matter what you wear, I think that pulling it off confidently is the key.
Q: FOR YOU PERSONALLY, WHAT FINAL DETAIL CAN MAKE OR BREAK A LOOK?
S: For me, it's definitely earrings! When I wear great earrings, it makes me suddenly feel so much better about my outfit (even if my outfit is shit). It's my little cherry on top! Honestly, it's the little details that can bring a whole look together. Some items have the power to make you exude a certain aura. Even just lingerie, for example, can make you feel a certain way. Feeling sexy, feeling yourself can definitely translate into your outfit. I really believe that whatever you're feeling, people can feel that energy too...even if it's coming unknowingly from your accessories!
THE PROCESS
Q: WHAT DRIVES YOU TO GET READY?
SOLÈNE: It always changes. Some days I have so much trouble getting ready that I'll push it off as much as possible. For me, it really depends on if I have anything planned for that day. If I know that I'm going to be outside or go somewhere, I'm more excited to get ready. It also depends on the weather, how I'm feeling, even how I slept. There's so many little factors that affect how I dress...or if I even want to get dressed! Personally, getting ready fluctuates from making the effort to get dressed & actually paying attention to how I do it, to not feeling inspired & being a little lazy. But I find that when I'm in the mood or am getting ready with other people, I'm more down to go all out!
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF YOUR GETTING READY PROCESS?
S: I like layering. I'm not that good at it yet, but I like it! When I know that I want to wear a certain piece, I'll start from that item & build my outfit from there. Instead of having one idea of what I want to wear as a whole, I choose a piece that I really like & just add stuff to it as I go. It's almost like a little treasure hunt...a never ending one! There will always be so many options. My favourite part of the process is the little game of finding the right things to add to a particular piece or finding ways to make two pieces work together. It's pretty much a puzzle, & I love puzzles!
Q: DOES THIS PROCESS AFFECT HOW YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO THE WORLD?
S: I think if I'm rushed & not satisfied with what I'm wearing, it will definitely show during the day. If I wear something that I'm uncomfortable in or that's too exposing, on a day where I don't want to reveal too much of myself, that can definitely make me fret over my clothes & not feel 100% in what I'm doing. That's the one thing about getting dressed that can be a little annoying. The wrong clothes can really hinder you in some ways.
Q: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO SHOW SELF CARE?
S: I have a lot of unconscious self care rituals, or maybe things that I do that I consider to be self care, as a way to make me feel better about doing them! For me, laying on my bed & zoning out on the internet is my kind of self care. Sometimes it's just cleaning my room & doing laundry. In terms of clothes, I love folding all of my clothes very well. It's also very meditative - I love the repetitive action. I know that it will make me feel good afterwards as well, which is a very Virgo thing of me to do...like "future me is going to be happy about this!" Otherwise, I'm not big on the bath & face mask kind of self care, it's much more about taking my time to do basic tasks. For example, taking my time to eat or taking my time to clean. It's even knowing when it's time for me to just be alone & relax.
THE CLOSET
Q: WHAT ITEM CAN YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?
SOLÈNE: OUF! Underwear? lol. But I usually always have a bag. I do have a variety of different bags for my different moods, but they're always very organized. I think a bag is basically the one item that is always there with me.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ITEMS IN YOUR CLOSET?
S: My acid wash jeans are definitely becoming one of them. They make me feel very good! There's also this shirt I have, this really baggy one, that's like a spray painted hand with a screaming face on it & it makes me feel so badass! It's just so big & edgy. I have a lot of items that I got from my family that I love a lot as well. I will never be able to part with them because they mean so much to me! Wow, it's so difficult to only name a few! Ouh, I really love my green low Doc Martens too. They've been such a good staple & I found them thrifted at work.
Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHARING YOUR CLOTHES?
S: I'm a little possessive when it comes to sharing my clothes. I won't offer my things unless I'm feeling 100% good about it. Some pieces are very personal, especially the ones from my family, & I really cherish them. It's not necessarily because I wear them so often, but because they're sentimental to me. But it really depends on who I'm sharing it with. I'm also not that interested in borrowing other people's clothes because I'm really happy with mine! I'm very emotionally attached to my possessions.
I'm not gonna change how I feel about myself, just because you're looking at me.
CONFIDENTIAL
Q: WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST YOURSELF?
SOLÈNE: I feel the most myself when I'm wearing something that I love, I'm walking down the street & I don't care about what other people think. It's like having the mentality of "I'm not gonna change how I feel about myself, just because you're looking at me." That's when I feel the most authentic.
Q: WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL?
S: Recently, the past year or so, I've felt the most beautiful when I'm not wearing any makeup, when I'm bare faced. I think it's also when I feel the most authentic actually. Although, I'm not saying that wearing makeup makes you unauthentic in any way. Personally for me, I feel good when I'm not trying to hide myself. It also has a lot to do with the sensations or how I'm feeling. When I'm wearing something soft, or when my hair is freshly washed, or even when my skin is bare & can breathe. Honestly, I feel the most beautiful when I'm happy!
THANK YOU SOLÈNE FOR SHARING YOUR CLOSET WITH LION|OF|THE|CEA!
XX
PHOTOGRAPHY: CÉLINE BLAIS @babycealion
MODEL & STYLING: SOLÈNE @soso_bld
OUTFIT ANTHEM: FEMME FANTÔME BY LOCKHART
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