Street Snaps: Lessons in Mixing
How is everyone doing this week? Feeling insane yet? School getting you in a tizzy? Year-end plans already feeling hectic? Take a chill pill my man! Our great city is full of music and lights and art! Like for real, read the blog and find out! This week’s interview comes from Highwire Gallery, where I went to see a friend’s amazing acapella group (think beautiful haunting folk melodies, not Rockapella) and found this amazingly dressed person. How often do you see such good layering of patterns like this? I also have a thing for people with curly hair that make their curls work for them. Shall we continue?
“My name is Helena and I live in Philadelphia.”
How would you describe your style and dress? What informs what you look like, or would like to look like?
“I just like colors and patterns and especially a lot of different patterns and colors thrown together.”
Are there certain places that you find inspiration from, like magazines or people on the street?
“No, not really. It’s funny, when I look at myself usually I realize that half of the stuff I wear are things that people have given me. Cause I have friends and family that are like [makes flouncy hands], and they think of me and they think, oh it would suit her. Like my mom made my dress, for instance. I can’t sew, unfortunately. But I know what I want her to sew, so I give her order instructions, and then she makes them for me. So a lot of my clothes are either from her or my grandma. Sometimes I actually use my grandma’s old clothes that are now like, probably forty years old or something. I really — cause she’s not around anymore, she died a few years ago — and when I wear her clothes, they’re awesome. They have a lot of good patterns.”
Are you wearing something awesome today that you really like?
“That I’m wearing today? I like these green boots. They’re really comfortable, and I like the color.”
Yeah, I like the offset — what is it, um, red and green are complimentary, so green and pink… Well, okay, is there anything about Philadelphia and the way people dress here that you think is particular or that you wish people would do less or more of?
“Hmm. Umm, wow. I don’t know. I guess I never look at fashion. I don’t care much about fashion. If somebody has something particularly awesome, I will notice it, but dress and style, it’s not really a huge concern to me.”
Word. Well, back in the day if I would ask this question on a college campus they would say, oh I wish they would put on some damn clothes and stop wearing sweatpants everywhere!
“Ah! Well, I do think sometimes that people are way too subdued in their clothing. Because what I respond to is usually when people have something really strong and vibrant, and patterns. So sometimes I wish for more of that.”
Yeah meee too. On that note, what’s your current obsession?
“Well I guess it’s music, always.”
Any particular kind that you wish other people listened to?
“It’s so hard! But I dunno, I play cello and so all the string music for me is amazing and incredible.”
Cool. Then finally, do you have any shout-outs for anyone or anything you want to say to Philadelphia?
“I don’t know. I’m kind of shy. I usually don’t feel like I have things to tell anybody. Thanks for asking.” [laughs]
Right afterward the interview, Helena’s friend, Derek, interjected and told me that she was completely not telling me about the fact that she’s the cellist in an ‘awesome heavy psychedelic band,’ Espers. Do you like psych folk? I hear they are good. Do you like cello music? Helena is playing at Highwire Gallery in Fishtown this Saturday the 4th with the lovely ethereal duo ARBOREA. Show starts at 8!