“In L.A. they call me Boston. In Boston, they call me bossy…”
Sahra Nguyen (UCLA student, activist, artist, mover, and shaker)

Sahra Nguyen hailing from Boston, residing in Santa Monica, and shot-calling worldwide, took some time out of her hectic schedule to tell LA.CityZine what’s good with street fashion in the City of Angels.

What is L.A. street fashion?

To me, L.A. street fashion means, “I don’t give a fuck” about what anybody else thinks. The beautiful thing about L.A. is that it’s the biggest conglomerate of culture within a city I’ve ever seen, and culture is defined by the distinctiveness of individuals. So individualism really is timeless. From what I’ve seen, L.A. street fashion is more than just a trend
it’s a fucking lifestyle! You wear what you do because you rock it with confidence. Coordinating—not matching—is so key. I hate it when people wear red on red on red and think they’re the shit. That kind of matching requires no creative eye. So, coordinating means being creative with how different colors, patterns, shapes and accessories match, contrast or compliment each other. And if we’re talking about street fashion, I also believe it’s about complimenting your environment. How are you gonna stand out as an individual from everyone around you? How do you wanna make yourself pop out against the concrete jungle?

How has this city changed your style?

For the most part, I’m more of a minimalist on the daily. I think simple is sexy. Sometimes I feel like a cartoon character because I’ll be wearing a clean white tee and jeans for as many days of the week as I can get away with. So I definitely think this city has made me more bold and fearless with my style. It’s challenged me to take more risks in terms of what I can wear or pull off—being more creative with colors and patterns. There’s hella pressure in L.A. to look good or fit a certain standard. But I’ve come to realize that looking good is about feeling good, and honestly, anything goes so long as you can believe in it. It may sound corny, but damn
it’s true! Threads may matter, but at the end of the day you can shed all that. What matters more is your positive attitude and personality that remains constant and present through every outfit.

What are you tired of seeing people wear? The SHUTTER SHADES! Die! It began and ended with Kanye. Also, hyper colors that can outshine a liquor store. Bright colors are great, but not when they’re overdone.

What’s something you see happening in the future of L.A. fashion?

More of a D.I.Y. flair. More and more I’m noticing that people want to stand out and be individualistic (which is tight!) through customized designs. So I feel like people are looking for more control over their style, and if they can achieve that through a hands-on approach, D.I.Y. can be a hit.

What do you wear on a daily basis?

Chucks for the walking, my always present lip ring, hoop earrings and a simple chain that hangs low.

Does your work as an activist influence your style?

Sometimes. As an activist, you feel a lot of pressure to be so grassroots until everything is anti-consumerist, anti-capitalist that it feels like you’re suppose to be wearing organic, Ghandi-approved threads. But the reality is, you might not always be able to escape the consumerist, capitalist culture you want to defy because everything is so interconnected, but being conscious through it all is definitely the first, critical step. Also, as an activist, you worry that certain people won’t take you seriously if you look a certain way; but then honestly, real people who are down for you or down for the movement don’t judge. And rocking a Che shirt nowadays doesn’t make you any more of a revolutionary than the next, pop-culture- Venice Beach-feigning character. But once again, activist or not, style is about self-love and the confidence you carry to rock anything right.

Give me your top three shopping spots in L.A.

Hmmm
that’s hard to say because I don’t really shop in L.A. Honestly, I like to shop in my closet back home (Boston) when I visit every few months and recycle old threads. Seriously, with every trip from LA to Boston, I bring things from my LA closet that I want to put on the shelf for a while, then make room to bring back clothes from my Boston closet. It’s like a hot blast from the past. I’d be bringing out 555 Soul Hoodies from the tenth grade when it was still cool and before they started showing up everywhere at Urban Outfitters. And them Lacoste shirts when all the refugees (literally) were rocking them in the 70’s and 80’s because they were dirt cheap at Bradlee’s (discontinued drug store). It’s funny how fashion works. It’s like somebody woke up one morning and said, “Lacoste, you’re cool!” and BAM! you got seventy dollar polos. But for those who obviously can’t rummage through my closet, I’d say top three shopping spots in L.A. would be Melrose Ave., Wasteland and American Apparel (if you can reconcile with the sleaziness of AA owner and the numerous sexual harassment lawsuits filed against him).

Thanks, Sahra!
(Photos by Jennifer Nguyen)

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