Welcome back to Style Dossier, Gabrielle Royal’s column that profiles stylish queers across the country. For her latest edition of Style Dossier, Gabrielle is celebrating the style of Sarah Chatham: Urban savoir faire, lover of pop-culture, fashion and film. LA-based , East Side reppin’, Silver Lake. Bad- a** bartender. Stylist, Filmmaker. Actor. Lover. Friend. Gender fluid, they/theirs.
Outfit details: Vintage peewee football jersey (Rose Bowl flea mkt). Represent CLo distressed biker jeans (representclo.com). Feathers stripped long length stripped tank (urbanoutfitters.com). Timberland LTD snow boots (timberland.com).
Gabrielle: Who is your biggest fashion icon and why?
Sarah: Prince is my ultimate style icon. My siblings are nine, twelve, and sixteen years older than me, and being surrounded by teenagers I was submerged in pop-culture as a toddler. His style is androgynous, rock and roll, and soulful all at the same time.
Gabrielle: How much of your personal style is influenced by your identity?
Sarah: I would say that my personal style and my identity are interwoven. My style is queer because it is mine, and I am queer.
Gabrielle: Why is queer visibility important and how does fashion help create space for members of our community?
Sarah: Queer visibility is important because we exist. Despite criticism and judgment from those outside the community, we should be represented as an equal part to society. LGBTQ should be shown in an array of colors shapes sizes, and styles. I think that fashion is a great place for LGBTQ to come together, because it is artistic expression, it is inspirational and makes a bold statement.
Gabrielle: What challenges do you face in your profession, if any, as an LGBTQ person?
Sarah: Sometimes working within the service industry, where there are male and female uniforms, I typically ask for the male uniform, as I feel more comfortable in it. The fact that some employers don’t understand this or have a problem with it is frustrating. I feel like 2016 is extremely progressive and my generation is more open and awake than ever, but moments like this set us back hundreds of years.
Outfit details: Vintage Wrangler denim short sleeve button up (Rose Bowl flea mkt). Topman skinny jeans custom distress (topman.com). Keds (keds.com).
Gabrielle: Tell us about your biggest fashion and/or shopping fail.
Sarah: I love thrifting and shopping on eBay for deals. In the same week I managed to buy pants too big and shoes too small, back to back.
Gabrielle: What advice would you give our readership? What advice can you offer to people who fit outside of society’s understanding of traditionally masculine and feminine styles?
Sarah: Go with your gut. If it feels good, it looks good. People are really not all that different, but it is the little differences that make our world vibrant. Take time to express your little differences.
Gabrielle: Tell us something unique about yourself.
Sarah: I love traveling and have visited 7 countries.
Gabrielle: How did you hear about dapperQ? Why were you interested in a feature?
Sarah: I caught wind of dapperQ thanks to a friend on Instagram. I wanted o be featured to have my voice heard, and to been represented as a part of the community. Hopefully something I said, or wore will inspire someone else.
Outfit details: Dope shirtsleeve distressed hoodie with flannel underlay (dope.com). Represent CLo distressed biker jeans (representclo.com) Doc Marten boots (drmartens.com).
Stay connected with Sarah:
IG : streetfitter
Snapchat: S_pinche
Photography Credit:
Melissa Yu http://www.melissayu.com
Mars Arayza [email protected]
Lina Chang: Linakai_
