Hey, I Like Your Style! Exploring the wardrobe of Sydney model, Akira Lopez
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKI MIKKA
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“I really love so many of the memories I have attached to clothes.”
We know personal style is a journey (I’m looking at you, Tumblr years), so we’ve introduced a new series Hey, I Like Your Style!, diving into the fashion psyche of our favourite creatives. We’re talking the good, the bad and the 2007.
While the internet has made our fashion icons feel closer than ever before, even the most effortless of outfits came from a closet with some (well-dressed) skeletons. Clickable product tags, photo archives and lives chronicled in 30-second clips just don’t tell the full story.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
These are the stories behind the wardrobes, exploring how we develop our own personal style. There’s a brilliance behind the way we choose to express ourselves and at FJ, we know every outfit has a story.
This week, we’re taking a step inside the wardrobe of Sydney-based model, Akira Lopez. Growing up on the internet, Akira describes her style evolution as a kind of “digital kaleidoscope”. Growing up as a mixed-race kid in the early 2000s, she found a fashion community on Tumblr and started experimenting with self-expression from there. These days, Akira’s wardrobe is comprised of local designer pieces, cargo pants and surrealist accessories. Take a peek into her style evolution below.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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My name is Akira. I am a model who is from Sydney. I enjoy wearing layered… and statement pieces. I am an avid lover of platform shoes and surrealist jewellery.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
Reflecting on my style evolution is like looking into a digital kaleidoscope. I see the colour red mainly (my favourite to wear). The real prompt for me diving into finding my own… personal style was joining the website Tumblr, at perhaps a questionably early age (turning 13 years old in 2012)… shortly after signing up, I bought myself a Bart Simpson x Jeremy Scott black replica knit. A funny purchase in hindsight.
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Consuming loads of media time and gaming regularly always made me want to ‘customise’ my wardrobe, so to speak. It definitely looked like a heap of graphic band tees and anorak jackets at first… [and] wearing light blue high-waisted jeans and Nike Cortez sneakers.
There was so much lacking growing up for me as a mixed-race kid… in Australia culturally in the early 2000s and 2010s. The oversaturated ‘beach-blonde’ ideal hurt. When I faced discrimination, I drew a lot of attention to my own self-expression. So my Tumblr rose from that. I gradually stopped straightening my hair…
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Starting that platform… helped me push diverse fashion representation on my own blog. After that, I started my own Instagram in 2014 and made it public in 2016. Being online and modelling as well ended up leading me to… a ton of amazingly talented like-minded people, cultivating relationships with cool brands and speaking to an online audience.
Nowadays, an outfit may look how I envisioned it before an event… or it may look like I forgot to take my narcolepsy medication (only I can joke about that). I do feel confident in the way I dress. Maybe my confidence went up and down when I was younger, but I don’t count my bad days.
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Since I really don’t want to dress to impress others, I just dress like my own superhero… especially for that version of me who felt out of place in the past. Hopefully, it inspires someone to feel that way about themselves too. My style won’t stop growing. The best part of that is seeing myself shine outwardly. I have learnt that fashion can… [help] with self-discovery.
Gradually, I have realised my style evolution paints a picture of each new expression. Each day – messy, vacant or pretty, is fine with me.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
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Now while I know my teenage years were spent not giving a damn and probably acting awkward… I definitely do have some regrets to admit. There was one stage where I consistently wore an oversized denim shirt, striped tees and sweatpants. It was a uniform for a while and it definitely kept me cosy. I also tried that ’70s style and it lasted a couple of months, ain’t for me personally.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
The most expensive items are my red Maison Margiela Tabi boots and my metallic New Rock platforms. The least expensive items are my neverending collection of hair clips.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
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This is hard to answer! I really love so many of the memories I have attached to clothes. Some of my most meaningful items would be my brown terrycloth I’m Sorry by Petra Collins vest, Desert Hideaway Earrings by Hannah Jewett, pink Emily the Strange tote and my Yoshimoto Nara ‘I Will Rock You’ shirt. Also my Akira merch (named after the anime, have to keep the legacy going) and cardigan collection!
Who or what influences your style?
There are amazing people, music and art influences I can name for sure that have inspired me… Grace Jones, The Smashing Pumpkins and their albums, characters in art. Particularly Yoshitaka Amano’s illustrations currently, love his character’s outfits. ’90s fashion and skate style too.
What fashion item are you saving for right now?
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I am saving for a Nodress Blue Fishtail Midi Skirt.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
I definitely wear cargos on repeat. So many pockets. Also, room to fill them with trinkets. Leg warmers too and interesting long socks! Satchel bags are great also.
Who are your favourite local designers?
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Speed is a stunning local brand. The designer has an amazing futuristic flow and I think she really captures fluidity with grace yet also sharpness. I love the ‘slit skirt’ in particular.
You can follow Akira for more looks here.
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