“Let’s talk about everything and nothing!” That’s how Juliatpe, or just Julia, invites her followers to dive into her digital diary: fashion and trends. A lifestyle that calls for summer evenings with friends, homemade pasta, vacation, and vintage shoes. And, a personality that is not only fresh but also charmingly relatable. On the contrary, Jermaine Faust, an uprising digital creator, inspires thousands of people with his personal style – an aesthetic that combines quiet minimalism and classic streetwear. Together Jermaine and Julia have over 221.000 follower on Instagram. All that, and they’re only just in the beginning of their 20s.
In collaboration with Calvin Klein, SLEEK met Julia and Jermaine and talked about, what fashion means to them, how they use new trends to reinvent themselves and how they can channel their style with pieces from Calvin Klein’s Fall 2023 collection.
JERMAINE
SLEEK: When did you first start styling your own outfits?
Jermaine F.: I started to get into fashion and create my own outfits in 2017 when I finished school. At this time I started to work and earn my own money. In the beginning, it was more of a hobby and I was often inspired by others on social media. But I didn’t have the fashion know-how like I do now. Looking back, I’ve come a long way. My first styled outfits were not that amazing but we all have to start somewhere. I always tell myself, there’s no growth without mistakes.
S: What piece can’t be missed in your daily outfits?
JF: That’s definitely the wide-leg pants, baggy jeans and cargos. I love the way these types of pants fall on my sneakers – it makes the fit way softer and more elegant.
S: Do you use clothes as a tool to express yourself or your daily mood?
JF: No, my clothes and outfits have nothing to do with my daily mood. Most of the time, I have my main focus on one piece, like a pair of sneakers or a hoodie I want to wear. The rest of the outfit is built from that base. For example, from the CK Fall 2023 collection, I would definitely choose the “High-Rise Straight Jeans” in purple as the base. These pants would bring my outfits to a new level and offer some variety.
S: What eras of styles did you have when growing up?
JF: I was born in March 2000, but I wasn’t really into fashion growing up. So I didn’t really recognize the different fashion eras and their significance to the style now. I have always listened to old-school music since I was a kid and watched the music videos of that time – that gave me an introduction to style: the baggy tracksuits, low waist pants, baggy pants, oversized shirts, etc.
S: What do you want your clothing to say about you?
JF: I just want to inspire people with my outfits and catch some eyes. I also want to give people the confidence to wear whatever they want.
S: How was your journey to find your own style?
JF: It was a long process, as I mentioned earlier. I just started to buy clothes at the age of 17 when I earned my first money. But I had no clue about what styles people were turning to. Over time, I became inspired by others on Instagram or Pinterest and looked at their outfits so I started to get an eye for classy, streetwear, high fashion, old money fashion, and so on. When I started to work as a Content Creator, I began to combine the outfits I had at this time. I wanted to see and compare the different styles on myself, how they would look, and how I could work with them. With time, I got a good sense of what colors and clothes match each other and which ones don’t. I found my favorite fashion type in simple but clean outfits under the style of streetwear.
JULIA
SLEEK: When did you first start styling your own outfits?
Julia T.: Since I was a little girl, I loved to play „Dressing up“, wearing my mom’s clothes and choosing my own outfits. I always showed interest in fashion and clothes, this interest increased throughout the years and I developed my taste and the feeling of what pieces match together in my opinion.
S: What piece can’t be missed in your daily outfits?
JT: That’s a hard one. I guess, I’d choose a bag. A bag makes the outfit look put together and is very efficient since I throw all of my daily essentials in there. But other than that, I’d say a denim jacket. The “Cropped 90s Jacket” from the Calvin Klein Fall23 collection for example is honestly a keeper. I love the timeless aspect a good denim jacket has. You can simply just throw it over and it gives a cool but simultaneously fashionable look. If you want an eye-catcher, but not be too obvious, the metallic shiny denim trousers and jacket are perfect. The set combines the feeling of glamour and coolness, which I like.
S: Do you use clothes as a tool to express yourself or your daily mood?
JT: Definitely. Clothes have the ability to generate certain feelings. An outfit can make you feel confident, girly, cool, sexy, or cozy. You can hide or show off and also choose how you want other people to perceive you. I’d say my outfits do match my daily mood.
S: What eras of styles did you have when growing up?
JT: The first phase that comes to mind thinking about the question is the “bare midriff-phase“ when I was around age 13. No matter the weather, my top needed to be cropped or knotted. I also went through the “high-waisted trousers only” phase.
S: What do you want your clothing to say about you?
JT: Confidence, self-love, self-care. When creating an outfit, I focus on how I feel in it. It should make me feel good and put together because this results in the listed points.
S: How was your journey to find your own style?
JT: Looking back at the different phases, outfits, clothes I had, I feel amused. There is a development of taste happening throughout all the years of interest in clothes. I learned so much about styling, materials, cuts but first and foremost about myself. Finding yourself helps you find what you like, which then allows you to recognize that at the end of the day, you only dress for yourself. This allows you to know how you want to feel in an outfit.
Julia and Jermaine are wearing pieces from the Calvin Klein Fall 2023 collection.
Credits
Photography: Rakuto Makino
Styling: Joana Zibat
Hair and Makeup Artist: Florina Vyas
Talents: Julia @martensgarten, Jermaine @visionary.services
Fashion Assistant: Denys Sadovoy
Photo Assistant: Emi Iguchi