Style Analysis of Zoë

Zoë Grandstaff-Grüber is a freshman VMA major at Emerson College with an indefinable and versatile style. They play with different decades and inspirations while making sure they always feel comfortable in what they're wearing.

Taking inspiration and using pieces from her parent's, Zoë curated three looks to embody what their style encapsulates.

LOOK 1

Masculinity and Femininity

"Some days I wanna look feminine with some masc in it, ya know"

Zoë spoke on how, as someone who's nonbinary, they like to play with combining masculine and feminine pieces, as can be seen in this outfit. The frilly dress caters to her feminine side while the oversized flannel caters to her masculine side. As much of her clothing is taken from her parents, she can easily blend masculinity and femininity by incorporating pieces from her father's closet, such as the flannel in this picture, to add masculine energy to an outfit.

Parent's Inspiration

Zoë takes a lot of inspiration from the people around her she says, "I wouldn't have the style I have today without inspiration from the people I surround myself with". She spoke on how each outfit she wears is a blend between the outfits she takes from other people and her own natural style. Some key influences are their parents, they said, who are the people they look up to most in this world. Her mother's pictures from the 90s makes her want to dress more grunge sometimes to "exude Trace energy". Her father, has influenced her style and caused her dress more casual too, she says.

"I wish I could be cooler about it but I'm such a nerd when it comes to my parents, and I look up to them so much"

Overall this look is supposed to represent the grunge 90s style that Zoë tends to dress in. She's wearing a black mini dress from Urban Outfitters, and oversized blue flannel from her father, and Doc Martin boots.

LOOK 2

TOMBOY LOOK

Some days, Zoë says, she wants to "exude more masculine energy, or be feminine in the way a man's feminine". For her, the "tomboy look", that she titled this look, encapsulates that. One way to do it, they say, is to wear low rise pants with a crop top to try and emulate a baggy street style. They help add to the masculine energy that she likes incorporate into her look.

COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE

"If I'm not in an outfit where I feel comfortable I will not have a good day."

One of the best parts about this outfit for Zoë is how comfortable and confident it makes them feel. The low rise cargo pants not only fit their body type they say, they're also extremely comfortable to wear. "I just always want to feel comfortable in my body and love who I am as a person, which is something I've always worked on and had difficulty figuring out". Clothes are a tool that she uses to feel more comfortable and confident as herself. The first thing she thinks about when choosing and outfit is comfort, she says, which helps her feel more confident in return.

The T-Shirt

Elton John as inspiration

One of Zoë's favorite artist is Elton John, who they feel like has been a "big positive energy" in their life. It's one of their favorite shirts to wear because the Elton John graphic on the front reminds them of this artist.

Their shirt reminds them of all of the positive feelings they have associated with Elton John, such as first being introduced to him in sophomore year of high school or learning how to play "Your Song" on the ukulele and singing it with family and friends.

"Music plays such a big part in who I am and Elton John has been a big positive energy in my life."

LOOK 3

The bell bottom jeans and funky t-shirt add to Zoë's 70s style that she wants to emulate.

They can also be seen wearing their film camera, with a camera strap from the 70s as well.

Influence from the Decades

Standing out from the other two looks, this look definitely shows the influence Zoë gets from the 60s and 70s. Part of this is because of her love for the 70s, which she gained from listening to music and watching movies from that time. However, they also dress in lots of 90s grunge style. Zoë says this is because she doesn't limit herself to certain decades, and instead just dresses according to the energy that comes from the outfits and the confidence that comes with it.