Introducing Samy

“My studio is my personal space. It's an extension of me, a vision of what's inside my mind”, Samy tells us, as they show as round a gallery, dedicated to the study of artists. It’s a functional and luxurious tattoo parlor in the back, and a photo studio and Samy’s painting studio in the front, separated by a drawing desk and bookshelf stacked with art books. After getting a Masters Degree in Fine Art, an Honors Degree in Art History, and Graduate Degrees in both Contemporary Art and Curatorship, at 27 years old, Samy opted out of their PHD and put study on hold to learn more about themselves and the world. They moved to New York City from Melbourne twice in the space of six months and began tattooing again. Eventually tattooing became not only their full time job but also a ticket to see the world; living first in Berlin and then in New York. Places they can add to their long list of places traveled include Tel Aviv, Greece, Canada, England and pretty much every major city in Europe.

Samy's dad was an artist, and a tattooist, before them and Samy describes the many nights spent watching him tattoo other adults over the kitchen table by candlelight. Listening to records that played on a turntable jerry rigged to a car battery. Surrounded by a collection of misfits, artists, poets, women that used to be groupies, some that were muses and others just turned up and left a day or so later. They dressed avant-garde, they played instruments by the fire and, they fondly recall, “I guess in one way or another they were all criminals, their crimes either real or imagined. Everybody had a story, and I guess their stories are now part of mine”.

Samy would describe themselves as “a maximalist”, who loves all the things they love to be all around them all the time where they can see them, but they’ve had to compromise with the loft living space they share in New York with their partner Monty, who likes things to be a little more minimalist, or at least for things to have a place. As we sit down beside a towering floor to ceiling bookshelf, Samy talks us through her style and her adventures.

Let’s start with having you explain your style to us, Samy...

Just like me my style is evolving. Before meeting Monty, I was very into wearing monochrome black, as was she actually. Then we introduced a color here or there. It's always about the details. My body fluctuates between a 10 and a 14 US. Because of this, I could never have a one outfit rule. High waisted skinny Jeans look great on me some days - and a disaster others. So instead of wearing trends I learnt the importance of building my own visual narrative. 

Accessories. When it comes to handbags and purses I always opt for independent small run designers or leathersmiths for something a little different. I wear oversized fanny packs from Nike and Supreme and a smaller plastic Adidas one when I go on my collecting rubbish (trash) walks. I buy a lot of bags but truly it's the first line of vintage legacy that I know I'll have for the rest of my life.

Hats. Wide hard brim leather. I also have a collection of wide brim leathers that I've picked up here or there, some vintage berets and a few caps and beanies etc. 

Jewelry. Two identical gold and silver 1980s YSL watches on my right wrist set at the same time. On my right hand a Tessa Metcalfe sterling and 24k gold claw ring with an opal stacked below a Vivienne Westwood animal hoof sterling ring.

On any given day I'll wear anything from stacks of vintage pearls to crystal diamantes to random pieces of leather I'll find and tie around my wrist or neck.  I'll flip between Versace high waisted jeans to Nike leggings to dress slacks all before lunch, then I'll jump into some overalls before throwing on a loud bright patterned 80’s gown and some sneakers. I match torn stained shirts with soft silk slip dresses and combat boots. 

I only have one small pair of heels. I like to wear them with socks and my paint covered jumpsuit. 

Whatever I wear is an extension of me and my mood that day. If I leave the house and I've not been genuine in my dressing process I will feel it all day; like a small rock in your shoe that you just can't get to. When I nail an outfit to a mood it's instantly an elevator. I know I look good and my mood lifts with it, and in the right jeans- so does my ass. 

Would your friends describe your style any differently do you think?

Not at all. I'm wild when I dress but I pull it in at the last minute when needed to and they know that. When they see my rows of clothes they always smile and pick out random things and for everything I have a story or a reason and they shake their head. But when they challenge me on something and I turn a look to it they always laugh and apologize.

Thinking of your friends, what’s your ‘style/fashion role’ in the group?

I'm the friend that everyone takes shopping because I won't lie to them and I will support wild choices if they look as good as they feel in them. Also when I think about my friends and what they wear they all wear my clothes. When I think about my more style conscious friends I definitely hold influence, not just in what they wear but the way they view clothes. We talk about clothes a lot and the romance they hold. You can't teach authenticity but you can appreciate style, honesty and the joy of dressing when you are in our presence. 

Who inspires you style-wise?

The blog Style Like U and its predecessors were really important to me when I was younger and learning about who I am and how I can show that through what I wear. Also anyone who can cultivate a style trend and own it. 

Painter David Hockney in his 20s could easily be the cute gender questioning queer barista making your coffee today. 

Michele Lamy scares the s**t out of me but you can't argue that the woman has a well put together visual language. 

Also artist Monica Canilao has consistently served, even if it's only on a local scale. 

In the public eye, whose style do you admire and are influenced by?

Jemima Kirke either as herself or as Jessa in Girls. Jessa shows her emotions through clothes she wears, not only as armor, but as an aura that she can control and at times hide behind. Jemima clothes feel honest, a representation of her emotional state and activity. Or at minimum she acts the role she has cast for herself to play to perfection; in an oversized jumper eating fried chicken or painting barefoot in her studio she is style personified to perfection. 

Let's talk about Mary-Kate and Ashley. Are they style lords because they are skinny tiny women or are they skinny tiny women because they are style lords? I don't care what they are wearing or what they are doing or who they were or now are but when I see them I can not, not pause. Why is that? This unlocks something deep inside me that I both nourish and fear. 

If you could ‘steal’ one person [in the public eye’s] closet, whose closet would you steal and why?

Assuming everything is tailored to suit my frame and I looked as good in it as she did…. Everything Jemima Kirke has worn ever.

Jean-Michel Basquiat. You didn't say that they had to be living but rather implied that they should be relevant. His paint covered Armani Suits (I'm currently only painting in Comme des Garcon) and torn sweaters, tattered rags and fancy pieces. What he wore when he was poor and rich and healthy and sick and a nobody and then famous. Nothing tailored because fashion is clothes, trends, styles. But the energy and legacy in the clothes of Jean-Michel including the way he wore them is style and style is the romance that makes life worth living. 

Where are the other places you’re getting style/fashion influence from?

Traveling is an interesting one to mention. I believe that experiencing new things and the energy that brings will stay in the fabrics that adorn you. That when your energy grows as does the energy of the items. That each experience shared with one bonds me closer to it. I collect pieces as I travel, at minimum something from each new country or city.

I feel different versions of myself emerge in different cities, and I have learned to pack accordingly or purchase wisely and pay for extra luggage onto the next stop. In New York I feel powerful, confident and owning my visual narrative, flaws and all. In New York I am Annie Hall. Sally Albright and Frances Ha at once. In Paris I feel large and consciously dress to appear smaller. Not thinner. All round smaller. In Venice I sleep till noon, drink espresso and draw until dusk and then drink chilled red wine at the local spot, I tip well and keep to myself. Outside at the cafe I kick off my shoes and sit cross legged on the bar stool.

My hair is a mess and sticks to my body during the day and curls to the top of my head at night. Everyone in Venice wears white. I am not someone that can wear white easily. I drink coffee and red wine, I eat fruit from stands and charred corn, I eat pesto slowly while reading in the near dark. I never wear shoes and my lipstick gets on everything.

Where are your three favourite stores to shop in for clothing/apparel?

My great love is thrifting. Markets specifically. I honestly feel like you can learn a lot about a place's culture from the local thrift market. The things people throw away or try to sell are things they once brought and probably really enjoyed for a time until they didn't. I like walking the line between someone else's experience and my own. 

What other stores/spaces are you shopping in and why?

I like going to the PAM stores because they have great art from local artists and they have an artist build their racks and plinths. It's all very textual. They also stock zines and books and let us try on and dance and play in the store before we make our purchases and leave happy.

What are your top priorities when it comes to buying new items of clothing?

Store experience is number one. I'm sensitive to loud noises and rude people so a bad environment will have me walk out over the perfect outfit everyday. 

Ethical Practice and Sustainability.

Energy.

And then, why do those things matter to you in the order they do?

Experience - It's wild to me that high end stores still discriminate against clients because of the way they look. 

Energy - How it's made, why it's made, who made it, where they made it, who is selling it, where they are selling it and how is all energy and that energy plays a major part in the end result. Will I buy, or won’t I? Does this item make me feel good or guilty? Does it elevate me or pull me down? 

How many pairs of shoes, any shoes, do you own?

41 pairs.

If you had to split them up into categories and write a percentage next to them [what, math!] what would that look like?

Slides - 3

Leather boots - 10

Sneakers - 12

Dress shoes - 11

Misc - 5

What type of shoe would we typically find you in, if you there is a ‘typical shoe’ for you?

Black vintage leather flat ankle boots.

A unique loafer.

And what are the most important things for you when it comes to buying your favorite kind of shoe?

I can't do heels.

I can't do faux leather.

Shoes should be sculptural and functional and mostly comfortable.

Even a red wine stain down a white linen dress can be more forgiving. 

And what about your favorite shoe stores, again - on or offline? What makes them your favorite stores?

Online - Vestiaire Collective, Depop.

IRL - The gift store at any art gallery,