Introducing Dekota

Dekota moved from Manhattan to New Jersey with his dog at the start of the pandemic because his partner has a place here, after living for seven years across the river. “I felt like I didn’t have much time to breathe at all and was really consumed with work”, he explained to us, talking about his job working as an Assistant Manager for the New York Nanushka store. Now he only works one day a week, and is looking towards starting up his own store when all this is over. “I’ve always been very hard working and super reliable with work, I can’t do a bad job. I’m a Capricorn”, he told us. The change of location has meant a change of pace for him, taking up running during the pandemic, and spending more time with his dog. He still finds time for hunting through thrift shops though – something he’s done since he was a teenager – but avoids the pitfalls of second hand shopping by trying to get rid of something whenever he buys something new.

His home is unsurprisingly warm and inviting, calm and cozy, decorated minimally in beiges and creams, with plants growing all over; a quiet nod to the countryside he grew up in. Although since the pandemic he’s enjoyed finding time to see friends again (“I treat the friends in my inner circle like gold”), and has had them over to his house or traveled back to see them in Manhattan, it’s only been to say goodbye as he’s planning to get married in the next few months and move to LA. For the moment though, this is life for him. We sat down with him to talk about what that life is like and what’s in store for him next.

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

I think overall my style is way more casual than it used to be. I don’t love clothes that are close to the body or form fitting. I don’t wear a lot of color but I like to incorporate pops of color with say bags or jewelry. I feel like those minimal or basic outfits really do speak differently when you add a really cool necklace or really cool pair of shoes. When you have elements of those classic pieces in your wardrobe, it can take you anywhere you need to go. If you need to dress up a little bit, you totally can. I always like to be dressed for any occasion and I think my style allows for that.

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

I know that my friends say I’m chic, so! I like that. I think that goes back to having a very classic, very elegant aesthetic. I love The Row, I would never pay their prices but I do like that very clean classic look. Now I play around with a lot more color for sure, but I think overall you’re still getting the same silhouettes. They would say my style is easy and effortless. But I’m always thinking about what my next purchase might be or thinking of outfits so there is quite a bit of effort involved!

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

My friends would say I don’t ever look like I try, because I don’t. I spend a lot of time on the internet, especially now I have a lot of free time. I’m not really on my phone that much but I’m always plugged into the internet somewhere, on something. I help my friends find things that they’ve seen, they come to me for a lot of things. I’ll know where things are from and probably where there’s an alternative. I don’t think I’m a leader, I would say I’m an inspiration I guess, because typically I am someone that's really good at sourcing things and alternatives.

Who inspires you style-wise?

For me there’s never been one singular person that I’ve drawn inspiration from, it’s more eras and certain time periods that I’ve gotten inspiration from, or places I’ve visited. My first time visiting the Mediterranean, I went to Greece for my partner's birthday, for me I was really inspired there. People didn’t try and it was all super effortless. That aesthetic of oversized button up shirt, with a really lived in pair of denim shorts, easy linen trousers. I love that aesthetic. They’ve gotten their jewelry from a market or street vendor. I find a lot of inspiration from that. I would say designers though, Jacquemus has been my go to in terms of summer wear, love that sort of south of France aesthetic, very fun and easy. New places and experiences are more inspiring to me than people.

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

I’ve always really admired Carolyn Bessett Kennedy. She was very chic and easy, but very elegant. I see images of her just wearing a simple straight leg blue jean with white t-shirt, black blazer and bandana with black rectangle sunglasses - to me that’s the epitome of classic style, love her. I actually really like Hailey Bieber at the moment too. She always looks very put together and sophisticated, especially for her age. I enjoy Shia Lebouf’s off-duty Dad look as well. I follow a few Instagram accounts of his style, there are elements of his style that I like a lot. He has a confidence that I like.

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

There's an influencer I like on Instagram, Brittany Bathgate, I would steal her style. Her silhouettes are always really great, it’s a little more minimal than mine is, but I’ve always really liked her take on incorporating menswear which works for me too, I’ve followed her forever.

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

I would definitely say the streets, it’s been great to see the city come back to life recently. See what people have been buying and not debuting in real life. People have been showing out here 100% now, which is so good to see. I would also say I get a lot of inspiration from the seventies and disco wear, so for instance I watched Halston on Netflix, I feel like it re-sparked my love of vintage and glamour, the draping silks. I purchased this book called the New Black Vanguard, which is really cool. It features black celebrities and photographers, taste makers. I got a lot of inspiration from that as it’s just a collection of so many different styles and seeing designers and stylists in one place. I’ve been getting some inspiration from Africa, looking back at my parents and grandparents and even though they didn’t have a lot they really took pride in how they look. You feel the essence of that, it’s not even a certain look, it’s a mood.

When it comes to Streetwear right now, what’s the exciting stuff happening in the culture?

I would say the reemergence of this sort of Gen Z Y2K fashion, which is fun to see but is also a little daunting. It’s very weird, that one designer Bluemarine does that style to a T. It’ll be low waist mini skirts and denim, big sneakers and cropped shrunken hooded jackets and it is the strangest thing as this is literally how we dressed in middle school. You start to see that now in Editorials, Gen Z really has influence in the streets, and on the direction fashion is going towards, especially here in NY. I think that’s how most people are dressing that are currently under the age of 30.

What are the things happening that frustrate you or cause friction?

The super hardcore streetwear can be frustrating. I think people shouldn’t be just about Supreme or sneakers, or bomber jackets. I think it’s more about what the average normal person is wearing, in their lives. I think that’s what the true definition of streetwear is. For me it’s like, what am I seeing that people are wearing? What is the trend? When things are blatantly streetwear, like Supreme and Casablanca - I would never attempt, it’s just not me. I don’t like that label, it’s so in your face. I like a subtle label, but when it’s just slammed in your face it’s a no.

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

In store - I would say Nanushka, I mean I work there but it’s very much my style, the menswear is amazing. I shop there with my discount, even though the discount is garbage. 

Uniqlo - I shop there at least once every two weeks, I go there for all my basics and their Uniqlo U line feels like it was designed for me. 

Frankie Shop - I’ve been buying a lot of stuff from them.

What is it about these stores that make them your favorite/preferred place to shop?

Frankie Shop their style is very classy, it’s trendy without being too trend driven. They are that trendy store for people that are a bit more classic and that’s why I like them. The luxury vibes but way more affordable and I think that’s why I like them. To me, they offer a look for less. I go to them for my signature pieces. They do every occasion wear for a reasonable price. It’s one of those brands where I feel unless you know, you know. Not everyone has heard of it, it’s a bit more exclusive.

Does the experience of those stores matter to you too?

Uniqlo, it’s just easy to shop there. There’s also multiple colors, it’s very shopper friendly. Usually pretty organized and I know what I’m going to get and it’s great quality for a really great price point. When I begin to pay a little more money, I expect a certain level of customer experience, I expect people to talk to me when I walk in, I expect it to be a very welcoming environment. I’m not going to buy something from somewhere that people don’t talk to me, or if it feels cold. And especially now, people really need to work hard for that sale, for that money, because the money we’re spending is our money, it’s not come from nowhere. I want it to feel special. I don’t want to walk away thinking I could have just got that somewhere else or online.

The Frankie Shop, it’s not a super aggressive price point but the girls in there are laid-back and will have a conversation with you, and they “get it”.  It should be a destination. If you’re going to leave your house, on a hot subway and walk a mile to buy something and if you’re going to spend a lot it should be worth it. At Nanushka. we’re such a small team, only 5 of us on staff, for us we are the destination because we’re the only store in the US, and there’s only 3 stores overall. Everyone that walks in we really want to offer them top level service, and make their experience worth it. People are able to travel again now, and people are coming to our store specifically to try on Nanushka, because who wants to order it online when they can’t even try it on? The brand really takes pride in the experience and the aesthetics. If people are taking their time to come visit us, I want them to feel like their trip is worth it.

Going a little more specific, what are your top five favorite brands?

JW Anderson and Loewe - both very different which is why I like them. JW Anderson is really fun and quirky, and for me I’m able to to incorporate some of those pieces in to my more classic style. I like some branding sometimes too. Like a JW bucket hat paired with a simpler outfit. The aesthetic is really fun, they can elevate your outfit.

Loewe - they are my go-to for bags, I’ve bought maybe four in the past year. They’re SO well made and you can’t go back once you purchase something like that. It’s one of those brands it feels like again like if you know, you know. It’s a top level of sophistication, the puzzle bag has really done it’s work. Cost per wear has definitely been worth it.

Lemaire - it’s really well made and the tailoring is really good. I have a few pairs of their pants. They also did the Uniqlo U line, he’s such a great designer because he can design for a main market but is still able to offer that real quality to Uniqlo customers and luxury customers. The fit is really good, what I spend my money on, ready to wear, can I find this anywhere else? No, then I’m just throwing money right here. I love his pants and suiting, and sometimes has that retro/70’s vibe which I’m obsessed with. He stays consistent to what he does, to me that's what I look for in a really good designer.

Jacquemus for sure, their summer/spring is my go to. I always buy at least 2 or 3 pieces from each collection, usually on sale. It’s always just fun, and especially going on vacations more I’ll buy more of his stuff. It’s easy, it fits me well, he designs for a male with a male body which is hard for a lot of designers and only design for guys that are waify. 

Isabel Marant - I think I own a lot of her stuff too, especially through lockdown. To me, I don’t know what it is about these french designers but they just capture this other side of luxury that I feel like a lot of people don’t, and her stuff is also really fun. I don’t like to use the term ‘cool’ but it is really ‘cool’. Her shoes are really great too. I like fun pieces but pieces that will take me really far and work with what I currently have in my wardrobe, they can add an extra punch if I need it.

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

Comfort is number one for me, I’m not going to buy something that's uncomfortable - shoes are a different story! I’ll buy shoes that hurt me.

The fabric, I pay so much attention now to fabrics because I’ve been exposed to this world of nice clothing. I used to shop at Forever 21 when I first moved here because I didn’t have any money, and they are good for certain things, same as H&M. I still stop at H&M but I’ll buy their Premium/Conscious collection.

I think this is why I love vintage shopping so much, because back then they used such great fabrics and materials, we just don’t do that now because fast fashion has ruined that. 

I really pay attention to what I’m wearing and favor natural materials like cotton, things that are breathable.

Third thing would be how well does it work with what I currently have in my wardrobe. I look for things that I’m missing, I feel like I’m always looking for tops.

Lastly I would say I look for price. I will pay money for something that's quality but I’m not over paying for something because of a label or name, or that’s garbage.

I feel like a lot of designer/luxury pieces are massively overpriced, and you’re aware of that if you’ve ever worked in fashion or retail.

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

When I was younger I would have put price first, and if I was to re rank this I’d probably put price as third or fourth. I think as I’ve gotten older. I expect that higher quality items are going to cost more money, and I’m OK with that. What is most important to me is comfort, especially being on the go so much and living in an urban setting. In the dead of summer, I don’t want to wear anything that's not breathable or too tight. I want to be chic and stylish but comfortable, that is number one to me.