Alternative State Of Shock

Photographed By: Elvira Gligoric
Make-up: Gabriella Mattson
Clothes Provided By: Shock
Styled By: Ellinor Forje

A few years ago, on my way to town, I ran into a girl wearing the most beautiful purple velvet coat. I couldn't place her style. It was alternative, if you will. Interesting. Interesting because she had combined every existing subculture known to man, and made it hers, without fear. One tribe. One girl.

I was informed by the girl in the purple coat, that she had acquired her piece of clothing from a website called, Drac In A Box. She further added that, as much as people would admire her coat, they would never bring themselves to buy anything from the website as it just wasn't them. Goth and morbidity, was just not them.

I got my brother the coolest shirt a couple of years ago. It was light beige-grey in colour, with a penciled sketch of Mickey Mouse in the center. My brother categorically refused, at first, to wear that shirt outside of his four walls. Refused. I believe his exact words were, "I'm not wearing a shirt that has Mickey Mouse on it." I was paralyzed. My cartoon-loving brother, who loved "The Lion King" and hated "The Return Of Jafar" - felt that he was too cool for Disney. Too cool. I had to challenge him to wear the shirt to work atleast once. Which he did, on a casual Friday. The shirt was loved by all, of course. So from then on, it migrated from his home, to his work, to the club and so forth: Because it had gotten mass approval.

Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood brilliantly draw inspiration for their collections from the streets of London: The streets where the expressionists walk. Then we see them, the clothes, on the runways and in the glossy magazines, and feel that they are "safe" to wear. Forgetting that the inspiration was always there. It was there long before the Olsen twins started wearing the death skull scarfs around theirs necks.

So why hesitate? Be independent and free. Find what you think is not you, then wear it like it's a crown on your head.