︎ personalgrowthlupita
People may state that the true decades of fashion began in the late 1940s and went on to the early 1960s. And if you look at fashion today, it has almost replicated its look from sixty years ago. Key fashion styles of this time period included mod, beatnik and bohemian appearances, all of which captured a divert, free-spirited, and artful spirit. A 21 year old Environmental Studies major at UTRGV and fashion icon of this era, Lupita Mendoza, is beautiful, natural, and as down-to-earth as you like. As we chatted, I realized that a part of me could almost see my childhood in her. We spoke about musicians that have influenced her wardrobe. A few like The Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash, and all at once, I could see the memories my father dressed my youth in. I think there are a few reasons that the lives and trends in the counterculture generation have solidified a type of persona in many people’s lives along with my own. The first is that from the very beginning of my life, whether it was waking up to an alarm, family gatherings, or average Sunday mornings, the air was always diluted in music that spoke eloquently of a time, place, and an influential generation.
As the extent of my sense of obligation about understanding this function became apparent, I was routinely left behind with Cat Stevens and Bread, and the drifting youth of my parents teaching me 2+2 and good versus bad. Nostalgia is a better word for what I felt when I spoke to Lupita. Nostalgia is a valid, honorable, ancient human emotion; and maybe that’s why it felt so warm and nice to converse with her. I’ve come across Lupita a few times: all observations when I would drive by the campus and see her walking. Time and time again, she never failed to make herself noticeable with what she wore. She always stuck out like a sore thumb, and that’s a good thing.
Me: How old were you when you started to experience an interest in fashion?
Lupita: Haha, that’s a long story. When I was 10, I was on Google and they had a tribute for John Lennon and that was actually the first time I heard one of his songs. It was ‘Imagine’ and I fell in love with it. I kept replaying it and replaying it and I didn’t know what it was exactly, but I just knew I loved it. During the Olympic games in 2012, they had another tribute for John and I happened to feel the same way that I felt the first time I heard it, but I never bothered to look into it. When I was in 8th grade, I didn’t like the music I was listening to. I would listen to what my friends listened to and what was on the radio, but I didn’t like the messages they were saying or the lyrics. I wanted to listen to something else, but all I knew was what was on the radio. Then I was like, ‘What about that guy that I would listen to and fell in love with!’ I finally decided to look it up and found out that he was in the Beatles, and I just became so obsessed. From there that’s how it started.
Me: Ooh and is that genre similar to what your family likes? Would they listen to oldies?
Lupita: No actually, my whole family listens to corridos and just a whole bunch of things from the Mexican culture. I was never introduced to different sorts of music so I never really knew what was out there.
Me: So with that being said, can you tell me 3 of your biggest inspirations when it comes to fashion?
Lupita: I think my biggest fashion inspiration is Audrey Hepburn, even though I don’t dress like her. I feel like it has nothing to do with the Beatles, but I just would look at her and think she was so beautiful. I feel like she’s the one that inspired me to dress differently. I really loved her, I loved the way she dressed, and I just wanted to have that grace and elegance she had. So when I first started to dress up, I would grab clothes and be like, ‘Would Audrey Heburn wear this?’ But with my 60s fashion, I don’t know, I have so many. I would say Cher! I really like Cher!
Me: And did this originate by googling these individuals? Or would you have a Pinterest and then they’d pop up there?
Lupita: Usually I go off of things I see on Instagram. Jackie from ‘That 70’s Show’ would have to be my third inspo. I really love Jackie’s clothes, every time I watch ‘That 70’s Show,’ I’m like, ‘I WANT her outfit.’
Me: That’s so nice! How do you style clothing? Like on a typical day and you’re about to get ready, how do you style it and what do you start with?
Lupita: I usually have an inspiration in my head sometimes, if I’m going for a certain look I think, ‘What would this person wear’ and I go off from there. I just mix and match a lot of my outfits based on colors. My mood also has to deal with it and the music I’m listening to that day; I kind of go through phases of music. If the music is psychedelic and I’m feeling it, I’ll dress psychedelic-y. Or if I’m listening to folk rock, I’ll probably wear something more hippie-ish. I usually get my clothes from Forever 21 and thrift stores. I’ve even made a few of my pieces. I like to buy things from the store and then completely change it up.
Me: Yeah, and I’ve even seen on Instagram that you do really nice makeup as well. Like the eye crease and everything. Where did you get those inspirations from also?
Lupita: Just 60s makeup from models from that time. A lot of girls from the 60s did that type of makeup, I guess it was standard. I guess how it is now with the pink little nose. Also seeing other girls on Instagram do it made me want to do it.
Me: You had said that you knew how to sew, who taught you how to do all that?
Lupita: I just helped myself with YouTube.
Me: Oh wow, you’re so cool haha. I don’t have the patience for that stuff. Would you ever consider opening your own store?
Lupita: I would! Last year I was starting everything. I even have clothing tags. But I just haven’t had time to make so many clothes, maybe once I graduate school. I would want to incorporate both 60s and 70s clothing to the shop if anything.
Me: Could you elaborate on the RGV community and fashion? What do you think about it?
Lupita: There seems to be people that express themselves and I really, really like that. Especially at the college, but I don’t really know about the fashion outside of it. Some people tend to dress the same, but there’s nothing wrong with that because there’s nothing wrong with dressing however you want to dress. But I mean, I guess it’s just like in every other place there are trends that people dress up in. I’ve heard so many times where people come up to me and they’re like, ‘I wish I could dress like you.’ I feel like a lot of people feel like they can’t dress a certain way here. When I first started dressing up, I would get a lot of looks. I think it might be the culture, not sure, but I would get a lot of, like, rude comments sometimes. A lot of people would tell me, ‘Wow, you’re so brave to dress up like that.’
Me: To your face they would say that?
Lupita: Yeah, I remember once I went to the store and I was dressed up like in a hippie outfit and this older lady said, ‘These people and their costumes.’ I was just like what the heck! That was really rude. So, I don’t know if there’s some stigma against dressing up here in the valley. But yeah, I do get compliments a lot and a lot of people like I said, they do tell me they love my style. I don’t know if it’s something about the area that makes people uncomfortable about dressing up. But, I do think there’s a lot of talent down here for sure. I think the valley is sometimes underrated. I love the valley so much! Like, I would not want to leave and I think it’s growing a lot. I feel like the more it grows, fashion will grow here too.
Me: That was actually leading to my next question which is, what would you tell someone, because when I myself first started getting into fashion I would feel very shy. I would feel shy about going out and looking a certain way. So what would you tell the person, whoever it is hypothetically, to let them know that it’s okay to dress up! It’s okay to be different, start trends!
Me: That was actually leading to my next question which is, what would you tell someone, because when I myself first started getting into fashion I would feel very shy. I would feel shy about going out and looking a certain way. So what would you tell the person, whoever it is hypothetically, to let them know that it’s okay to dress up! It’s okay to be different, start trends!
Lupita: At first it was hard. Back then I used to wear a lot more. A lot more bright, a lot more crazy psychedelic. A lot like, ‘Hey! I’m here!’ sort of thing. Back then what I would do, I wouldn’t look at people. When I first started, I noticed that I would get a lot of stares. Especially from little kids, haha. I just told myself not to stare at people which really helps a lot. Also know that people don’t really judge that much too. There’s going to be maybe a few people, but most of the time you’ll get good reactions. It’s not bad to go out and it’s really nice to feel comfortable in what you’re wearing and I feel like that’s the best feeling ever. When I get that feeling, I never think, ‘Oh no, people are going to look at me.’
Me: I’ve seen some of the followers that you have. Sometimes, you would tag people on your posts and when I would go to their page, they happen to also be within the same type of 60s/70s aesthetic as you. How did you find these people, how did you keep in touch with them, and do they live in the valley?
Lupita: Unfortunately, none of these people live in the valley. I found them back when I used to have a Beatles fan account. I’ve made a lot of friends with my Beatles fan account just using hashtags. I guess it’s like a community on the internet just like any other community. Everyone in the community knows each other, adds each other, and everyone is SO nice. I’ve never heard anyone get in a fight with anyone. It’s so positive. Everyone’s like a family.
Me: I guess for the last and final question, is there anything else that you’d like to add about yourself or your fashion?
Lupita: I would say that my clothes are a big part of me. I would consider myself a clothing collector. The proudest thing I am of myself is my clothes. I know no one can insult my clothes. I always walk out feeling like I have the best outfit on and even though it might not be true, to me, I love my outfits and they make me really, really happy. They’re a big part of me and I’m the person I am today because of the 60s, because of the music I listen to, and the way I express myself. I'm really proud of my clothes. It’s a weird thing to say.
Me: No, no, no, no. I was going to say that I think I find that answer really genuine, especially because I started this blog solely because I think fashion is not only within clothing, but it can be considered a lifestyle. And what you had said is something that I really want to emphasize on how fashion exudes confidence. So for you to be saying all of this is really good.
Lupita: In high school I was always a shy kid like I had never really noticed. I was like an outcast in a way, and now that I graduated from high school, I get so many messages saying, ‘You’re so much more confident!’ or ‘You’re so much more outgoing’ and I feel like clothing has made me more confident. It’s made me more proud. In a way, it has made me a better person.
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