︎ _shariflores
︎__________limiteazul
La Joya, Texas
consider checking out https://www.limiteazul.com , an online showcase of visual arts in the RGV.
run by shari flores.
run by shari flores.
In modern society exists an enormous spectrum of fashion. I’ve always believed that each person’s fashion style is heavily influenced by their environment and their interests. Among the immense variety of styles present in today’s fashion culture, streetwear and high fashion are two of the most distinctive and prominent styles, eventually attributing a huge influence on how the general population dresses. Streetwear was originated in California during the late 1970s by the skate and surf culture of the time. This style focuses on presenting a clean aesthetic while still remaining casual and comfortable, centered on casual pieces like jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers. To this day, we can see how these basic articles of clothing remain a cornerstone in streetwear. On the other hand, high fashion (also known as haute couture) began in France in the 1700s and first introduced into French culture through a fashion designer for Queen Marie Antoinette. The culture began to spread throughout Europe and eventually to all parts of the world. A simplistic understanding of haute couture is that it is the apex of industry, with clothing made to the highest level of artistry sometimes entirely by hand.
Shari Flores Rosas is a 23 year old visual arts major at UTRGV that has demonstrated all of these qualities (if not more) through her fashion. In fact, every time I see her, she never fails at making me want something from her closet. Born in Elgin, Illinois - a suburb northwest of Chicago that she vacations at every summer, she’s spent most of her life in the valley. Not only is Shari such an influential person through the clothes she wears, but it’s valid in her bold personality and how she carries herself. Since starting the MFA program, she shared with me how her work has taken a more serious direction.
“My art has always been social-practice based, but I have been focusing more on content, context, and form of my work above anything else. My latest series (plural) explore the charged connotations of the chain-link fence, and the characteristics of clothing, in relation to power dynamics and border politics, manipulating these through plaster-casting and the lifelessness of the material.”
On the contrary, I personally know little to nothing about art. It’s been a concept that has been created, observed, criticized, and enjoyed for as long as humanity has existed. But I know that like art, fashion is a transformation of images and forms. It’s always been about self-expression with style being about communicating to the world about your existence without having to say a word. It’s about combining clothes in a new way, harmonizing the entire outfit, and showing your own uniqueness. Essentially, this is something I strive to let people understand throughout these blogs.
On the contrary, I personally know little to nothing about art. It’s been a concept that has been created, observed, criticized, and enjoyed for as long as humanity has existed. But I know that like art, fashion is a transformation of images and forms. It’s always been about self-expression with style being about communicating to the world about your existence without having to say a word. It’s about combining clothes in a new way, harmonizing the entire outfit, and showing your own uniqueness. Essentially, this is something I strive to let people understand throughout these blogs.
I just want people in the valley to feel good about the clothes they wear and what it symbolizes to their name. I just want them to feel that kick oozing confidence when they wear something that makes them feel good. Whether that means following the route of transcending into different trends, understanding fashion is a way of life, and/or discovering growth. I can’t help but mention the words of the fabulous fashion designer Coco Chanel: “The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” If you follow your style, people will look at you and see who you are. We only evolve from here. That’s why it is so special for me to include Shari in this blog because she is always changing, always evolving, always trying to find the next mission to accomplish. This article is only a taste of the one and only Shari Flores.
How old were you when you started to experience an interest in fashion?
I'm really not sure when I became aware of my interest in fashion. I feel like I've always been inclined to the arts and have definitely intertwined my aesthetics and personality into what I wear. I would say i truly started dressing how I really wanted like in the 9th grade.
In regards to fashion, who are 3 of your biggest inspos?
My 3 biggest style, and overall, idol inspirations are Chloë Sevigny, Björk, and Debbie Harry. All three of them have pushed the boundaries of what personal style means, and how that takes a big role in presentation and perseption. Björk, I think mostly of the three, has materialized her aesthetic through her clothing, her costume, music, art, and performance.
How do you style clothing?
I usually style my pieces around one pop article, whether it be a specific tee or wild print skirt and spiral out from there. I like to take colors from that one piece and resonate them through my shoes or accessories. I also like pushing the limits of coordinating mixed prints and shock color combinations. When getting ready I tend to think about what I have to do that day, making a small mental checklist of errands, assignments, plans, and pick out an outfit accordingly. I usually have a song in mind also and that sometimes influences the look I'm trying to go for that day.
What does majority of your closet consist of?
I feel like my closet is a mix of everything - I have denim overalls for the studio, but also sequin pieces to wear to shows. I also have a lot of band tees and a mix of odd prints and florals. I really don't know if I have a specific aesthetic, it's definitely inspired by a variety of art and music movements from late this last century but it's a true mix of colors, prints, and cuts.
What is your input on the RGV community and fashion and where do you shop?
I feel that personal style is the absolute most direct platform for self-expression and believe the RGV music and art scene has had a big impact on fashion. All of us, one way or another, like to dress up and dress out when we go to openings or shows. It's a bit hard to explain whether I think the Valley is limited in how we dress - it has do to with being as isolated as we are from bigger cities, and also the way a lot of us were culturally raised. I feel like we are conditioned not to dress certain ways because of what people would think, or if our families would approve, and being able to truly express through dress comes with a lot of unlearning and re-education. I love thrifting. I find a lot of unique pieces that I usually won't find in stores at the moment, but it also takes a high level of committment to search through racks and racks of clothes for the perfect score. I also tend to shop online a lot, mostly on ASOS and NastyGal.
Do you think the art you make and like somehow correlate to the clothing you wear?
A lot of the color schemes in my clothing appear in the work I produce. I use a lot of blues and contrasting colors in my ceramic pieces. Some of my drawings and pastel work also resonate with color clashing and layering. Actually, my photography does also.
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