I met Daniel two years ago at Pemberton Music Festival and I remember laughing in disbelief and amusement when he told me his last name. Thinking back, it’s really amazing to see how meeting briefly in a dreamy, dusty, and drug filled camp site one summer has changed both of our lives and also how surprisingly quickly time passes. As I got to know Daniel better, I realized he had an immensely eccentric taste in fashion and style contrasted by his soft and humble demeanor. These photos below hardly scratch the surface into Daniel’s intricate form of self expression and creativity.
How did you end up in Vancouver? Were you born here?
I’m from Sau Paulo, Brazil but my family moved here when I was eight. They originally told me we were going on vacation and we pulled up to Vancouver and we lived in the Granville island hotel for a couple of weeks. Then we found a new place and my parents said they wanted to stay a bit longer since they were really enjoying living in Vancouver. Next thing I know, they put me in school after we moved to a home in Burnaby. That’s when I realized we weren’t on vacation anymore and we just ended up staying ever since.
What was the moment when you realized fashion was your thing?
There are a couple of moments. Most of them happened during a trip I took to Europe with a couple of friends after we graduated. I wasn’t even really fucking with fashion at the time.
Daniel wears Adidas x Kolor pullover, Off White t-shirt, A.P.C denim, Gosha Rubchinskiy socks, and Nike Sock Darts
What kind of stuff were you wearing back then?
Full on American Apparel, Maiden tour tees, like those cheesy HMV pop culture t-shirts. I used to wear that stuff with Vans and DC’s.
The first day I met Daniel
So then I went on this trip and my friends took me to all these stores, we went to Collette, the Givenchy store, Kenzo.. I wasn’t really fucking with it even then but I remember we were in Amsterdam watching the Givenchy Fall Winter 2014 show live and I see this guy walk out in a beige sweater with the dopest print I’ve ever seen. That was the moment I was like holy fuck where do i cop this. My friends then explained that it would come out like a year from now. So I took a screenshot of the show, saved it as my background and set it as my phone and computer background for a year and waited.
Right when the stuff came out, I copped the tee with the same print at Barneys in San Francisco. When I felt the quality of the tee and put it on, it blew me away. Everything about it just turned me on, literally.
Another point where i started getting into fashion was when my friend Philip took me to the Lazy Oaf store in London. I was really into cartoons and pop culture graphics at the time and Lazy Oaf always did some crazy goofy cartoony street wear pieces. I think streetwear is a really easy place to start and a mix of the cartoons and graphics of the Lazy Oaf stuff really helped me get into it. In the beginning I was only wearing short sleeve buttonups, so i have a massive collection of short sleeve buttonups by Lazy Oaf that i never wear anymore.
Daniel holds his hot dog print shirt by Lazy Oaf (he also has the matching shorts)
What are your go to’s in the wardrobe? like no thinking, just put it on and look good.
If I’m feeling lazy and don’t really want to play with colours I usually go for black Saint Laurent jeans with the knees blown out, a black sweater or turtleneck, a black leather jacket. That’s playing it safe. Another go to is my reversible Dries bomber. Supreme box logo hoodies are pretty easy to wear too. I usually like to mix stuff up though.
Where do you start when you put an outfit together?
I usually choose one piece I haven’t worn in a while and build around that. I really like playing with colour; the more, the better.
Has your life changed a lot since you got into fashion?
(laughs) Yeah, before, I used to play a lot of video games and never really went out except to a show every now and then. But I started going out more since, and I’ve met a lot of cool people through it. I stopped playing video games and Magic the Gathering because I’d rather spend my money on clothes than Magic cards. It definitely changed my lifestyle, arguably for the better. It’s hard to tell. If I didn’t get into fashion I’d probably be doing something with computer science somewhere.
Is that so bad?
Yeah it’s pretty bad. I did a summer camp at Stanford for a couple months in grade eleven and twelve. I thought it was dope, I learned a lot and I liked the idea of building something with computers but the people and work environment were just really not my cup of tea. I’m glad I realized it early because if I applied and got into the actual program I would have just ended up dropping out.
Whats your ideal future job?
I realized after the computer phase that I wanted to work in the entertainment and music industry. I fuck with journalism too but i don’t want to focus on the political side too much, I want to focus on fashion and art mainly. It’s kind of what I’m doing with ThankYouComeAgain but that’s also a platform for friends to show their work through. I’ve always been a fan of the arts and I feel like I know a lot of talented people who don’t get the exposure they deserve. I guess my ideal job would be to take talent and expose it to the world whether its through journalism or management or.. I don’t know. I just want to take other peoples talent and make them money from it.. and hopefully make myself some money in the process. But I’m not a very talented guy. I’m just all about exposure.
Daniel wears Grave Digger t-shirt and Stone Island cargo pants
If you had one outfit for the rest of your life, what would you wear?
Probably a suit. I’d say a Thom Browne one, it’s hard to look bad in a nice fitting suit.. but I’m not sure about being seventy five and wearing a slim fitting cropped suit you know?
Daniel wears Dries Van Noten bomber, buttonup shirt, pants, and Nike Sock Darts
Where do you think in the world has a good sense of fashion and style?
Not Vancouver.
Whats wrong with Vancouver?
I feel like if you’re wearing luxury brands you get labeled as a ‘f.o.b’ even if you’re not a ‘f.o.b’. Even if you have your own unique style and you walk around with a Givenchy tee, other people are almost looking down on you just because of the stigma attached to the ‘f.o.b’ culture. That’s one of the most off perceptions with the city in terms of fashion. I also feel like it lacks diversity. A lot of kids are doing the skater thing, I fuck with the skater look but I don’t know, it’s like every dude wears the same baggy cropped/cuffed pants with Vans and a Thrasher hoodie.
When I visited Toronto for the first time a lot of people on the street were wearing Rick and Rick inspired looks and then the next time i went back and people had a totally different vibe going on. I feel like Vancouver is very stagnant in that sense. I don’t see it getting better without more demand for different brands, products, and styles and that won’t happen without a bigger population.
What are your thoughts on the ways fashion and runway shows are changing? In terms of time from showing to actually releasing in store?
I think everything would go into and out of style way quicker. I think style progression is a necessary part of fashion and I think it creates unnecessary consumer pressure. Like you have to keep buying to look cool. Trends are cool, check out Vetements, I fuck with it heavy but how long is it going to last? Though like I mentioned before when I saw that Givenchy piece on the runway; I was drooling my balls off and I wanted it right then and there but I had to wait a year to even be able to buy any piece from that collection. I was so on edge for that period, I guess it’s good for the consumer who needs things instantly but I don’t think I’m that consumer anymore. I feel like I have a lot to work with now and it’s cool to see what’s coming out next year and see where fashion is going. I like the way things are set up right now and I think changing the way things are will just perpetuate the cycle of trends coming in and out. That’s what drew me to fashion I think, like waiting that time and saving for it.
Daniel wears Acronym jacket, Cav Empt hoodie, Hed Mayner pants, Maison Margiela sneakers
As everything is becoming a lot more accessible to everyone these days, what are your thoughts on exclusivity in fashion?
I’ve definitely noticed an increase in spots where you can buy limited releases and rare things. Exclusivity to me makes an item more coveted. Having exclusivity makes you pop, like look at Supreme. But if there’s something I fuck with I obviously want it and if I can’t get it I obviously want it more and it pisses me off a little. I feel like with these fast fashion brands that are slowly taking over the world, if you can’t get the real pieces you want, you can settle with something easier to find which is kind of good for the average consumer. But at the same time, it’s dumbing everything else down which takes away from the actual designers ideas and dilutes it. I think exclusivity is somewhat necessary but I don’t think it’s necessarily always a good thing. It’s a tough balance. I’ve been pretty lucky, everything I’ve wanted I’ve been able to get my hands on for the most part. There is definitely a balance between exclusivity and availability that must be struck.. like Supreme does it perfectly.
Actually, if anyone has the Jeremy Scott ‘Shrek’ sweater, I’ll buy it off you. That’s one of the grail pieces I haven’t been able to get my hands on.
What’s your favourite piece that you own?
The Saint Laurent leather jacket is definitely up there. It’s so wearable. It’s timeless, it’s beautiful, and it’s the nicest leather, it’s almost like a babies skin. At the same time though it’s almost too basic; I’ve always liked stuff that’s more out there. I fuck with the Raf Simons + Sterling Ruby camouflage parka I have but everyone fucks with it.. I feel like the most functional piece I have is the Acronym jacket. I’ve worn it skiing and to fancy dates. It’s the most functional, the most technical, it’s dope.
Any grail status kicks on your mind?
I guess Air Mags? I’d wear the fuck out of those. I’ve actually never even watched Back to the Future.. I should check it out, it’s my nephews favourite movie.
Daniel wears Vetements hoodie, Saint Laurent Black corduroy pants, and Rick Owens Geobasket sneakers.
You have a nephew?
Yeah, I have two and a niece. My oldest nephew is about to turn twelve. I have a three year old niece and two month old nephew as well.
That’s a lot of Nudels.
Yeah, many Nudelmen.. and Nudelwomen.
Speaking of women, what are your thoughts on the growing female presence in menswear?
I love it. Some of my biggest style inspirations are women and I really fuck with chicks in menswear. Women look dope in menswear. I feel like it’d be really different to do the inverse.. like I’d love to rock some womenswear if I could.. but it’s just not socially acceptable right now but I don’t want to speak in absolute.
Daniel wears Cav Empt pullover jacket, Givenchy t-shirt, Saint Laurent Grey/Olive corduory pants, and Maison Margiela sneakers
There’s definitely a wave of androgyny going on in fashion and pop culture in general.
Definitely. Shouts out Vetements. But here’s the thing, if a girl is walking around in a buttonup shirt and sneakers, its acceptable but if a guy is walking around in a dress, it’s totally different. Shouts out and respect to Young Thug and Jaden Smith for pushing that shit. It’d be dope if I’m around sixty and I could wear a dress down the street. I’d fuck with a Burberry skirt heavy right about now with some leggings.
Wow.. I’m trying to picture you with a Burberry skirt on.. and leggings..
Are you turned on?
Um.. I don’t know. I’m having trouble picturing it.. but I feel like I should be able to accept it but you’re right, it’s different.
To be continued.
Links
Pemberton Music Festival
Givenchy Spring 2014
Lazy Oaf
Thank You Come Again
somevacancy.wordpress.com 