Rule Breakers/Makers
Eera Diedrich used to rebel against fashion but now embraces it. She describes her style as “making something decent out of what I had lying around” and “not trying too hard.” She says she “was sick of being stuck in this performative feminine expectation.” Eera has become inspired by Baltimore fashion since working in retail at Hunting Ground. Combining vintage pieces with new ones is a fun way of recycling goods as well as forming different styles. The ability to wear every decade and pattern at the same time, and look both elegant and disheveled lets her have fun with fashion. Here, Eera’s wearing an egg shell colored vintage caftan with gold detail from Hunting Ground along with some fun accessories found at various consignment stores.
Eera views her fashion as a way to be rebellious and go against social norms, and break gender roles. The Reece Hudson clutch has a classic shape, but stays edgy with the attached chain and cuff. The metallic gold and black velvet platform heels by Nicholas Kirkwood have a fun vintage look to them. These thrown in with the oversized zebra bangle seems chaotic but really pulled the outfit together in an interesting way. She doesn’t let fashion dictate who she is, or define her to be pretty or tough. She wants to be both. Her latest fashion craze is adding glitter, long acrylic nails and dirty motorcycle boots to any of her outfits.
Barb Ogden has a unique style of mixing different crazy patterns and prints together. She says that she “I can’t for the life of me match anything – clothes, decor, furniture – in the traditional sense,” she explains. I thought her drop-waist Citizen For Humanity cargo pants mixed with the tiger tank by Free People and formal black tuxedo jacket by Tahari was a winning combo. So, it came as no surprise when she told me she’s a stylist on the side.
Barb is inspired by designers – like Vivienne Westwood – who have an unconventional modern-punk style. One of the cuffs she’s wearing is a leather men’s cuff embossed with Vivienne Westwood’s logo – a globe crowned with a cross. The other accessories also have a rocker edge to them. The blue leather cuff with gold studs by Hayden Harnett is stacked with one of the best cuffs I have seen; an oversized gold mesh metal and leather cuff by CC Skye was an award winning punk femme look. She even added a vintage tiger head brooch to show she’s fierce when it comes to fashion.
Barb loves the idea of heels – “the crazier the better (think: Irregular Choice)” – but she’s chosen a more comfortable shoe to wear recently. Her black leather oxfords by Frye are very versatile and can be worn with different styles including her rocker-chic fashion worn today.
I continued to be “wowed” when Barb told me that even her bra was part of her outfit. Her black fishnet bondage bra gave the outfit added dimension and was used as an accessory in itself.
In my opinion, she gets the Academy Award for being the ultimate show-stopper!
FOUND – I found a wild Kenneth Jay Lane bangle from Star Won fashions. It’s cream enamel with gold/crystal pave bands with two zebra heads facing each other. A great conversation piece that can be combined with other jewelry or exotic enough to stand alone on its own. Definitely a fashion find that will not go extinct!
