With pink hair, knee high converse, and an amazing, bubbly personality, senior Mikey Albert stays true to themself by being unapologetic in the clothes that they wear.
“When I’m on my deathbed, I don’t want to be sitting there like, ‘I wish I wore that skirt,’” Albert said, “I want the comfort of knowing that I was being as authentic as I could to myself.”
Their love for fashion is linked to the amount of autonomy it has given them and how authentic they feel when they dress up. They challenge others’ perceptions of self expression and what you should wear; never leaving the house without an accessory or a detailed motif because it’s such a simple way to elevate their look and sense of self.
“People might judge you or say some thing at first, but you just stay on business and stand up for yourself,” Albert said, “You’re like, ‘No I want to dress like this, I want to be authentic, I want to do all of this.’”
Dressed wondrously in red, black, and white, and adorned with jewelry, Albert’s outfit isn’t limited by simple trends but rather inspired by emo and scene fashion. Albert also takes interest in Japanese fashion, specifically kawaii and lolita fashion originated from the Harajuku district in Japan and its subgenres like decora kei. These styles are known for their cutesy, pastel colors and feminine silhouettes.
“The whole point of that style [decora kei] is to be as extra as possible, to take up as much space as possible, and just to be you,” Albert explained.
Finally Albert finds community and confidence in their well-coordinated looks and articulate style. This is a way of advocating for themself, when they stay true to themself.
“If you express yourself, and if you get over your fears by doing what you succeed in, you can find joy,” Albert said.
