Gavriella Wolf/Staff Writer
Brooklyn native Eric Wilson ’15 is a senior at Wes with a love of international politics and, more recently, international fashion. A vital member of the Rap Assembly at Wesleyan, Wilson cites music as one of his personal passions but fashion as another that he can envision himself involved with professionally. Drawing inspiration from the pages of GQ and the never-ending cycle of looks on Tumblr, Wilson met with The Argus to discuss his take on style both at Wesleyan and across the globe.
The Argus: To what extent you consider yourself interested in fashion?
Eric Wilson: I read GQ Magazines here and there. I like going on Tumblr a lot because I feel like [with] Tumblr, you can see different looks, different styles, different pieces, and I guess just get new ideas…. Last year, a friend and I, Derrick Holman [’16], we had our own fashion line here. But we didn’t create anything here, we were just styling pieces, and I feel like…Tumblr and various other social media outlets create and foster these ideas.
A: Are you interested in working in fashion or fashion marketing?
EW: That would be dope, like brand marketing whether it’s like branding a person or political marketing. I mean, within fashion, I would say, like, being able to style or just be on the scene somewhere, somehow. I have to figure that out myself. I don’t actually want to be in the back room somewhere sewing or anything like that. But I haven’t really figured out my role yet.
A: How long have you been interested in fashion?
EW: I guess when I started making my own money in a sense, like my first job. I guess that’s how it started because I was actually buying the pieces that I wanted to, whenever I wanted. So I guess the beginning of college, more so sophomore year than freshman year.
A: Describe your personal style in three to five words.
EW: Minimal, versatile, modern, comfortable, and polished.
A: So how would you say your style has changed since you came to Wesleyan?
EW: I went to a private high school in which we had a dress code, so I always had to wear a collared shirt, slacks, and it was sort of constrained, I wasn’t able to wear exactly what I wanted to. So after I got my first couple [of] internships and have just been able to express myself at Wesleyan; that was kind of the time.
I actually feel like [my style] changed more from last year to now, from when I went to Copenhagen. Because there, they’re extremely stylish and trendy and they wear a lot of dark colors. My closet has a lot of black pieces in it now, nothing with too much design, just something that can be versatile to wear, whether it’s to a casual event or the movies or in the classroom.
A: And would you say your style is influenced at all by Brooklyn’s fashion scene?
EW: Oh definitely, because Brooklyn definitely has, I feel, dope streetwear, as well as I guess this trendy, hipster scene. Definitely there’s a lot going on within New York City fashion. And when I’m back home, I guess it’s the same effect, like in Copenhagen, you’re influenced by the people around; it definitely affects your style.
A: What do you like most about style at Wes?
EW: I like the fact…everyone has their own sense of style….For example, I have a couple of friends who go to southern schools, and everyone is sort of, in a sense, uniform with the collared shirts, the khakis, and the Sperry’s. I feel like at Wesleyan, people just dress and do what they want. I guess it’s also because we’re a melting pot and we come from all over the place and people just have a sense of independence.
A: Is there anything you dislike about style at Wesleyan?
EW: Not really, actually, because there’s just so many different kinds of styles… everyone just has their own place and their own way, in a sense.
A: Where are your favorite places to shop?
EW: Zara, H&M, Atrium…DNA Footwear’s also really nice, I appreciate them a lot. And I just have like random sneaker spots in Brooklyn that I just go to.
A: Where do you draw style inspiration from on and off campus?
EW: On campus, from a couple of my peers, actually. Just being influenced by the pieces that I see on them, it gives me ideas for things to add to my wardrobe. I actually have a good friend who I’m living with now, Kwami Ketosugbo [’15]. He’s extremely fashionable, and I definitely vibe some of my inspiration from him. And we would just discuss different fashion blogs and articles, conversations going on, watch documentaries, it’s pretty dope actually.
A: Do you have any favorite fashion blogs or websites that you look at?
EW: There’s this thing I’m following on Instagram called “the Locals.” It’s actually a fashion blog started in Copenhagen. And this one guy goes around to different cities and their fashion weeks, like Milan, Paris, New York, just documenting their styles. I really appreciate what Europe is doing, and just their whole take [on style]. Like even going to an H&M or Zara’s in Europe, it’s a really different feel than it is in America…. I feel like we’re getting their hand-me-downs, in a sense.
A: How do you envision your style changing once you graduate?
EW: I’ll probably be wearing a lot more dressier shoes and less sneakers…due to the environment that I think I’ll be working in, just the professional setting. Definitely I’ll be a little more conservative if that makes sense. But that’s not a bad thing at all because I feel like every year my style has changed, from freshman year, at Wesleyan, and high school.