Dissection No.1 | My cultural statement at NYFW

From ponchos to boots, a deep review of how I put together my outfit

Dissection: /dəˈsekSH(ə)n,dīˈsekSH(ə)n/ (noun)
the action of dissecting a body or plant to study its internal parts.

Or in this case an outfit, and why? To show in detail my creative process of putting together an outfit and because I can — haha, no. Because I find it interesting how ‘styled vs just wearing’ and personal style videos became so popular over socials but few people go into depth to tell us why they made those decisions, what makes that piece part of their personal style and how it can inspire you and make it your own. I think we owe that lack of information to short form content because with 10 seconds of attention you can barely show what you are going to wear.

When I moved to New York and revived the desire to become a fashion icon, I knew I wanted to continue with my eclecticism and maximalist touch, but I went in to question what could be my differentiator, something that would lead me to evolve my style and my being in this new era. There I decided that my culture would play a big role, it is something that I am passionate and proud about, aesthetically it’s beautiful and also makes use of my degree in aesthetics, ethics and feminism. I openly took up the flag of the decolonization of fashion* and made it part of me.

Historically, colonial powers imposed their own dress codes and lifestyles on colonized populations, ignoring and belittling local traditions and cultures. This process not only affected fashion, but also led to cultural appropriation, where traditional clothing elements from various cultures were exploited and decontextualized by Western fashion.

- Arantxa Soto x risemagmx.com

From Tijuana to the world

I won't go too into the subject because it deserves a series on its own (and I will make it), but in a few words it's about valuing and bringing to light fashion produced from the peripheries, especially Mexican fashion, in my case, and that has been ignored by the industry. That's why last NY Fashion Week I started adding certain elements to my outfits like cowboy boots, Wixarika accessories, Maria braids, a cowboy hat and a huipil that @CasaMuza lent me.

And for this occasion I used a Mexican poncho from my husband (asfdf), which we bought in my city, Tijuana.

Dissection No. 1

Poncho: The decolonizing element and also appropriate for the weather, but to make it even more interesting I turned it around so it would cover the arms and be “cropped” in front.

Dress: The obvious choice according to fashion rules would have been a black or white dress, something neutral so that the poncho wouldn't be "overshadowed" but here we are rebels and maximalists so I went with a pink tone that matched the colors in the poncho and also had an iridescent effect that gave a very interesting visual texture.

For example, if you are a minimalist, a black dress would look great, if you are more sporty or casual: jeans, if you like to look more elegant: tailored pants, get it?

Long-sleeved blouse: Because it’s winter, I needed to cover my arms more so I opted for a mesh blouse with a tropical print to add texture and more color to the outfit but also modernness, something that felt more current. (Similar here)

White cowboy boots: A point of light to the look, adding white made it more vibrant and cheerful. (Similar here)

— Accessories —

Layering necklaces: The job of this triad of necklaces was to frame my face, add moderness but also make it clear that the poncho was not a main piece, but part of an entire look.

Hair bows: Having a piece with so much visual weight I decided to wear my hair up and to decorate it I was inspired by the use of bows in Mexican fashion.

Bag: Between the poncho and the bows I needed something that broke with the classic Mexican look to make it modern, so a furry bag (very trendy) was the perfect option. (Similar here)

Earrings: I decided to tie the blue of the poncho with earrings with blue stones, I think that making this combination helps that despite being 'a lot' it has coherence. (Similar here)

This is what I mean when I say clothing is a form of expression, of communicating who we are, who we want to be and how we want to be perceived. Have you thought about it like that? Maybe, and most likely, no one on the street thinks so intensely about why I wear what I wear, but when they see me they can visualize a little more about me, who I am and even where I come from.

Many times what makes sense for your personal style doesn't have a technical or clear answer in your mind, it's very much a matter of feeling, but if we start to analyze it, everything has a reason for being, just remember Miranda Priestly's lesson to Andy about 'Cerulean Blue' and question your entire closet again.

xo, L

More content at:
lnsta: @golden_strokes
Toktok: @luisaverdee

If this post helped you put together an outfit, let me know, I'd love to see it!

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**Some of the links to clothing/accessories in this post are affiliates, meaning if you buy I receive a percentage.
*I first heard about this through @XXX