Thursday, July 28, 2011

Blasphemina's Closet brings Luxette to Minneapolis--and closets around the world

The exploration and convocation of one’s individual style is a journey. It fluctuates, never fixed in finality. While some people wear their hearts on their sleeves, others choose to convey their emotions through their clothing. There is a reason people with no definitive or inspired personal style are perceived as a walking identity crisis, or worse, generally and undyingly lazy and apathetic.


According to Samantha Rei, founder and designer of Blasphemina’s Closet, the same could be said for the city of Minneapolis. (Ouch.)


When I first dreamt up this blog, I wanted to highlight the gains that the Minneapolis fashion community has made. What I didn’t want to do was emphasize just how far its denizens have yet to jaunt.


In Rei’s opinion, though, Minneapolis “doesn't exactly have a style yet.” (While my first reaction to this is to act defensively on behalf of my city, I realize she’s right: impersonal style is on display in the city’s skyways and streets just as often as its personal counterparts, and perhaps, in some neighborhoods, even more so.)


But for every Minneapolitan who lacks a curated style of her own, Rei makes up for it tenfold. The designs of Blasphemina’s Closet are indubitably alternative, but equally mixable and wearable. They adhere to and define the Luxette subculture. Rei, who has turned her hobby of fancy fashion into a legitimate career—she is currently moving into a studio for the first time—mirrors this concept; she is Blasphemina’s Closet in human form.



Model: Cristina Peterson
Photography: Fairshadow Photography
Makeup: Holly Luckes
Hair: Kati Hackett
Jewelry: Bionic Unicorn
Hat: Apatico
Glasses: Spectacle Shoppe


Admittedly, Blasphima’s Closet is not mainstream (nor is it meant to be); however, there are many offerings that can fit seamlessly into an otherwise diverse closet. Specifically, consider one of my favorite looks (above): its bold-yet-girly bow is a standout against the impeccably tailored gray suit—appropriate for women who find themselves working in an office though they swore they never would. (I imagine myself pairing the skirt with a flowy, jewel toned top and a belt for bold—albeit ironic—color blocking, also appropriate for professional occasions. This assimilation? “It was exactly what I intended for each look,” says Rei.)

The pieces she designs are “inspired by old British private schools and punk girls,” making them structured, yet unconventional. The Gabrielle (below) defines this; it is Harry Potter meets rebellious-glam punk, and, really, it’s no wonder: “I'm inspired by stories, so at the beginning of each collection I spend a lot of time at Barnes & Noble amidst the books,” admits Rei.



Model: Cristina Peterson
Photography: Fairshadow Photography
Makeup: Holly Luckes
Hair: Kati Hackett
Jewelry: Bionic Unicorn
Hat: Apatico
Glasses: Spectacle Shoppe


While Blasphemina’s Closet’s neo-victorian, gothic fanciness is a bold, niche look—it’s not meant for the common teenager at the common mall in the common city—Rei carries wisdom that anyone in search of her personal style should value: “Don't be lazy and don't adhere strictly to the images you see in magazines. If you are going to be a part of any style from contemporary to hipster to Luxette, find what you like about it, what drew you to it, and make it your own.”


Indeed, personal style is your own. You own it. Do not allow the trends to own you. That is not interesting, nor personal. Individual style, no matter if it is one part contemporary plus two parts hipster with a dash of Luxette, is always perceived as exactly as interesting as the individual donning it.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much for highlighting one of the most wearable, modern and AMAZING designers this city has! Blasphemina's Closet has been a favorite of mine for a long time and it's so good to see Ms. Rei getting the credit she deserves! ^_^

    ReplyDelete