In our latest Fashion Nation column, Kailey Flyte of the blog Mermaidens tells us all about her pink personal style.
How did you get into fashion?
When I was really little, I used to read my sister’s magazines. I would cut out all the photos and tape them to my wall. But clothing-wise, I only had my sister’s hand-me-downs. So it felt like a fairytale, it was so out of reach.
How long has your hair been pink?
It’s been five years—before that it was black. My mom went to beauty school as a manicurist and she finished early and went to classes for hair. I was like, “Mom, I really want pastel pink hair,” and she was like, “Oh no.” But with my research and her expertise, we were able to keep it up. It’s such an identity thing for me now. I feel like it’s my normal hair color.
How would you describe your style?
One of my friends called me “a retro paper doll with strawberry icing.” And I feel like that’s kind of it, because I do love pastel colors and exaggerated, playful, kitschy things. But I take inspiration from a bunch of different sources, like ballet dancers and cartoon characters. I feel like I’m playing dress-up every day.
Who is your fashion icon?
I love Twiggy. She had such cute looks with her baby doll dresses and the eyelashes. I love the ’60s, they were so playful. They came out with all these new silhouettes and played with PVC and clear fabrics for the first time. It was a really cool era in history.
What is the most important factor in maintaining personal style?
It’s trying not to listen to the outside voices, like, “Oh, you should only dress for your body type,” and stuff like that. I don’t agree with that. I think if you like something, then you should be able to wear it, regardless of whether someone thinks it’s flattering on your figure or not. It’s something I struggle with. I still hear in the back of my mind, “Oh that makes me look kinda weird.” And it’s like, “Well, I love this and it makes me happy, so I’m going to wear it.”
Shop Kailey's magical mermaid style with these pretty picks:
- 1950S-STYLE WATERMELON OMBRE CHATEAU SWING DRESS, $74,UNIQUE-VINTAGE.COM
- EMBROIDERED CHERRY BARDOT TOP, $30,US.TOPSHOP.COM
- MARSHA OVERCOAT, $168,JAKKE.CO.UK
- SKINNYDIP HOLOGRAPHIC PINK SHELL CROSS BODY BAG, $48,US.ASOS.COM
- SHELL JEANS, $219,SAMANTHAPLEET.COM
- LULU PINAFORE DRESS, $62,VALFRE.COM
- WOOL BERET, $12.90,FOREVER21.COM
By Bry’onna Mention
Photographed by Christopher Dibble
Location: Hi-Lo Hotel, Autograph Collection
This article originally appeared in the December/January 2017 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
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