Skate Fashion as Seen on HBO’s Betty PLUS the obligatory state of the world message BY BRITTANY SWEARINGEN
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Janay, Honeybear, and Indigo. During the radical reclassification of personal style
It feels remiss to begin any piece without at least acknowledging the pandemic. Is an acknowledgment ever enough? I struggle to gauge what becomes relevant in a fashion article amidst an ongoing rejection of violence and neglect against the most vulnerable in our societies. What is relevant, is life as it is, in our new normal. Fashion remains my most alluring oasis in life, I constantly seek new pathways to bring my activism and my art into the same realm. Today, I dedicate my writing today to Black women. Black women who so often wear the title of strong, black women who we ask too much of in a world dependent on organizers, black women who love fashion, black women gay and queer women. During the quarantined weeks of spring, fashion starvation, and an exclusive relationship with casual wear, I was recommended to watch HBO’s new series Betty. I was immediately piqued. I skating to be a sport of presentation, similarly to fashion. Plus,
a new attention-getting element to my image and accessory? I quickly joined the hot summer subculture. ‘Betty,’ itself is often a diminishing term for girl skaters that is reclaimed through this series by Crystal Moselle. The show dives into the lives of five young skaters as they navigate the world around them, exploring sexuality, the #MeToo movement, feminism, and friendship. Betty is made special not only by their diversity of actresses, but through the sincerity of their stories. Each girl on the series has a unique yet accessible style that fluently reads to her personality. Show stylist Camilla Garmendia represents the skate scene gloriously through the use of modern brands and authentic style. At my local skate park, I spoke to a girl wearing Converse, Champion, Nike, and Adidas. Needless to say, these brand influences run deep in skate culture. The core of Skate is of course Sportwear, and Garmendia amplifies this theme with unique prints, brands, and pieces to create the ensembles behind each character. Kirt, portrayed by Nina Moran, is often seen in a snapback, oversized tee and crew socks. Kirt skates in Vans, a prominent brand among skaters known for flat soles ideal for boarding. Another brand more subtly represented is Urban Outfitters. For anyone looking to replicate the styles of Kirt and Camille, actress Rochelle Vinberg, look no further than the graphic tee and cargo pants section of UO. Camille also regularly wears printed button downs from UO, like this mustard woven. (and the only* good thing about fast fashion is that you can always find often last season in local thrift stores and online!) Janay played by Ardelia Lovelace skates in a sports brami and a heavy pant that brings to mind 90’s singer Aaliyah’s Tommy Hilfiger look. This classic contrast between feminine and masculine pieces
