Curating your own style is very hard when you don’t have inspiration. Using IT Girls will help guide you to the style you want to create. There are many icons, but so few IT Girls. Of them, fashion It Girls are scarce.
To be an IT Girl, you have to have a certain flair, a je ne sais quais about you.
New York is home to many It Girls with its buzzing streets, attracting fashion and entertainment changemakers. Of those we have Rama Duwaji, a culmination of New York themself. She is the inspiration we must take after.
What is an it girl?
Someone inspirational, alluring, and coincidentally unique. She paves the way for her specific medium, whether that be fashion, sports, or career, and she makes herself a definitive marker to aspire to. We not only admire the IT Girl, but we also want to BE the IT Girl. She is not just a presence, but a state of mind.
To be a fashion IT girl is, I believe, one of the hardest titles to gain. Fashion is a statement, an art piece, and an identity wrapped into beautiful layers. Powerhouses of fashion like Chanel, Cartier, etc., have defined the paths they believe we should travel on. With that guidance, we can pair a company’s brand, clothing, and our brand into a collaborative art piece. The keyword in fashion is COLLABORATION, because the fashion IT girl does not copy exactly what is given to her; she makes a masterpiece from a collection of pieces. An It Girls influence is essential in the fashion industry.
I know you have some people in mind. I do too.
The new it girl
Among the likes of Bella Hadid, Grace Jones, and Taylor Rose Russel, we have a catalogue of fashion inspiration to drive our own journeys. Today, we are going to follow another Icon, Mrs. Rama Duwaji – the woman who is making a reigning stop to political fashion agendas.
So who is Rama Duwaji? And why is she an It Girl? Besides her ability to decenter men, including that of her well-known husband, her sense of style is rooted in her own character. She does a great job not only being a public figure but also being very true to herself, and that’s what we need. I’m not entirely sure whether Duwaji wanted to make a public statement by dressing as they normally would, but by doing so, they did make one. It’s not that I revere Rama Duwaji for being this fashion trendsetter; it’s that, despite public opinion, she continues to show up how she wants.
In this climate, in regards to our partners, in order to support them, we must transform into what the public needs from us, particularly women. To be the mayor’s wife has always come with a certain uniform that maybe wasn’t forced upon these wives, but was adapted from public opinion. Duwaji showing up in a denim patterned top created by Middle Eastern designers sent one message – she is not changing who she is because Zohran Mamdani is going to be mayor.
Make it yours
If you take a look at Rama’s Instagram, you will see inklings of the artist she is, what she likes, and how that ultimately translates to her fashion. Through political messages, artistic dumps, and creative textiles, we can see what draws her eye and what is important to her. Duwaji is a change maker, artist, and activist in her own right. That translation then follows her fashion choice to wear a Palestinian garment, Zeid Hijazi’s, to Mamdani’s victory celebration.
Hijazi’s fashion is a cross between playfulness and identity, featuring clothes with harsh contrasts, whether in color or in shape. Duwaji’s choice to wear such a top illustrates to us that she will be coming into this position boldly, playfully, and not at all quiet.
Now, it’s time to figure out how we can bring this same boldness into our lives. Duwaji often has a statement piece that her outfit is centered around – sometimes it’s her boots, or her skirt, or her shirt. One thing is for sure: one of these pieces must stand out boldly with inscriptions. This article of clothing must draw your eye – something unexpected but beautiful. With that piece, she must have a flowy aspect to her outfits; this is shawls, scarves, skirts, or draped fabric. Pair these elements with a fabulous boot, and you are a Duwaji girl now.
Where to shop
It is very hard to imitate someone who imitates their values, unless you are taking more principles rather than just their fashion sense. By taking her principles, you will find that it is very easy to shop this style. It’s not only about having statement pieces, but it’s also about having pieces that understand your own values.
This means doing research. Look at mission statements, understand what you are trying to convey in your fashion, and how we can bring that to life. Personally, I love a soft contrast with bright colors. I love carrying the light around with me as a reminder to be playful, cool, and true.
Here are some brands that Rama Duwaji likes, and some I think you might like for a head start on your journey:
$5 – $100
Vinted – An affordable reselling website that allows you to purchase items based off specific style and taste. To direct your search, Individuals like Charmode reflect similar pieces from Duwaji’s instagram. Effortlessly cool pieces shopped sustainably.
Lucy and Yak – Sustainable and ethical fashion company based in the UK. They sell whimsical and handmade clothing with natural motifs. Lucy and Yak have some great staple pieces that you can layer with statement pieces.
$100 – $300
K&R London – A slow fashion UK brand that plays with texture and patterned clothing.
Tumbao – Store that features Latin American designers and culture in NYC. No website, so you must visit this incredible store in person.
$300 – $2000
Renaissance Renaissance – A slow fashion brand that is playful and soft bring elements of culture and womanhood into clothing. For lighter more flowy pieces, check this company out. Renaissance Renaissance outsources their products on to others’ websites. Scroll down to find what websites they are on.
Kilentar – A slow fashion brand that uses traditional African techniques with modern design to bring you something one of kind. The brands particular audience is for those intrested in Afrofusion.
Final note
The important thing about fashion, and specifically Rama‘s fashion, is that it’s very slow and intentional. Yes, you can get away with shopping fast-fashion brands and trying to imitate everything Rama does, but it will never be truly Rama or you. Remember that an It Girl is a state of mind. It’s not someone we’re just trying to copy. Is someone who has qualities we aspire to have. While some may think that fashion is just linear, we know that fashion is multifaceted, political, and brave.
Design takes time and always will. Think about it, your own persona isn’t done being curated. As you come to understand yourself better, it will show in your clothes. You are your own IT girl to build.
So when you’re showing up in the fashion world, I think it’s very important to ask yourself: How am I going to be the IT Girl today?
