The Styles That Shaped My Wardrobe (And How They Inspire the Clothes I Sell)
If you’re wanting to know what inspires my style, or what style you’re inspired by but you don’t even know, keep reading.
In my mind NTL isn’t really just a shop for me, even tho currently it is. I see it as a wardrobe built from my memory, culture, and obsession, influenced by the aesthetics I’ve studied, worn, and lived in. From vintage Italian leather to Japanese selvedge denim, the 70s to 90s era of earthy tones and boldness of the 90s to the off-duty swagger of early 2000s New York, these are the worlds that shaped my fashion language — and now they shape yours.
So when I’m curating a drop/ collection, it’s never just about what’s trending. My style — and the clothes I sell — are rooted in eras that in my opinion, actually meant something, aka styles that had personality. I’m not coming at this from a stylist/ designer point of view, to be honest, I’m still learning A LOT from my position currently being not only the creator of the collections but my target audience.
The '90s brought in raw hip hop style energy, low-rise denim, leather belts with chunky buckles, and that “don’t care but care” vibe. It’s partly why i sub-consciously/ consciously pick the denim shapes and bold accessories for NTL drops. When that interacts with Italian fashion, there’s something sooo cool about it — not just in the clothes, but the attitude. I’m obsessed with vintage Italian jackets: the structure, the craftsmanship. When I travelled up Italy to source, this originally inspired a lot of my clothing i resold. partly because i loved it but also the way I watched italian’s where their clothes made me want to find what they were wearing and share it also.
When you interact this Italian vibe that’s got attitude with the structure of selvedge denim, clean lines, unique washes, and details that most people don’t even notice (but the ones who know, know), it just WORKS. A lot of the time i pair vintage italian leather jackets with Japanese style jeans. Not to mention adding the NYC hip hop influence, aka the blueprint of streetwear, with the statement belts, oversized jorts/ jeans/ tee’s/ boldness represented in a different way. I also LOVE wearing unisex outfits, and NYC does this so well, mixing the masculinity with the femininity of pieces. Intentional mess.