As he steps out of his car onto his Billie Eilish themed parking spot, the last sounds of a Frank Ocean song escape out the door. He swings his backpack onto the shoulder of his maroon sweater. A silver chain swings on the side of his baggy jeans as he walks towards the front doors.
“I started to experiment with my style during freshman year, and those weren’t my best moments,” East Senior Mason Viox told Spark.
After years of trial and error, Viox feels like he has finally found a style that aligns with his bold personality.
“I always wanted to be more expressive in my style but was too scared since most other boys I’ve grown up surrounded by wouldn’t wear anything other than sportswear and activewear,” said Viox. “Fear of judgment definitely stunts creativity and expression, but at a certain point you have to understand that everyone is trying to figure themselves out and fashion helps me break free from that fear.”
Viox describes his style as a mix of late 90s and early 2000s casual and formal streetwear. His outfit choices are influenced by artists like Billie Eilish and Tyler, The Creator—as well as various hip hop stars from the early 2000s. He also finds inspiration from online fashion.
“Pinterest is also my best friend. I love pinning any outfit that I could see myself wearing and it always tailors my feed into stuff that is my style,” said Viox. “I find something specific that I like and then go thrifting to look for something similar.”
A staple in Viox’s closet is a pair of baggy Urban Outfitters BDG pants with a slight yellow wash to them. He also reflects his music taste in his shirt choices. His most recent purchase was a Billie Eilish shirt from her Cincinnati concert. Viox makes the baggy streetwear style his own, often experimenting Thrifted Ring Target White Shirt Vivienne Westwood Necklace Thrifted Flannel with different layering.
“Layering any t-shirt over a baggy long sleeve or a thermal makes it look more interesting and dimensional,” said Viox.
For more casual looks, Viox can usually be seen wearing his pair of white Nike Air Max 97 sneakers. When dressing formally, his go-to shoe choice is a pair of burgundy loafers. Viox also does not shy away from accessories.
“My all-time favorite accessory is my pants chain that was a necklace given to me by my friend,” said Viox. “I attached it to a keychain so I could hook it to my pants. I love silver jewelry and it ties in my rings and pants chains to make everything look more cohesive.”
In the age of online shopping and fast fashion, Viox prefers to spend his free time sifting through second-hand clothing. Unable to wait for days as online clothing items travel to him from across the country, he prefers the satisfaction of pulling clothing straight off the shelf.
“I primarily shop at thrift stores because there is such a diverse selection of clothes of all different types and styles for much cheaper than any store at the mall,” said Viox. “Thrifting is also way more sustainable since you are repurposing clothes.”
Viox’s favorite item of clothing that he owns is a thrifted white Yankees shirt. He is also often seen wearing a thrifted, burgundy Tommy Hilfiger flannel. Viox adds his own personal touch to these clothing items, cutting them at the bottom to create the perfect fit.
“Some people are scared that they are ruining their clothes but every time I cut a shirt even if it’s just the tiniest bit at the bottom, it makes the shirt have more personality,” said Viox. “I specifically love when things fray at the ends because it makes things look less neat, especially if I’m looking too formal and when I’m going for a more streetwear look.”
