Fashion Interview with Mindy White
Mindy White backstage at the Mohawk in Austin, TX on October 12, 2011
States just finished an opening stint for Circa Survive, and their debut album Room To Run comes out today. You can stream the whole album on AOL.
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Choice Quotes:
“I like to look at what everybody else is wearing and wear the opposite.”
“Every single day I just wake up and depending on the mood that I’m in, that’s how I dress.”
“I think it’s so cool when you go to a show and someone’s wearing something that you’ve never seen before.”
How would you describe your personal style?
Ecclectic. Very ecclectic. Every single day I just wake up and depending on the mood that I’m in, that’s how I dress. If I’m feeling moody then I’ll wear something dark, or something with red and black. Or sometimes I want to be floral and girly. It’s just all depending on mood.
What are your fashion inspirations and influences?
Well mood is definitely an inspiration. Also the seasons, because of colors and everything like that. But I’m kind of different because I like to look at what everybody else is wearing and wear the opposite. Nothing too crazy – well I guess sequin pants is kinda crazy [referencing the red sequined pants which wore on stage]. But I feel like some of these people dress too boring, and so I like to mix it up. Sometimes I look at celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens, I think she has a great style. So I’ll see picture of her, and I like what she’s wearing.
You mentioned the seasons. How has living in South influenced your style?
It definitely made me have a lot of shorts and tank tops. It’s hot as crap. And also I almost feel like I’m at home when I wear a button-up or cut-off denim shorts or boots.
What do you think that your clothes say about you?
Probably that I’m tacky! [Mindy laughs] No, my mood, definitely. Because I feel like you can look at outfits and be like “she doesn’t care today, she probably wasn’t feeling so good.” Or when you put together a good outfit you feel good. And I think they can probably tell that I do music. Because anytime I go into a gas station on tour they’re always like “you in a band?” and I don’t know how they know it. I have all these studs and leopard and red, so that’s probably why.
Is your style when you’re on tour different than when you’re at home?
Yeah, because when I’m at home I wear sweats a lot. I’m sitting on the couch, and I have my hair in a bun and a t-shirt on and sweats. But it’s not a lot different from when I actually dress at home. Except I don’t wear my sequined pants at home.
What is the one fashion trend that you wish would just die already?
Oh gosh, so many! Crocs. And can I say something right now, and everybody’s gonna hate me for this, but I don’t think Uggs are that bad. That’s it, that’s all I have to say. I have a pair, and they’re really comfy. As long as you don’t tuck them into sweatpants then you’re fine.
You’ve been in the music scene for a few years now, first with Lydia and now with States. Have you noticed any changes in how fans dress for shows?
Definitely. I feel like there used to be, and still is, this crazy neon phase that I don’t get. Which is another thing that I wish would kinda die out — not forever but just not every day, every person wearing the neon block letter t-shirts. But then again, whatever makes people happy. Before that it was obviously like 90s, like the flannels and torn jeans. But it went from that to neon and beanies. Neon and beanies go together like a combo now. And now it’s making it’s way into where I see a lot of people come up and they’ll be talking to me and I’ll be like “where did you get that shirt?” or “where did you get those shoes? Those are awesome.” And they dress more, very like Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters type stuff. Or even original style. I see a lot of dresses and 50’s types coming, which is really exciting to me because I love Lucille Ball and her style. It’s definitely changing a lot and they come to shows as well, and they see what everyone else is wearing, so it’s just always constantly changing.
We’re out of the hair band era but now we’re in the Lady Gaga era of the ridiculous pop star. Do you think that image is important to rock bands?
I think it is. I mean just being comfortable in your own stuff. I think it’s fun to show your personality really loudly, that’s why I love wearing the sequin pants. I have them in 4 different colors – blue, red, gold, and black – and I hope to get more. I think it’s fun because you can show who you are just by literally wearing something. I think it’s so cool when you go to a show and someone’s wearing something that you’ve never seen before. I remember going and seeing Muse play and they had these crazy outfits on with all white and silver shoes and it just looked so cool because it’s more than just hearing the music and seeing the band play, you’re seeing a show. It’s a little bit more. They put effort into what they wear and I think it shows a lot more and it’s really cool.
Which is more crucial to your personal style: great jeans or loud accessories?
Loud accessories. I love jeans, but most of them don’t really fit me that well. So it’s hard for me to find a good pair of jeans. Except for Siwy jeans, I love Siwy jeans. You can put on anything you want and put tons of accessories on, and you’ll still feel awesome.
States performs at the Mohawk in Austin, TX with Mindy in her sequin pants
My sequin pants because they mean so much to me and I love them so much.
Where does one purchase sequined pants?
It’s very hard for my to find jeans that I love, and I found Siwy jeans. And they fit me so well that I was looking on the site to get some more jeans, and I saw that she had these sequined pants. And I was like “those would be so perfect for stage.” So I emailed them and I asked them what colors they had, and she told me all these colors, and I was like “I want them all!” I’ve never seen them anywhere else. I think she’s literally the only designer making them in different colors. That was a couple seasons ago, but I hope she keeps making more because I wanna keep rocking them.
What are your favorite stores?
I like Forever 21. It’s cheap, and it’s easy to shop there, with the way that they pair everything together, it kinda helps me. When I go in, and I stare at a store I kinda get anxiety. And the way that they put it all together, in colors, and they put the store together in moods – wild, edgy, whatever – I like that.
I wanna say Urban [Outfitters]. I like Urban’s clothes, but a lot of their clothes don’t fit me well and it’s really expensive, so I like them when they have sales. And honestly, thrift stores. I also have a group of friends that get together and we have clothing trades and trade clothes that we don’t wear anymore. And you can alter them yourself and wear them however you want.
If you could chose any designer to create a wardrobe for you, who would it be?
Wildfox! I love so many designers, I love Betsey Johnson too, so maybe a Wildfox/Betsey Johnson baby.
What decade or era do think had the best fashion?
The 50’s because it’s classy and really nice and pretty.
What’s the one piece that you think every girl should own?
A necklace. I feel naked if I’m not wearing a necklace.
I know that you’ve sold some homemade things on Etsy. Do you make a lot of your own clothes or accessories?
Not clothes, but jewelry. I get home and if I have a lot of time, I’ll just go to Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann’s and I’ll see something and even if it’s not made for a necklace I’ll make it into one.
Is your hair naturally curly?
No. I wish it was. When I was a little kid, my mom used to take me to get perms in my hair. So it looked natural when I was young. But now it is straight. If I blow dry my hair and wear it out, everyone is like “oh, you straightened your hair today.”
What’s your everyday beauty routine?
I wake up. I usually do makeup first because it’s easier. Sometimes I’ll pick the outfit first, it depends on how big of a hurry I’m in, but I usually have to get everything ready. It takes me so much time to pick an outfit. On tour it’s easier because I have less choices. I find something I like and then I think about “how many times have I worn this shirt?” because I love it so much. I’ve gotta look in there and find something I haven’t worn in a long time. So I pick that out and I’m like “aw, now I gotta change my jeans. Now I gotta change my accessories.”
If you could raid a celebrity’s closet, who would it be?
Vanessa Hudgens.
I know that you have a tattoo in your lip, but what are your other tattoos?
The one in my lip says “daggum.” We were on Warped tour and this guy was giving out free tattoos. I have a friend that has “sushi” with arrows pointing down her throat, and I wanted to get “barbecue.” Which is funny, I’m glad I didn’t because now I’m vegetarian. So I was thinking “what can I get that reminds me of home?” and my parents always say “daggum,” like “dang it,” “daggum it.” So I got that.
And then my other tattoo is I have a key behind my ear. It’s an Alice In Wonderland type key, a skeleton key. Because a skeleton key opens all doors, you can do anything you want. And I like Alice In Wonderland a lot.
[…] White’s favorite item in her wardrobe are these sequined skinny jeans from Siwy. In our interview, Mindy said that she owns them in blue, red, gold, and black; though I have not yet seen her wear […]