CHlOE FELOPULOS: MAXIMALIST MOGUL
Chloe Felopulos is a high-spirited, confident, fashionista in New York City. She is currently a stylist and went to college at Fordham in Manhattan. Chloe used to work in consignment boutiques where she first discovered her love for second-hand vintage apparel. She was also inspired by her mother’s fashion, as they thrifted together when Chloe was younger. Chloe likes to mix together different prints, textures, silhouettes, and colors in her fashion looks. Fashion is simply playing dress up for Chloe, similar to when she was a little girl. Chloe finds fashion inspiring because it allows her to be unique to who she is. She believes when entering the fashion industry that it is possible for anyone and everyone to be successful, as long as they believe in themselves first. Chloe is a naturally charismatic, optimistic, and eccentric individual. She never steers away from wearing the most elaborate outfit in a room. Fashion to Chloe is playful, lively, and lighthearted!
Special thank you to the incredible photographer, Amelia Hammond, who made this closet portrait come to life.
How did you develop your personal style & how did it evolve?
“My experience developing my personal style has been a process. It's not about the destination. It's been the journey. I credit one job in specific which is a consignment shop boutique. I was just around a lot of second-hand and vintage and really cool women who were dropping off pieces from all different decades. That environment really nurtured my sense of style but then also opened up this world of second-hand to me…When I got to college I definitely was super influenced by the micro trends and what was cool to wear in New York and all of that…So I found a lot of my personal style that way. Just really trusting my gut, what inspires me, finding inspiration elsewhere, and not always looking at what other people are wearing.”
Do you remember a time in your life when getting dressed gave you a boost of confidence?
“It really does all the time. I think getting dressed really gives me that extra boost kind of every day when I'm headed out…Playing dress-up forever makes me feel like that little girl, and when that's brought out, I’d never s*** on her. I'm so excited about that energy that I get from loving my outfit. It's a little bit unmatched. I fear there's nothing else kind of like that!”
What do you wear when you feel most confident?
“Very playful and fun outfits!”
What do you think about when creating an outfit?
“I think about color a lot when I'm putting together an outfit. I think about print and texture a lot and silhouette. I feel like it's all about balance with an outfit. I feel like if you're gonna do big bolds on the bottom, finding something that's maybe a little bit more form fitting on the top, or vice versa, or if you're gonna do both.”
How important are silhouettes to an outfit and how do you find the right one?
“Very important. Once you kind of know your body and know what you like to wear and what feels good…I really think of my closet as a little treasure chest of dress-up. And so I think the more I can play around with my clothing the better at least for me. And so when it comes to silhouettes and adding things, like pins and little bows and brooches, I feel like that's also a cool thing to play off of something that's super structured.”
What era of fashion are you most inspired by?
“I'm very nostalgic for 90s fashion. I love that and just those iconic moments like photos. I do love the 70s, and then I would say we're going way back to the Victorian Roko era. I love a billowy blouse with big sleeves. I love all that drama!”
Is there a certain celebrity you get your style inspiration from?
“I love Vivian Westwood…Vivian Westwood is such an inspiration to me how she was like an OG in the punk era and that revolution in the Sex Pistols and everything with that moment. I love the modernized version of what that could be and wearing it out in New York City. I really love Nadia Lee, and I love how she approaches her creative work and then whenever I see a photo of her, she's just iconic. I think her taste is incredible.”
If you could swap closets with one person, who would it be and why?
“Liv. Genuinely she's to me one of the best vintage curators. I'm actually obsessed with her style so much.”
As a maximalist, what are your thoughts on minimalism?
“I think minimalism is beautiful. I think it's gorgeous. But I definitely think there are spaces…where people can give a little crazy…sometimes I'm just dying for a little bit more. So I think there's a balance, but it's obviously a beautiful aesthetic, and I think people do it so well. I totally respect minimalism, and I dabble here and there, when I feel like it feels right.”
What would you describe your style as if you had to categorize it?
“I know it's like humans. We love a category. We love to discuss the moments and things that are going on right now, and it's fun to talk about, but no. I don't like to give myself a certain aesthetic…. A lot of my clothing stems from just shopping secondhand and vintage. I'm gonna find pieces from all over from different aesthetics and decades and things like that. So I don't ever really want to be like this is what I am because it's also always changing. I love to dabble with the edgier side of kind of like that Edwardian aspect of my style, but then just because I wear an outfit that kind of dabbles in that, doesn't necessarily mean that's my whole aesthetic too. It's a complicated thing, and I don't think it's that deep, and I don't think I need to label!”
Favorite way to find new brands?
“I’m finding small brands all the time because I'm a stylist. I love small designers. And so I think just going out and meeting people and talking to people…I find out about brands a lot. I have a few stylist friends that also are really cool and really nice that share brands who work with me.”
What's a major fashion red flag for you?
“Skinny jeans that are ripped on the knees. Skinny jeans in general have always looked and will forever look terrible on me, and maybe I need a stylist to style me and prove me wrong, but good God I can't do it…just something about the skinny jeans…I'm not into it. But I think it's super chic on other people!”
What's a major fashion green flag for you?
“I guess when I see somebody mixing prints…I love seeing when people put an effort in their outfit. I think it's very dear and inspiring that everybody stands in front of their mirror and puts on an outfit that day and leaves. So seeing thoughtfulness in outfits and mixing prints.”
Tell us about the fives fits we shot and the occasions, styles, & vibes you associate with each!
Look 1: “The first one that I shot was maybe the purple top flower situation and then the striped capri. I loved that outfit. I would wear it anywhere…My boyfriend loves a crazy outfit. I was feeling so confident in that little Carrie Bradshaw skip around like I was just feeling myself in that, so I would wear it on date night. I love to just skip around and be a little silly but also very chic!”
Look 2: “The polka dot tutu with the sailor top and monnet. I would wear that to a friend's gallery or a little fashion week night out where I'm feeling a little extra…I love the movement. I feel like it is meant to be worn out and just walked around in. That skirt is just so fun!”
Look 3: “I wore the two-piece set. I feel like I would wear that for a little happy hour with the girls or a picnic or something cute that felt like you could go barefoot in it. It was just really flowy and free.”
Look 4: “I love that outfit. I thought it was so fun. I would wear it to pride because we shot it on pride. I loved it because I thought it was fun playing off of the football pad silhouette motif. I thought that kind of a fun thing to play around with masculine, feminine energy in an outfit just felt kind of bossed up, so that would be fun. Or for a Chappell Roan concert!”
Look 5: “That white outfit with the polka dot tights and my little cone Madonna bra. That would be my Thelma and Louise moment!”
Chloe’s Final Words of Advice:
“I feel like a lot of this industry is imposter syndrome or you think these big fashion moments, especially people that come from smaller towns that are just moving to New York or switching pivoting careers or whatever you think it's maybe too late to join or you don't know how or you don't think these fashion moments are possible for you. I feel like you learn quickly in New York that it is very possible and if it's possible for other people, why not yourself? So believe it can be possible for yourself because I feel like people write it off and don't expect that they could do it, or that it might be too late. But I know people who are 40, 60, 70, just now switching their careers or finding what they're passionate about. So it's never, ever too late, and there’s always room for everybody… you just gotta meet the right people but they're out there!”
