KARINA TROFIMOVA: MINIMALISTIC QUEEN
Karina Trofimova is originally from Latvia but currently resides in New York City. She values a minimalistic style as it reflects her authentic self. With her brand HAUS LABEL, Karina allows customers to repeat outfits with staple items. She finds the most joy in clothing pieces that can be re-worn for many occasions. Karina feels most confident when her style fits her personality! She is an introverted person and feels her minimalistic style reflects who she truly is. Karina’s style evolved from dressing bold like Britney Spears at age 12 to now presenting herself with quiet confidence. She is naturally inspired by her creative friends in the fashion industry, yet she remains unique to who she is!
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?
“As I was growing up, I realized that I wanted to maybe project a certain image or just really, for my style to reflect how I feel on the inside. And that is when I started to tone down and kind of be more inspired by minimalism and kind of realizing that that is what makes me feel the best. Is actually keeping it very clean and sophisticated in a lot of ways”
You said Barbie and Britney Spears helped develop your style evolution. Were there any other pop culture influences that helped evolve your style?
“I was inspired by a lot of the street style and bloggers that I was seeing. And then there is one particular one at the time, her blog was called LOVE AESTHETICS…I was very inspired by her, and that definitely made me feel like this is who I am, and then obviously once I kind of mastered that aesthetic or realized this is what I feel best, then it started evolving again and for it to become more exactly me and with my own touches.”
How does your brand, HAUS LABEL, represent your style?
“The ethos of HAUS LABEL is outfit repeating and just wearing one piece in various situations so this brand was literally born out of the way that I feel. I don't feel like I have to wear a different outfit every single day or like I cannot re-wear an outfit a week later. I feel for me personally, that would be very wasteful.”
What inspired you to create your brand and were there any brands you were inspired by before you created HAUS LABEL?
“There wasn't a specific brand, but I guess I would say that when I look at anything 90s, even Calvin Klein, Prada, all those brands in the 90s, just look the most like what I want to look like, and what I am very inspired by.”
What do you wear when you feel most confident?
“To be very honest I don't overthink it. I just wear whatever I like, whatever I feel confident in, whatever is in my closet, whatever feels like me!”
You said that your authentic style allows you to feel most confident. Are there any trends that make you feel most confident?
“I usually don't look at trends. That is not something that characterizes me, as a follower of trends. Yeah, just when I see something I like it. That’s what I will wear.”
Could you elaborate more on what the term “quiet confidence” means to you?
“Quiet confidence to me is not going over the top. And I don't have anything against maximalist style, or I actually really admire people who have a very fun or extroverted style, but my personality is more introverted. So for me I just find quiet confidence is exactly that. It’s something more muted, quiet, but you just know who you are and you feel good about yourself, And you don't need to really stand out in order to project who you are”
How have social media and your friends influenced your style/brand?
“There’s that saying show me your five closest friends, and I'll tell you who you are. I think we are all affected and influenced by the people around us. I am very grateful for an amazing friend group in different kinds of industries, and I feel like I can learn and be inspired by all of them.”
What is your favorite way to find new brands?
“I usually find new brands on the internet. Via different apps that serve that kind of purpose like Instagram and Arête, or even articles in different publications. And I am very grateful to have friends in the industry, so I am always keeping an eye on who they're following and what they like!”
What is the most rewarding part for you of being the creative director of HAUS LABEL?
“The most rewarding part about HAUS LABEL is just seeing other people wear it and interpret it into their lifestyles, and as I mentioned before, when someone tells me that they are constantly reaching for their HAUS LABEL piece that is truly the best compliment to me.”
If you could swap closets with one person, who would it be and why?
“I don't think I want to swap closets with anyone to be honest. I enjoy the collection of clothing that I have. Most of the pieces I have in my closet is because of the designers that I work with, so I have a lot of respect for their work, for their designs, and I am not really craving anybody else’s closest.”
What's a major fashion red flag for you?
“I think that the major red flag is when people in the industry are not kind. I think the days of fashion gatekeeping and being too cool are over. And if someone is still in that mindset that is a major red flag for me.”
