Do you ever go into your closet in search of the ugliest outfit in your wardrobe? If you haven’t, you should. It might just be the most freeing and subversively stylish fashion decision you make. The thing about “pretty” is that it’s mundane, boring, and perfectly boxed into the confines of the latest trend cycle. Whereas confidently choosing something ugly challenges the status quo in a way that is just so…chic. The Ugly Chic style of the 90s still resonates with me and inspires my clothing choices today. It’s transgressive, rebellious, and reminds us that there is something deeply beautiful in the ugly, messy parts of life. 

 

I Don’t Dress to Appeal to Anyone

It’s not my job to dress for anyone’s expectations. My style is less about appealing to a wide audience and fitting in; it is more about making my own artistic impression and exploring different sides of myself. 

In high school, I was very New Wave and listened to bands like Duran Duran, The Cure, and Devo. I took style inspiration from Boy George, playing with gender bending effects and slightly shocking accessories to get attention. I went through my “dressing pretty” phase too, as well as a stint exploring boho fashions. But, my goal when putting together an outfit has always been to surprise and express what I’m feeling rather than appeal to people in any kind of conventional way. Our societal beauty standards are oppressive. Of course I want to reject them. 

 

As an adult, I’ve moved through different styles and levels of caring about fashion, from completely ignoring it altogether to hiring a personal stylist. Hiring a stylist is helpful, especially when you are going through periods of reinvention or just need to look a certain way at a certain time, whether it’s for a photoshoot or event. There is no shame in turning to the professionals, but ideally, that professional works with you to tap into your authentic self and create something you can experiment with further and grow into. I take this approach to interiors. When people hire my team and me to style their homes, we do so with them in mind — reflecting their personalities with each choice. 

 

Fashion has always been an interest of mine, but rejecting conventional beauty standards has also always been an interest. The only way to stand out, and in my opinion be comfortable with yourself, is to make the bold decision to not do what everyone else is doing. 

 

Who Gave You Permission to Dress Ugly? Miuccia Prada, the Pioneer of Ugly Chic Fashion  

Miuccia Prada isn’t your typical fashion designer. She takes a surrealist approach to her designs, making us question our conscious conformities and tap into our unconscious desires to subvert the norm. In the 90s, she made the undesirably ugly, desirably chic. 

The world of fashion trends is a never-ending cycle of what’s “in” and what’s “out.” When Prada’s SS96 collection hit the runway in the late 90s, she transgressed this model, making the outdated and ugly something to embrace. Her Banal Eccentricity collection explored contrasting patterns and colors from the 50s, like muddy purples, dirty browns, and slimy avocados, and utilized “trashy” domestic textiles — creating an ugly, disrespectful show to the rules of fashion. Ugly Chic fashion was born, and I loved it. 

 

And so did everyone else, as this collection defined the off-key branding that Prada is known for today. Prada’s work renounced conventional ideas of beauty, making ugly something to aspire to. You no longer had to dress to be pretty, and by extension act nice. You could dress to be the authentic version of yourself, ugliness and all. 

 

I’m Not Interested in Making Every Home I Design “Pretty” 

When it comes to interior design, I don’t have much interest in creating a home that’s conventionally “pretty.” I am not one for upholding conventional standards of beauty, or worse, following trends and staying in line with what everyone else is doing. I prefer to take a page from Prada and embrace Ugly Chic interiors. 

When a design is too balanced, too structured, too white, it feels a little too…unbelievable. You’ve been in these homes before where you walk in and wonder, “Does someone actually live here, or is this a set?” When working with my clients, I want to tap into the parts of them that are unintentional, even ugly. It’s ok to have a messy house, or mix your favorite clashing colors, or even hang your Ramones band poster in the dining room. Above all, your home should be a comfortable reflection of you. 

 

Throwing something “ugly” into a pretty space also makes people pause and take notice. When I was last in Paris, I visited the flea market and found an amazing trompe l’oeil piece of a pile of realistic looking rubbish bags. It’s clever, funny, and wonderfully ugly. Of course, I bought it for my studio. I love the juxtaposition of the ugly and the beautiful, and seeing people stop in their tracks to question themselves…or more so, me. 

The Joy of Ugly Chic Design (And Subverting the Status Quo) 

The concept of “pretty” is built on the act of fitting in. When it comes to fashion, this means buying flattering clothes, sticking to colors that complement your skin tone, and adhering to the latest cycle of styles. And in interiors, this means staying within the rules and creating something that could be appealing to everyone. But, where is the fun in that? 

 

Ugly Chic style gives us the freedom to express ourselves and subvert the status quo. Why would we dress ourselves for the view of others or create a home to appeal to the styles of our neighbors? We are the ones that have to live in our clothes and our homes! There’s a lot of joy to be found in the ugly stuff. 

 

In a world of pretty, dare to be ugly.