“The reconstructed jeans are a favorite, which I have teamed with a Nike top and Mansur Gavriel white slides.” Courtesy of Dalia Nsouli
If you haven’t jumped on board the Vetements train, it’s time to get hooked. The brand on everyone’s lips has garnered a loyalist following since its Fall 2014 debut collection for its high-end, streetwear-driven appeal. Helmed by Demna Gvasalia, his brother Guram and a team of anonymous collective designers, the Parisian powerhouse has pushed the fashion envelope through its widely recognizable designs, such as patchwork jeans, extra-long sleeved hoodies, oversized boxy-shoulder silhouettes, and floral prairie dresses.
The young label’s alternative take on streetwear has quickly gained universal popularity amid fashion insiders, evident by the surge of street style sightings in the last two Fashion Months. Among fashion aficionados flying the Vetements flag is Lebanese-American Dalia Nsouli. The Doha-based corporate banker wears a pair of reconstructed jeans and python booties on rotation, and currently has her eye on a pair of the brand’s sweatpants. Telling Vogue Arabia what captured her attention about that brand, Nsouli notes, “They turned basics into super basics with their broad shoulders and oversized fit. It’s not so much pretty as it is creative, eye-catching and bold, which for me is attractive.” Nsouli, who gravitates to denims and clashing prints, describes her style as experimental and temperamental: “I love mixing and never matching.”
Notorious for its disproportions and unconventional cuts, one might wonder how to style the brand. Take a cue from Nsouli who likes to style her Vetements pieces with virtually everything in her closet: “I either dress up the jeans with a fancy voluminous top by Rosie Assoulin or wear them during the day with an oversized white, crisp shirt. I would definitely wear the sweatpants with strappy heals and a silk camisole, and I would wear their shell bombers over a fancy evening gown,” she explains.
“This sweatshirt is quite a statement piece. I can wear it with opaque tights and sneakers for a casual look, or play it up with contrasting textures, like this structured faux-croc skirt.” Courtesy of Taiba Al Nassar
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti teenager Taiba Al-Nassar, also known as “The Urban Analyst”, is drawn to the brand because it resonates with her personal style. Streetwear labels such as Hood By Air and Hyein Seo as well as elements of punk culture through Vivienne Westwood typically make their way into her closet, too: “My wardrobe fuses unique pieces that I come across with elements of my Kuwaiti roots,” says Al-Nassar about her sartorial expression.
While sporting one of the brand’s It items, the Titanic hoodie, telling Vogue Arabia, “It is incredibly versatile, I can go just about anywhere sporting it. I have worn the sweatshirt at London Fashion Week, yet also wear it to chill with friends and run errands.” Between Nsouli’s and Al-Nassar’s distinct styles, the eclectic label is far from a challenge to pull off.
