MAY STYLE MASTER: Jorge Clar

Give a voice to the voiceless!

The personal style of blogger, poet and performance artist Jorge Clar is bold and strong — and the epitome of what a Gazelle Paulo Style Master should be. In this photo, Clar wears an Only NY hat, Philippe Starck/Alain Mikli glasses, Comme des Garcons dress and Vintage Malian poncho from Narnia. (Photo by Gazelle Paulo)
The personal style of blogger, poet and performance artist Jorge Clar is bold and strong — and the epitome of what a Gazelle Paulo Style Master should be. In this photo, Clar wears an Only NY hat, Philippe Starck/Alain Mikli glasses, Comme des Garcons dress and Vintage Malian poncho from Narnia. (Photo by Gazelle Paulo)

Gowns, ponchos, pants, skirts, sandals, flip-flops, boots, sneakers, Crocs, overalls, shorts, body suits, wraps, vintage, modern, minimalist, avant-garde … if you name it, Jorge Clar has done it.

Born in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, Jorge is a blogger, poet and performance artist who has been living on New York’s Lower East Side for 28 years. He has studied newspaper writing at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and is the editor of People en Español. “In the office, people love how I show up dressed to work,” he told TheBlot Magazine. “They are so used to it, and they sometimes take photos of me.

It is very obvious that Jorge has a passion for styling; his looks are strong and bold, there is no limitation for what he can or cannot wear. He has mastered the ability of mixing designer labels with pieces found in thrift stores to create visual fashion stories that he documents — almost daily — on his personal blog. His new blue hair — by hair specialist Jeanise Aviles — is a new level of styling experimentation. “At the end of the day, it is just hair, so why not?” he explained.

And because I absolutely love his free and unlimited approach to fashion, Jorge Clar is our May Style Master.

Jorge Clar in a vintage Kermit the Frog hat and dress shirt by Pip-Squeak Chapeau. (Photo by Gazelle Paulo)
Jorge Clar in a vintage Kermit the Frog hat and dress shirt by Pip-Squeak Chapeau. (Photo by Gazelle Paulo)

Gazelle Paulo: Please describe your style with your own words.
Jorge Clar: My style is ritual through clothing. Everything I wear has an intention behind it, so putting on an outfit is a method for manifesting my dreams.

Do you have any peculiar fashion habits?
Yes. I don’t really like to plan what I’ll be wearing ahead of time, preferring instead to see how I feel in the morning and then putting my outfit together. I am usually inspired by a kernel of color or texture or a specific accessory, and then I take it from there.

How important has fashion and style been to you?
Fashion and style are my main means of self-expression. They are an integral part of my art, which includes inhabiting different characters every day. Clothes and accessories are my tools in making these often subtle transformations.

What was the defining fashion moment of your life/career?
I would say when my style has led me to become ?the work of artists. It is an honor to collaborate with dear friends like Dietmar Busse, Bubi Canal, José Joaquín Figueroa, Harry Hancock and Scooter LaForge and have a day-to-?day dialogue with style become the seed for iconic images. A?n earlier watershed has ?been meeting photographer friend Dominic Vine, who opened my eyes to the beauty of physicality and ?got me into the habit of documenting my appearance.

Who are the most elegant women and men of all time?
To me, the most elegant woman would be Linda Evangelista. I love how she is able to make almost any style her very own, putting so much spirit into the modeling she practically channels different people … almost like a Cindy Sherman of fashion. Jimi Hendrix is most elegant; I love how he wore clothes with such casual, easy attitude and imbuing them with an air of innocence.

Clar, in SoHo, wearing Jean Paul Gaultier/Alain Mikli glasses, a Scooter LaForge dress, Stance socks, Riccardo Tisci/Nike sneakers, Uniqlo/SPRZ/Andy Warhol bag and Louis Vuitton keychain. (Photo by Gazelle Paulo)
Clar, in SoHo, wearing Jean Paul Gaultier/Alain Mikli glasses, a Scooter LaForge dress, Stance socks, Riccardo Tisci/Nike sneakers, Uniqlo/SPRZ/Andy Warhol bag and Louis Vuitton keychain. (Photo by Gazelle Paulo)

Fashionably speaking, if you could have a second chance to give another first impression, when and why?
To me, impressions are like building blocks, they are all connected. I don’t recall regretting any first impression, as I know whatever it may be is an extension of how I feel … and there are always more impressions to be made.

What is your favorite store in the world an your favorite in New York City?
In the entire world, my favorite store would have to be Worlds End on King’s Road [in London]. In New York, I have three favorites: Narnia — where many of my style dreams begin — on Rivington Street, Artsee in Battery Park City (I am a huge fan of eyewear) and Only on Stanton Street.

What was the most spectacular party you attended?
The Larry Levan Memorial Marathon was the most extraordinary party I’ve ever been to, as it lasted four days and became more of an existence than an event … eating, sleeping and hanging out in the DJ booth for four days in a row.

If you could style one person, who would be the lucky one?
I’d like to style Madonna, as I grew up with her work and understand her eclecticism well. I think she wears clothes with full intention — I see her first as a performance artist.

What is the perfect attire for the eternal sleep?
A 19th century Edwardian night gown.

Gazelle Paulo is a contributing journalist for TheBlot Magazine. Follow him on Twitter and FreakChic.

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