How I Shop: Selah Marley
"I'm a crazy shopper because I won't shop for months and then go to Opening Ceremony and just ball out, literally, and spend all my money."
We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what's "you"? These are some of the questions we're putting to prominent figures in our column "How I Shop."
"Art imitates life and not the other way around," says Selah Marley, over the phone. "So often, I really wish my life was being recorded all the time."
To be honest, that imaginary streaming series would be a pretty interesting (if not aspirational) watch considering the charmed life of the model, musician, artist and overall music royalty. Her mom, award-winning singer and songwriter Lauryn Hill, made history as the first woman to win five or more Grammys in a single night. (Plus her classic album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is considered the first hip-hop album ever to win Album of the Year.) Marley's dad, Rohan is Bob's sixth child — you've heard of Bob Marley, right?
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Sealing her fashion bonafides, Marley has starred in campaigns for Rag & Bone and Beyoncé's Ivy Park, as well as walked in Yeezy and Chanel Metiers d’Art. Following in mom's footsteps, the singer songwriter also released a single, "Breathe," in 2017 leading up to the impending release of her debut EP. Earlier this year, she also released a short film, "C'est La," which explores self-image and identity. The prolific multidisciplinary artist also multitasked with the creation of an immersive installation in Brooklyn back in May to celebrate Earth Day, titled "A Primordial Place."
In short, Marley keeps herself very busy with creative pursuits, but makes time for her love of fashion — and shopping — as the self-proclaimed Rihanna stan will discuss below. She also shared what it's like to peruse her mom's closet, which has overtaken the family estate, and how much she bought the last time she "balled out" at Opening Ceremony.
"My personal style is really however I feel that day. Sometimes I'm feeling 1950s housewife. Other times — most of the time — I'm feeling very 'Kim Possible,' meaning cargo pants — really baggy pants — and the shirt of a child. So really, really tight shirts showing midriff.
Then other times, I like to call it, 'ath-luxe.' So it's athletic luxury, like 'Tron Legacy,' you can call it. Other times, I just feel like a schoolgirl. And then other times, I feel like I don't want to wear any clothes at all. Those are my different identities. I mean, there's more, but those are ones I fall back on quite often.
Inspiration for how I feel just depends. It was a lot of cartoons, actually. But, in the same token, I just know what I like and what I want, so I would just try things on and be like, 'OK, this is what I want to wear.' But then, I definitely always love Rihanna. Everyone loves Rihanna, of course.
These days I follow, this account called Virgo Mood and they always post vintage '90s imagery. I really do love that chic, very cutesy, short skirts, mini-skirts. Sometimes I want to go for this Japanese stylist look. Obviously, I'm creating archetypes. Or it's like I'm going for a certain feel. I have this '90s look that I get on sometimes. I went through my brother's clothes and then my mom's, actually.
My mom has the dopest wardrobe. My mom's wardrobe is literally the size of our basement. Our basement is 75% her clothes. I've stolen so many of my mother's clothes, Jesus. My mother's clothes are mine. She definitely lets me; she really lets me. She used to dress me up when I was younger. So any time that I look really good, she gets a kick out of it.
I didn't know what they were until way later, but I've taken so many of her shoes, these Chloé suede booties and then these Acne Studios pumps with a little face on it. Yo, I have so many of her clothes, it's crazy. This Balenciaga top... and also any time I go to events, I would wear her clothes or go through her closet, especially if I felt like I didn't have enough stuff. Or if I knew she had what I needed, I would rummage through her entire wardrobe.
It's funny because when we were younger, it used to be like, 'Is that mine?' and I'd just be like, 'Yes.' But then now I have something she really likes and she'll be like, 'Is that mine?' I'm like, 'No, actually, it's mine.'
I'm a crazy shopper because I won't shop for months and then go to Opening Ceremony and just ball out, literally, and spend all my money. Or, if it's a cute little thrift store. I'm not good at thrifting though. I hate thrifting. It's confusing. But if I love a little vintage store and anything my eye is drawn to, I'll just grab all of it. I see something I grab it. I see another thing and I grab it and I'm like, 'Ooh, I like this.' I just create a vision for every single piece.
I do do online shopping, but in the same token, it's the same type of binge mentality. My favorites are Ssense and Farfetch, MyTheresa.com, but I'll just look up a million different things and I'll screenshot everything. A lot of times, I don't end up buying it because it's like $10,000 for everything. But I'll create a lot of inspo pages.
I don't binge all the time, but I did go to cute little vintage store Dana Foley on Ludlow street and I definitely bought 15% of everything that she had. I went to Opening Ceremony a while ago and I spent literally four hours in there. I got a lot of MM6, a lot of really cute Charlotte Knowles lingerie, also these really nice Proenza Schouler snakeskin cheetah print heels. I got those Shayne Oliver x Diesel Red Tag jeans, an Adam Selman rhinestone dress. I got so much.
Also, Yeezy dropped these PVC heels — the neon yellow and blue — they didn't have my size and I could only get them online, so I ordered two pairs. I ordered one in 38 and one in 39, so now there are two pairs of these neon yellow plastic shoes just sitting in my apartment. I want to sell the other one that doesn't fit me, but I keep feeling like I'm gonna need to keep one of them. I'm too attached. I get so attached."
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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