Over the past couple of weeks, much of my YouTube time has been dedicated to watching StyleLikeU‘s “The What’s Underneath” videos. On a surface level, the series is about style. But as the people peel off layers of clothes and delve deeper into their personal psyche to share their experiences and wisdom, it becomes clear that the purpose of this project extends beyond the fashion world. Below, I have included some of my favorite quotes from interviews I enjoyed the most.
But first, some insight from the project creators:
We’ve asked a select group of individuals to participate in a project in which they will remove their clothes to honor how style is not the clothes you wear. It is acceptance of yourself and others. It is not about trends, it is your spirit. It’s What’s Underneath.
“Shit is not equal and the only way that it can really get there is if we have a conversation about it not being equal.” — Paloma Elsesser (writer and student)
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“People’s ideas of nature are often completely unfounded” — Juliana Huxtable (DJ, writer, artist)
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“For many years, it was like I have to make myself smaller so others would not feel small next to me, but now, you know what? If you feel small and somebody else reveals it in you, it’s not my fault.” — Noa Sade (LionetteNY co-founder and jewelry designer)
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“Don’t be afraid to be yourself. There’s a reason for everything and what you’re thinking about and how you’re feeling about life shouldn’t be ignored.” — Kelsey Lu McJunkins
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“Being in your own body, for me, is like be present. Get to know yourself.” — Casper-Malte Divine Jörgensen
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“I think I woke up and I was like, ‘I’m so over this.’ I’m not going to sit in a corner all my life just crying about something that I really can’t change and it’s who I am and that’s it.” — Jillian Mercado (model, editor)
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“You learn more from failing than you do from succeeding.” — Ashley Smith
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“When people go through a lot of darkness in their life, at a young age, if they’re brave enough to confront those things and work on them, they turn out to be the people with the most light.” — Mengly Hernandez (stylist)
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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“You cannot protect yourself from what is going to come and that’s actually a really freeing realization.” — Jo Equality Lampert (musician and performer)
–> WATCH THIS EPISODE.
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Watch all of the videos on YouTube here and let me know your favorite episodes in the comments.