Fashion Designer, Olivia Anthony Delivers 90's Streetwear Style In A Unisex Fashion
Fashion Designer, Olivia Anthony Delivers 90's Streetwear Fashion In A Unisex Style
Written by Jenae' Steele
Photo credit: Micaiah Carter
Olivia Anthony is an up and coming fashion designer originally from Birmingham, Alabama that moved to New York in 2013 to follow her fashion forward destiny. She currently creates for two solid 90’s inspired brands: House of Olivia Anthony, her higher end couture line, and Liv Street Wear, which is street style at its best. Both collections have a unisex and androgynous vibe. Ms. Anthony got her start as a fashion stylist, but in 2012 she put her attention-grabbing bulls-eye style logo on a t-shirt. Ever since then, people have been begging for more and more. Even during a time where it seemed that everybody and their mother had a t-shirt line, her personality stood out with her “everybody and their mother has a t-shirt line” t-shirt line. The support she received from her friends and the casual consumer affirmed her spiritual calling as a fashion designer. “This is the only thing that makes me happy, and the only thing that comes naturally,” said from the 27 year old designer and she is only just getting started. Six years after creating her first t-shirt, her colorful designs have been seen on Grammy-nominated artists as: SZA and Kehlani, as well as covered by TeenVogue and Billboard magazines. See the short interview below to learn a little more about this bold powerhouse.
Photo credit: Micaiah Carter
1. What style inspires or influences House of Olivia Anthony?
I create pieces that last forever, and that are exclusive. Like with J’s! (Most recently a promotional green two-piece jogging suit that has been sold out and you will not be able to get anywhere else). The whole brand is inspired by 90’s street wear style.
House of Olivia Anthony is inspired by the style in the movie Clueless meets Harijuku girls. I love Gwen Stefani from No Doubt and the movie: Romy and Michelle (from Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion), these are people who wore art. Liv StreetWear is based off the culture. Like Freaknik (infamous 90’s springbreak gathering for black college students and HBCUs in Atlanta, Georgia), the baby hair, the twerking. Liv StreetWear pays homage to Lil Kim. The 90s will always be a part of the dna of my brand.
2. What is your special sauce? What is unique about you and your clothing line that you can’t get anywhere else?
The energy behind it. It’s relatable. I stay in my own lane and making sure I stay true to myself. I just have the right ingredients. My special sauce is living outside the box –it’s bold. It takes guts to wear color. I set trends, not follow. The saying behind my brands is “Be brave, Be bold, Be you.”
Photo Credit: Ben Searles
3. What are your favorite trends coming in the next 6 months?
I try not to keep up with fashion trends because I like to create them. But there will always be a little something from the 90s. I walk around to get inspired.
4. What’s next for you? Shows? New collection?
I want to tell more stories with Liv Streetwear. Travel to spread the brand (London and Japan). Right now House of Olivia Anthony is on hold, so I can focus more on Liv StreetWear. New pieces for Liv StreetWear are coming for the summer. My second annual 90’s party is coming in June. You’ve got to be there. And, I do have a presentation coming up in the winter of 2019.
Photo credit: Micaiah Carter
5. Please elaborate more on the unisex/androgynous vibe the collection offers? Is this a trend that you feel strongly about?
I’m really in love with unisex clothing. While I’m shopping, I really love men and women’s clothes. It gives me free range to do whatever I want. It doesn’t keep me in a box, and I’m pretty sure it works the other way around. I’m sure there are men who would love to wear women’s clothing, as well… if it was provided in their size. But, more than that I’m really inspired by the 90’s, and unisex clothing was very important to that era. I mean, TLC and Aaliyah wore mannish clothing and oversized silhouettes. The other reason why the majority of my clothes are unisex is because I love the baggy feel. Like with my rugby’s... I love that you can wear it as a dress, and guys could wear it as a T-shirt. And I love that you and your mate can dress alike and wear the same clothing, but wear it in different ways. I love that the overalls are oversized. I can wear a large and it looks amazing, and then I can put a large on a guy and it still looks amazing. Because I’m so grounded in the 90s and my brand is about living outside the box (a guy or a girl can wear yellow or pink overalls) the unisex style of my brand is very important to me.
6. Referring to your statement, of "you get inspired by just walking around," any thing you would like to reference for us at Jejune?
I just get inspired by anything. I could be walking down the street and see a guy wearing a yellow hat, and that little something will trigger me into making a whole collection out of it. If I saw a homeless person, or a belt, anything could inspire me and get me going. One of my favorite places to go to is SoHo, because that is the one area in New York where people can be their free selves and inspire, and do whatever they want to do.
If you are interested in purchasing one of Olivia Anthony’s once in a lifetime, timeless pieces go to www.oliviaanthony.com and follow her Instagrams at @liv4olivia @houseofoliviaanthony and @livstreetwear to keep up with what’s next.
Written by Jejune's Contributing Editor, Jenae' Steele
Jenaé Steele is a Contracts Coordinator at WME-IMG. She has several interests including fashion (obviously), music, social activism, and intellectual property. She enjoys writing about the cross-sections of her interests. Jenaé believes that the world needs a little more conscious art, so she loves writing about designers who allow current events to impact or inspire their work. Above all, shining the light on designers, models, etc. who use their platform to take definitive stance on social issues brings her much joy. She's been published several times on various online media outlets.
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