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What's Natalie's Passion? |
What's Your Passion? (From nbc.com/passions)
Natalie Zea has a passion...for fashion! Since she was a little girl, the beautiful actress has been developing her own unique sense of style. But Natalie was not satisfied with simply picking and choosing garments from the local mall. So, she began creating her own clothes, which she wears with grace, confidence, and a sense of fun. Read on for Natalie's thoughts on her sense of style, the clothes she creates, and her quirky shopping habits.
How would you describe your personal style?
I would say it's a mixture of past decades. I've been influenced by people from every decade, except for the current one-like Frances Farmer in the '30s, Stevie Nicks, and Nancy of Sid and Nancy. From the sixties, I would probably say my mom, even though she was in junior high and high school. Her style was a little left of center, simply because she had a very small frame, so she couldn't find the clothes everyone else was wearing. My mom from the seventies as well. She had some amazing stuff. She didn't keep a lot of it, which upsets me so much! So, I keep a huge suitcase full of stuff I don't wear anymore, just in case someone wants it someday. From the eighties, I would say myself--even though that sounds weird. I used to do really bad things with my clothes as a kid. I'd mix cowboy boots and cheerleading skirts. Or I'd top off a ballerina leotard with a wig! By doing that, I gathered a lot of different ideas. Sometimes I hit and sometimes I miss, but I'm not afraid.
It seems like you've been creating your own style since a young age. Where do you think this came from?
I have some theories. In my family, especially on my mother's side, we have a fear of being ordinary, of blending in with everyone else. It's definitely a fear-it's not something we take lightly. Being an actor, you're just like everyone else. Anything you can do to separate yourself from the herd, you have to do. I have to. This is a way that's not hard for me, and it's a lot of fun. It's just a different way for me to express my creativity. Also, in my job I do what other people want me to do. When I'm not doing my job, I do exactly what I want to do. And if it's a little weird-great!
How has your style changed and evolved through your life?
I've gone through phases just like everyone else. When I first moved to New York, it was the mid-nineties. I was in the combat boots, the cutoffs, the big t-shirts, and the flannels-just like everyone else. My father hated that. And then I discovered vintage. My father still hated that-I think he hated that even more. I had no money. I would go to a place in Spanish Harlem. It was an abandoned elementary school that was full of clothes. You'd pay by the pound-it was amazing! I still have some of the stuff. It was fun, but it also got old after a while. Putting on a nice new blouse felt great, so I started to buy clothes that hadn't been previously worn. I began to appreciate nice, well-made clothes. Now, I wear a mixture of both.
What made you start creating your own clothes?
It was mostly out of boredom. I'd stopped working in bars and restaurants because I was doing commercials. I'd go shopping but I wouldn't want to spend the money. I'd look at things and say-I could do this. Finally, my friends told me to shut up and do it already. I bought a sewing machine, brought it home, and had no idea what to do with it! I took a class and that helped immensely. And then I started buying materials and experimenting. The first real thing I made in a sewing class was a skirt. It was so ugly! It was a green and orange snakeskin pattern. But it fit and I made it! It was mine!
How do you go about designing and creating clothes?
Honestly, I get most of my ideas from window-shopping. I also get ideas from magazines. I'll be inspired by something, but I might not like certain things about it. So I'll decide to do something similar but with some changes. It's really exciting when I see something in a store and realize it's easy to make. And then I go home and make it. I also get ideas from watching people.
Do you have a particular item of clothing you've made that's your favorite?
It changes all the time. Right now, it's a skirt that I don't really ever get a chance to wear. It's something I'd seen in a store and thought was beautiful. I went to the fabric store immediately after and got fabric to make it. It's a black skirt with black netting over it in a messy way.
Where do you like to shop?
There are a couple of places in Los Angeles that I've recently discovered. There's a place called Yellow, and it has all different designers. It's very colorful stuff. I find shirts there that I take a mental picture of and then go home and copy. Another place is called A. Mason. They have a lot of stuff that looks very deconstructive and crazy. I like the smaller, lesser-known designers or the more avant-garde designers.
Do you have an affinity for any particular kind of accessory?
Pursues and shoes-yes! I really don't know what my problem is with purses. It's like I'm three years old-I get a purse, love it for a week, and then decide I hate it and need another one! It poses a problem after a while. I'm very good about my shoes though-I love them all equally. I even keep the ones I never wear, because you can't have too many shoes!
What celebrities do you think have an incredible sense of style?
I've always thought Kate Moss was the bomb. She just exudes wisdom about what she's wearing, how she's wearing it, and what affect it has on people. It's very subtle, and yet very powerful. Chloe Sevigny is really unique. I get the sense that she doesn't care, which is really admirable. I'd like to get to that place of not caring.
Do you have advice for people out there who would like to create their own clothes?
I would say to go out and get a sewing machine. They're not that expensive. You can learn the basics from books or a video. Get the basics down because once you start playing, you're not going to want to stop. And if you're limited in your knowledge, it's going to be really frustrating. And I would suggest going to a local fabric store. Look around and see what your eyes and hands are drawn to. Get a yard of it and take old t-shirts or clothes you don't wear anymore, and just play. It's all about playing.
Do you have advice for kids out there who have a different sense of style and feel like they don't fit in?
I was kind of that girl. I would say wear it as a badge of honor, but I know it still hurts. Being different is hard but in the long run it makes you a better person. You can offer people a different perspective. Go with it and explore it through the way you dress. That will guide you in the way you think, what you do, and how you believe. I really think it's all connected. I've never thought standing out from the crowd was a bad thing.