I couldn’t resist putting all of A.J. (real name Kyciana) up today. I first photographed her a few months ago. There are always so many well-dressed young people running around in the Loop during fall because of all the college campuses. At first I didn’t recognize A.J. because she had changed her hair. All I saw was her incredibly cool outfit and killer Dr. Martens. When I ran up to her and started giving my spiel, she said “Amy, it’s me! A.J.!” That I hadn’t recognized her actually made her more excited to be spotted a second time, because it was based soley on the merits of her look. A.J. uses fashion in such interesting ways. In her own words, “it’s all about that swag.”
Given the enormous popularity of the vintage floral Dr. Martens it makes sense that the cult boot company would revisit the concept. I love the contrasting elements between the tough combat boot shape and the feminine print. Seriously, is there anything girlier than wearing cascading pink flowers on your feet? No. Wait, well I suppose wearing a tiara would be… You could even rock both at once in a Courtney Love tribute to that glorious archetype of mid-1990s feminist rebellion!
Well, too bad Tavi beat you to it. And she deconstructed those references with more clarity than I ever could. So I’m not even going to try, lest I embarrass myself by revealing my profound lack of Riot Grrrl cultural knowledge in this post.
All that in a pair of boots. And that’s why Tavi kicks ass.
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