This week my targeted location was Ponce De Leon Avenue located in Downtown Atlanta. On a lovely fall evening I was out with my roommate trying out bubble tea (a must try by the way) for the first time. After I made my purchase and sat down to endeavor in my new treat, I saw an outfit that was the wow factor of my night! I am proud to introduce to you Mr. Timothy Joel VanOstrand.
Joel VanOstrand from Canton, Georgia is only 19 years old but has confidence beyond his years. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Joel and he instantly broke the ice by giving me a small background on himself and his love for fashion.
The fur coat seen in the picture above is an item that he bought at the Urban Outfitters that is also located on Ponce De Leon Avenue. “It’s a women’s coat but…who cares.” This comment by Joel is a message to everyone. If you like an item and it works for your body, flaunt it! He told me that he was looking for a grungy fur coat for a while and, he saw someone in the store wearing the coat, and he was sold.
The coat is a fur vest and a long sleeved coat as well, the inner lining of the jacket is silk however, the jacket can be taken a part into a fur jacket vest (the vest portion of the jacket can be seen in the picture) and a jacket without fur; a two-in-one jacket that can’t be beat.
The word that Joel used to describe his look that night was, effortless. “Most days I try really hard to make it seem that I didn’t try at all.” Joel prefers to wear clothes that are loose fitted and comfortable but, always stylish. Street wear is what he would call his style in general. “I pull inspiration from men and women all over the place and I try something new every single day and I’m not afraid to try different things.”
Joel’s male fashion role model is Kanye West. He is actually the person that inspired his cravings for fur fashion.
“I have a lot of women who inspire me because of how big menswear is in women’s fashion.” However, there is a woman role model that Joel did mention, a blogger by the name of lustforlife. “She is probably one of my biggest inspirations as well… I love everything that she does.”
Joel’s love for fashion started in his childhood. He described to me that his favorite thing to wear was cowboy boots with shorts that were a little small, and a Mickey Mouse checkered print shirt that had yellow, black, red, and white colors. He began to mimic other fashion of people through out his life and then in high school he finally began to develop his own style.
Joel is currently going to Chattahoochee Technical College and is on the quest to finding his calling in life. Hopefully fashion is bright in his future!
What do you think about this fabulous fur coat that Joel was rocking? Have any other suggested locations that I should visit? Comment below! I would love to hear from you.
Cheers
*The cover photo courtesy of vhal.org.*
