Photoshoot and interview with Haru Wilde

KAROLINA KALINOWSKA caught up with Oxford’s very own student, blogger, trendsetter, unique human, who just got back from her year abroad in Japan.

Haru studies Japanese at Wadham. Find her blog here and her Lookbook here.

Red Comme des Garcons Robe de Chambre, vintage, mesh top, Phankarat, Hakama skirt, vintage, boots, Topshop, snapback, Kenzo New Era

What’s the story behind the name?

I presume you mean Haru Wilde because that’s not my actual name.

So, ‘Wilde’ is linked to Oscar Wilde – I always joke that he’s like my father in a sense because a lot of his ideas have brought me up.

‘Haru’ has been my nickname for such a long time that I don’t even remember how it came about. It’s a Japanese word, it’s a Korean word and those are two countries I’m really interested in. Also it’s easier to pronounce than my real name.

What is the meaning of ‘haru’ in those languages?

It’s not that deep actually. In Japanese it means ‘spring’ however I do, maybe naively, think that I am someone who believes in new beginnings and starting over.  In Korean, it simply means ‘day’.

Black vest, Koshka, mesh top, Phankarat, Hakama skirt, vintage, boots, Topshop, snapback, Kenzo New Era

Describe the evolution of your style.

I don’t think I have arrived anywhere really. It’s a journey that’s probably never going to end. But my style at the moment, at least compared to what I have been wearing one, two, years ago is much more minimal.

I’m also really into black and white and a more architectural way of dressing. Instead of prints and colours, I like to focus more on the shapes of clothes and the ways they shape the body.

Red Comme des Garcons Robe de Chambre, vintage, black vest, Koshka, Hakama skirt, vintage, boots, Topshop, snapback, Kenzo New Era

Where do you seek inspiration?

I was actually preparing for this question! *laughs*

As I said already, I’m interested in Japan and Korea, it’s also my degree here. Yet most of my inspiration actually comes from music. It’s very weird.

Tell us more.

For me, getting inspired and expressing myself through clothes is a very organic process. I absorb everything that’s around me: pictures, people, art, music. But when I listen to something, I get a certain feeling and how I want to dress or anything really comes from that feeling.

What are you listening to now?

For the past few months it’s been Korean hip-hop and indie music. Because of the hip hop bit I feel it’s a lot of oversized, baggy clothing for me these days, or even snapbacks or sneakers. Which I probably wouldn’t have worn a few years ago when I was listening more to rock genres.

Mesh top, Phankarat, bodysuit, Monki, wide leg trousers, Front Row Shop, boots, Topshop, socks, Nike, snapback, Kenzo New Era

Tell us about your year in Japan, sartorially, in terms of inspiration, everything.

I wasn’t living in Tokyo, so wasn’t necessarily in the middle of the major fashion scene, although Kobe does also have its own. And it’s also really close to Osaka, another big centre for fashion.

I was taking classes for only 3 hours a day and working part time in a clothing shop so I had a lot of time to just wander around. I saw a lot all these amazing creative people who were my age, just out there, making it happen. It made me think, wow I really need to get off my butt and do something. It was a great inspiration.

Visually as well, Japan shaped me a lot. I want to say I ‘found myself’ but as I said, it’s not like I will stay static in my dressing.

Mesh top, Phankarat, bodysuit, Monki, wide leg trousers, Front Row Shop, boots, Topshop, socks, Nike, snapback, Kenzo New Era

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Strangely enough, I start off with the usual thing, breakfast, shower, doing my makeup…eventually I get dressed…I’d say maybe 10 minutes? It’s easier to put things together now that I just wear black or white or grey and bits of red.

Do you plan outfits in advance? How you decide what to feature on the blog?

I wouldn’t say I plan or dress up for my lectures. *laughs* If I suddenly get a really good idea, I’ll write it down or draw it and then wear it and/or put it on my blog if I have the time. Oxford is also problematic for backgrounds. It’s almost too pretty – I prefer more industrial backdrops.

It’s not like I sit down and plan and force outfits because I have a blog though. This is probably why I don’t post all that regularly.

But I do dress up for shops actually. When I go to Dover Street Market I feel like if I didn’t pay attention to how I look I would feel really inappropriate in that space.

 Anything specific you chose?

Anything Comme des Garcons that I have! I actually got some vintage Comme des Garcons in Japan – their vintage clothing is just paradise.

Red Comme des Garcons Robe de Chambre, vintage, mesh top, Phankarat, wide leg trousers, Front Row Shop, boots, Topshop, socks, Nike, snapback, Kenzo New Era

What’s the most extravagant item you own?

My massive red Comme des Garcons coat. I feel like it’s become a celebrity of it’s own and that I’ve become The Girl in the Red Coat.

I found it in a vintage store in Japan, for quite cheap, because it’s so massive it’s too big for Japanese people!

What’s one key piece everyone should own?

That’s hard…I don’t like telling people what to wear but I do think everyone should have a nice piece of menswear.

 What trend do you want to bring back?

I’m not that big on trends but I think humanity has put itself in a cage by switching high waisted things for low waisted things – you can hide so much with a high waist!

But I would love for there to be more fluidity between mens- and womenswear, in both directions. It’s still not acceptable for a woman to just wear mens’ clothing without being labeled ‘unfeminine’ or ‘butch’ and it’s even worse for men. I hope one day there won’t be ‘mens’ and ‘womens’ sections in stores.

Red Comme des Garcons Robe de Chambre, vintage, mesh top, Phankarat, wide leg trousers, Front Row Shop, boots, Topshop, socks, Nike, snapback, Kenzo New Era

 What do you wish would go away?

Uggs. Make them disappear.

Photographs by Clio Zäuner. 

With thanks to Haru Wilde for her time.