35 Exposures: Detroit
DETROIT
Before Spot Lite was a multi-use creative venue and mainstay in Detroit’s art and music scene, it was a lumber warehouse for over 70 years. The iconic name comes from a chance discovery of an old liquor store sign adorned with the iconic splatters of Detroit artist Tyree Guyton.
These origins exemplify so much of what I love about Detroit - the city is in a constant state of becoming itself, of reconstructing the same matter into new forms. And while Detroit has been central to several industries over the years, including auto manufacturing, shipbuilding and lumber, music and art have been among its most constant and essential product and export. From Motown to techno, Detroit is a city of trailblazers - and the fashion is no different.
Speaking of Spot Lite, many of the photos in this piece were captured there; a space as welcoming, creative and inspired as this serves as the perfect backdrop to Detroiters expressing their unique style.
To me, there’s something so delightful about outfits that indulge the tensions between formal and casual. A leather loafer with jorts or a snakeskin coat over jeans does more than elevate an outfit; it also ensures that we make use of the fine and beautiful things we own. In the era of athleisure, wearing garments like this defy the uniformity of the prevailing style.
Nothing exemplifies this quite like fur, which has regained popularity in a big way the past couple of years. But Detroit’s history with fur runs deep. The city was founded as a French outpost to control Michigan’s rich fur trade. In the early to mid twentieth century, wearing fur signaled wealth and became symbolic of Detroiter’s hard-won prosperity. Aretha Franklin, famous for her sumptuous and luxurious furs, was a loyal customer to Detroit’s furriers.
Contrasting such formal elements are things like baggy pants, tank tops and t-shirts. As pant silhouettes get baggier, belts provide the perfect anchor. With buckles and grommets, the belt is another opportunity to adorn. They also add structure and help to further create interesting shapes and silhouettes.
Alongside baggy pants, wide-legged jorts offer comfort and the opportunity to highlight a unique shoe choice. The bellow-the-knee length and relaxed fit calls back to early nineties skate culture, but a pair of loafers or boot can dress them up and make a different statement.
Animal print also adds a touch of the fabulous, but pieces that combine print and texture speak to a level of quality that’s easiest found second hand. Thrown on top of a simple shirt or jeans immediately elevates a look. Leopard print, zebra print, snake skin - nothing is off limits.
Since moving to Chicago from Detroit, I’m struck by the differences in style that can define two cities hours apart. A friend of mine defines Detroit style as distinctly “freaky”, and I tend to agree. In Detroit, there’s room to play. The city’s rich cultural history across music and art provides a unique legacy that inspires the creative essence of its residents, and the fashion is a great example of this legacy at work.
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35 Exposures is JELLY’s street style series, where we explore the trends and themes captured within one roll of film. The practice aims to link fashion and culture and to explore the ways in which they inform each other.
