Edgy, sporty, flirty and sexy, but definitely on the darker side of fashion is how dancehall newcomer Marcy Chin describes her fashion sense. From her music to her swag, the pint-sized artiste who is the leading lady on Downsound Entertainment’s label is unashamedly different. And while she doesn’t know exactly where and when her fashion sense was moulded, she certainly knows who influenced her style. And if you take the time to put her outfits under your fashion microscope, it perhaps won’t be hard to figure out. But don’t take our word for it, as the entertainer is about to spill all the beans.
“I’m not sure I can really pinpoint how (my fashion sense) was developed. I’ve always just worn what I was attracted to, without consideration of what’s in style or what anyone else might think. As long as it felt like me, I would wear it,” she said.
She names the iconic Grace Jones as one of her fashion icons. “My ultimate fashion icons [one from the past and one more current] are Grace Jones and beauty influencer and social media personality, Bretman Rock Sacayanan. They are fashion legends in my eyes. They are unapologetically different, and I absolutely love that,” she said. With that said, the entertainer has established that her unique style keeps her in her own lane. She admitted that when it comes to fashion trends, there isn’t much that annoys her. Still, she has a few fashion pet peeves that drive her absolutely insane. “As long as what I don’t like isn’t on my body, I’m fine. However, those massive adult hairs they call ‘baby hair’ that they make on those lace wigs! That’s a no-no for me. I also can’t stand ruffles,” she said, with a laugh.
A fan of turtle-necks, the artiste revealed that you can catch her in the close-fitting, high collar piece on any given day. “I mostly wear crop tops, but I love me some turtle-neck, especially if it’s black. On any day, you may catch me in a turtle-neck blouse (long or cropped) with a nice long high-slit skirt,” she said, also indicating that she usually pairs the cropped top or the turtle-neck with a “short, Goth skirt and some Chuck Taylors (Converse All Star Sneakers)”. And if you hadn’t already guessed it, in terms of footwear, in keeping with her blend of comfort and edge, Chin is a lover of boots. From combats to thigh-highs, a great pair of boots will have this entertainer spending all her cash.
Based on everything she’s disclosed about her sense of style so far, one would think the entertainer is a shopaholic, but she revealed that in reality, she is the complete opposite. “I’d say I average about US$2,500 per month on clothes. When I am on a budget, though, I like to go to Boohoo, Dolls Kill, ASOS and a few others. But I hate shopping,” she said. “I absolutely love having a personal shopper. I am not a shopaholic.”
Now that you have learnt a bit about where this new dancehall dynamo gets her fashion sense, it’s time for her to dish out some style advice. We asked Chin to share fashion tips she would give to a woman going on a first date, a job interview, a tropical vacation and young girls testing their style metre. This is what she said.
FIRST DATE
“Make sure you’re you, and you’re comfortable. Wear a signature item that you think brings your best attitude and vibe out of you.”
JOB INTERVIEW
“Never understate your style. It’s your best friend when you need to impress anyone.”
TROPICAL VACATION
“What do we need clothes for again?”
YOUNG GIRLS TESTING THEIR STYLE METRE
“I’d say figuring out who you are as a person is key to fully realising your sense of style. Nothing is wrong with being influenced by others, especially since nothing is new under the sun. That’s how we grow, we take from others what resonates with us, and we develop from there. You don’t need to feel pressured by what the current trend is. Playing up your personal style trumps being on-trend any day.”