Diary of a Fashionisto - Yousef Al Taher

The person behind the 'Fashionisto'
"We can start from the beginning" he states humbly, "I am Kuwaiti, My name is Yousef AlTaher"
The story unfolds, "I didn’t intentionally want to be in fashion, although I knew I loved it, nothing was planned." It all started a couple of years ago, as a student walking around the streets of Paris. He was approached by a strange man intrigued and (attracted) by his style, "I didn't know about street style at that time" adding "it wasn’t really 'big'." To understand the nature of his reaction to this encounter and how the story unfolds you would need to know more about him -the person.


Growing up with a family that supports talent and the arts, at eight years old, AlTaher absorbed the iconic personalities of Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, Madonna and David Bowie, "I was unusual" Al Taher highlights with ease. “I remember asking my mother for a Michael Jackson sequenced jacket and sparkling gloves, which she got tailored for me. So in love with it, I actually wore my new outfit to school, moonwalking into class, I stopped at the center to finish off with a MJ spin” Come to think of it, we all had our icons as children, figures we followed, but how many of us dressed in their performance attire to school? He adds with joy “This is what fashion is; dressing in characters, being somebody else, or anything for a second”. So naturally, Yousef Al Taher has evolved with his passions and distinct personality.

Going back the streets of Paris, which in effect was the start of his career within the world of fashion. And that stranger that approached him was soon to become a ticket to this abstract exclusive world. From the millions of people roaming the streets of Paris a man stopped Mr Al Taher to say, ‘I like your energy, me and my wife own a photography agency, we would like to invite you to see how it works.’ Ecstatic as he looks back without a hint of restraint, ‘This was an opportunity! At that second I thought God loves me. So i dropped out to pursue what was soon to be a dream!' continues snickering with amusement ‘I knew it was going to be exciting, but I didn’t know how exciting it would be’. AlTaher receives an offer, from a Lady named Claire Snow, to join their team as an Assistant which required his attendance to fashion shows and photo shoots, where he saw how it all really worked from behind the scene.

‘I Just Knew This Was What I Wanted To Do’

'At first I started attending shows, My first was Jean Paul Gaultier. I still remember the energy; standing outside the show, I didn’t care if I entered!,’ recounting nostalgically, "the passion was so crazy, interesting people and the faces, ahh it was really overwhelming! and just at that moment I really knew that this is what I wanted to do. Even if I don’t continue, I would be happy with the memory" and that was that, but life is all about the memories and experiences, it's what shapes you, your thoughts and perspective.


Al Taher’s Energy and Personality Certainly Plays a Role Chatty and cheerful, ‘I actually have some hilarious stories!' Naturally high profile fashion shows means high profile fashion people, AlTaher encounters Ex Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Rotfield in another one of the countless shows of Paris Fashion Week. Stunned, he shouts out “Hey You!" "It was kind of funny as she didn't expect it," believe it or not she reacts by laughing. "So I approached her to introduce myself," as she scans his profile, he states just as he did at the beginning of our meeting “My name is Yousef Al Taher, I am Kuwaiti”

What does your average day look like?
"I wake up, and no I don’t eat breakfast. I’m a freelance journalist and stylist, everyday is different.
I like not having a routine, I’m not a routine kind of guy, I get bored so easily, for me it’s about meeting new people, trying new things, one thing I will surely do is if I see someone interesting on the street, I’ll approach them to say hello."


You'll wake up thinking?
"Thank God I’m alive, blessed for giving me this opportunity as I live day by day."


You can't go out without?
"My shades. they are very important to me, my friends find humor in ‘people who go everywhere and do everything with shades’. Me making fun of that point, I do everything with my shades. I am one of those people that goes everywhere with my shades."
"My perfume. Lots of it, let them know your coming..." a truly arabian root stand very clear there "I like to mix it up to get my own signature; arabic and french scents; it’s about taking something and make it your own. Currently it’s a mix of YSL and the Arabic ‘khaltaat’." *Khaltaat is a traditional arabic mix of essential oils. He hesitates and questions the third vital 'can't go out without' aspect on his list "Should I say my family?" He laughs again, "I take their thoughts with me everywhere, they keep pushing me and supporting me. And of course I cant go out without my laptop, recently joining the apple world with a 15” mac."


What are your favorite dining spots?
"I love sushi so much it remains my favorite no matter where I go. This little sushi place in Kuwait, milling and lo, and Maki ofcourse, bi data for their amazing house salad. As for Paris my favorite is this place called Sashi, also enjoy going to the dining at Japanese district, but I will always hang out in La Marais the Vintage shopping is amazing there!" Only a fashionisto would spin his thoughts from food to shopping.

img; Maki restaurant facebook, Geodruid Flikr

“I cant believe he complimented your second hand”

AlTaher's treasure hunt for style and the magic behind vintage.
"It’s that one piece that is unique to yourself. I remember wearing a vintage jacket during fashion week while browsing the Issy Myaki, spotted by Kanye West, he approached me to compliment my jacket. My friend comments 'I cant believe he complimented your second hand!' I say do not underestimate the power of vintage, you can find some amazing labels. I always start not wanting to shop and magically end up buying everything."

More and more there seems to be a defined image beheld by the awarded of vintage clothing, do you think the Middle East are welcoming vintage?
"I don’t know, the younger generation are open to the idea of wearing vintage. People finding their own look, I still think people are yet to except it, they’ll just say it’s used and old, the Middle Eastern people are all for clean and new." Entertained by his mother's perspective, he quotes her on the topic “the owners are dead, how can you wear something used!" recollecting his thoughts he finishes off with optimism,"I don’t see it a lot, but I would love to see more of it!"


Although you have moved back to Kuwait will you have a continuing presence at Paris fashion week?
"I might be going to men’s fashion week, I'm not sure I’ve got some projects going on. I always love going, you wanna see the clothes up close, but people don’t realize how exhausting it gets sometimes." Laughter follows, "Listen to me complaining running from one show to the other, sit there looking at the collection on the runway, I don't feel you have time to process, there so much going on, it’s too much now, you see a lot in one day."


Favorite new generation brands at the moment?
"Haider Akerman, Damir Doma and Gareth Pugh. I feel like it’s very goth, chic and definitely new, they are interestingly using new techniques in designing clothes, men’s and women’s. I feel like the other brands are starting to get a little boring, it's really good to see new generation labels approaching fashion in cutting edge way."


How do you see the New Generation fit into the Middle Eastern fashion scene?
"Well I think cultures play a big role in how you dress, guys in the Middle East are still not used to that. Here you find the culture shapes a certain look, it’s more a LA kind of comfort look. Tracks and polos..." silently disappointed he continues by addressing his fellow LA-ers "All I can say is change the way your see casual. Casual doesn’t have to be boring! Be inspired from those who appreciate and be open to try something new! Sometimes when you see something different, don’t attack and make it a big deal, change is good. I really dislike seeing people dressed in tracksuits at events, Tracksuits should be dead! Especially right now, the whole celebrity thing; David Beckham, Christino Ronaldo, they are approaching scene. You have people like Kanye West or Lenny Kravitz who are active in fashion. You see male role models approaching the fashion scene in a different ways which hopefully impacts change too. It is difficult to dress unusual here, people don’t understand that extreme, the whole idea behind high fashion. And so brands with the likes of Rick Owens’ approach is very high fashion and it’s not everybody is open minded to the idea of dressing like that."



What's you favorite shopping spot in Kuwait?
"This boutique called 4. Carrying the new generation brands, they carry all the lines. Unfortunately the shop is there but you don't see people walking around Avenues wearing the clothes. Never-the-less New Generation high fashion is becoming more and more present, this is what I’m liking about Kuwait. The Art Scene is getting bigger, and you'll see people attending gallery openings opening galleries and events actually dressed that way! I’m seeing some differences, there are some boys and girls dressing in a different way, but I would like to see it more as it’s still not that big, but then again it's a start."


Branding in clothing and accessories? How much of it?
"For me it actually doesn't matter, I think the most important thing is that luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it’s not luxury. It all depends on the collection. I don't care, if it’s a brand and has the name all over piece."


If the brand is besides the point, then what are your thoughts about the relationship between branding and It's bearer?
"Definitely, if a piece has a branded name on it, it would make it some people feel more valuable, which I find ridiculous! Because for me, when I see the piece I don't see it as a brand, it’s about the details of the piece,the fabrics and the work that's put into it. When it comes to some people in the region, I’m sorry to say but people care so much about the brand they are wearing. For me the brand does not define my sense of style. So much that I don’t have a favorite brand, it all depends on the collection, and how it looks on me. Yes, even if there are some incredible, well made pieces, but it's no good if once you put them on they don’t look that good on you."

"I feel lately the streets are actually replacing 

the runway at fashion week"

Where do you get your fashion from?
"I get my fashion from everywhere! I feel lately the streets are actually replacing the runway with fashion week. From my magazines, the internet, walking around when I travel. Fashion is everywhere right now. Inspiration is not the issue, I feel like it's so easy to get it from everywhere these days. It all depends on how you manage the pieces you have at the end of the day!"

Men's fashion is..?
"To be honest, a bit boring." he laughs with an expression as if he is to say sorry I know I shouldn't have said that but there you go, and it doesn't stop there, he continues to confirm, as if he had to reassure me about what he said, " Definitely boring. I don't feel like menswear has evolved much. There's this evolution that evoke the same pattern. As for womenswear you have more variety to meet every girl." I couldn't help but highlight, girls are leaning more and more towards menswear, funnily enough, AlTaher seems to have experiences reflecting just that. "It's funny how every girl I meet tells me about her interest in menswear, I think it’s the whole androgyny look that is going on at the moment, women are becoming more powerful, they pick out the strong pieces from menswear to match with their identity without even realizing it."


What are your essential fashion tips?
"1- The best color in the whole world is what looks good on you.
2- Pay more attention to your supporting pieces and invest in a great pair of shoes! It’s easy to wash and press your clothes to keep them in good condition, but shoes are more difficult to maintain. Besides the first thing people notice about you are your shoes, you know, they kind of look down to up. (I couldn't help but find humor in that, I do have a personal obsession with shoes, visiting my shoe mender more than I visit my family to keep my shoes on tip top condition but I never thought of it as that's the first thing people will see so I ought-a be polished and pristine)
3- Stay a notch above, don’t over do it, but dare to take risks.
4- Change is good, sometimes people like to continue with what they know, but you may end up surprising yourself."


Online shopping is? And when do you do it?
"It can be positive or negative. For me, I like to go and see what I’m buying and try it on! Fit is key to my choice, not everything you like is going to look good on you. If it’s an accessory then I’ll buy it online, even gadgets, cell phones. Then again, living in a country like Kuwait where the selection isn't so generous or if I wish to purchase pieces not available in my surroundings, then online shopping is where I would go. There’s a bigger selection. With that said, being a big online shopper, I constantly face problems of fit when items arrive and so I have to deal with the whole repack and ship which is a real hassle. At the end it’s all about going forward... And technology plays a big role in people’s lives."


What's life like as a Middle Eastern 'fashionisto'?
Deep breath... "Well... A lot of staring here and there," calm and casual with a hint of humor, facts are facts. And then the passion seeps out again "but that's ok. I live for being unusual and fashion is my armor. I think we live in a boring era, people have no desire to experience, for me it's about breaking the mould, I'm committed to it, just as the likes of Coco Chanel did it in her own way. I believe one must, it's all about the survival of the fittest."


Your greatest memory of a show?
He laughs again, and pauses for a second as he travels into another dimension "Spring Summer 2011 menswear show for John Galliano, I had the honour, debut of a new model, andrey fidges. I still remeber him walking on the runway, he had a different look from anyone, it was exciting to see something new on the runway. it was a good show. Happy to be there at that moment, my first menswear show.

img; Vogue Australia

I bought huge new limited edition shoes for my first Galliano show, what better way to attend?Only thing is, the shoes were so tight, adding in the heat within the summer crowd, I fainted there and then, they had to carry me out for fresh air. Funnily enough people thought it was my enthusiasm for Galliano that resulted in my collapse, little did they know it was his shoes."


It was a breakthrough moment when you met?
"Karl Lagerfeld." Without a drop of hesitation. "I was speechless, at the time,
it was fashion week and just outside the after party of Colette, I really don't remember for who, but I was standing outside, and then came Karl Lagerfeld. And it was weird because you know like the french fashion people, they like to act like ooohh I dont know if they are acting or they are used to this but no one was actually doing anything, and he just came walking out, another deep breath of awe, OMG it's Karl Lagerfeld!!! 'my friend says go up to him and I was freaking out I didn't know what to say. Posing as he walks with his entourage of models, oh hi Karl, imitating Karl in French, .. It's not everyday you get to meet Karl!"


Future Aspirations?
I would love to appear on the covers of vogue, have my own perfume... Laughs for a second I would like to run my own magazine. Travel more meet more people, inspire someone to do something with their lives, a shocking moment for me is when this girl approached me in Kuwait and was so happy to see me, she said "You really inspire me, I’m so proud of you."


Should you have the chance to go around the world in seven days, where would you go?
Without a moment's hesitation, 'well my first stop is Paris, to pick up my best friends." then he contemplates, "I would go to Russia, Tokyo, New York, Singapore maybe and back to Paris."


From wherever you've been and whatever you've seen, where do you feel is an emerging hot spot?
"An emerging hotspot would definately be in kuwait. The FA Gallery. It's like a cool concept store like collete in kuwait. Combining art and fashion in the same place. There's a huge gallery on the ground floor and a store on the second floor carrying new brands, Brazilian new generation brands, it's an interesting emerging hot spot, located in front of Souq Sharg. And ofcourse Shop 4, I would love for people to visit that store and see different kinds of clothes from what we are used to seeing in Kuwait."


One day you will?
"Write a book." He laughs


Your biggest dream?
"I really consider myself to be one of the lucky ones, met a lot of my idols, the people I've idolised and I got to do alot of the things I wanted to do."
"But my biggest dream would have to be to own a successful magazine one day! An interview magazine, V Magazine, on the Creative side. I would like it to be in Kuwait, I want people to see there's more to it! I want people to appreciate, it doesn't have to be perfect all the time, sometimes just a powerful photo can express so much. I feel like there is still nothing like it."


Concluding with his final words of wisdom


Thank you The Absolute Man for your support and for what you're doing, thank you for this chance, it means a lot to me. I would love to thank everyone, especially Confashions From Kuwait ,she really supported me from the beginning. Listen to me it's like I won an Oscar!


Don’t under estimate what you're capable of doing. go out there. DON'T DROP OUT OF COLLEGE, always compete with yourself. stay true to who you are and no arrogance. fashion is amazing so give it a change


Please get rid of crocs!