Maddie Zerkel is one member of the duo behind the fashion blog, Athens Street Style, and is also a budding artist studying textile design at The University of Georgia. She’s one of those girls who can channel her inner spirit outfit effortlessly – mixing and matching playfully and adding details that give her outfit special personality. We’ve found she also happens to be a great resource for inspiration, and we’re happy to share some of her favorite things with you! Also, don’t forget to scroll down to hear some of Maddie’s favorite tunes from her playlist, made especially for Vinyl Mag.
How do you approach dress (Is there a method to your madness)?
I look at getting dressed every morning as a way to make myself feel happy. I don’t really care for the current trends or how certain groups of people dress. I choose the clothes that make me feel the most excited and go from there. Generally, I try to throw together as many patterns as I can. I love me a good pattern.
Do you have an article of clothing or jewelry with a special story attached?
I treat all of my articles of clothing like they are my best friends, so naturally, each comes with special stories, memories, and food stains. The necklaces that I am wearing are some of my current favorites. My tiny heart pendant says “balls to the wall,” and I wear it every day as a self-help reminder to work as hard as I can and that I only live once. The other long, landscape-esque necklace is designed by one of my favorite jewelry grads at Lamar Dodd (His name is Cameron Lyden– dude makes some seriously beautiful enamel jewelry).
Who are some of your fashion icons?
Fashion is such a strange beast. I approach fashion as a very personal thing, and I rarely look at others and base my wardrobe off of them. Anybody that I do view as “iconic” is someone who has a very profound sense of self and that looks very comfortable and at one with what he or she wears. It sounds so corny, but I really just love weirdos and eccentrics.
How about other people who inspire you?
The amount of people that inspire me are innumerable. I look up to my friends and peers tremendously, and I learn and gain insight from every person that I interact with on a day to day basis. I have a wall in my apartment where I keep pictures of the people that inspire me the most (I call it my Inspirational People Wall– I highly recommend. Every day, my wall inspires me to be a better person). Kiki Smith, Ai Wei Wei, Sufjan Stevens, Tavi Gevinson, Tina Fey, Scott and Seth Avett, my Dad, Allison Shulnik, Cindy Sherman, Iris Apfel, my professor Junichi, Herb and Dorothy, Bri Emery, Steve Martin, Steve Harvey, Colbert, Peggy from Mad Men, Sonia “The Black Widow” Thomas (the competitive eater), Annie Clark, Jenna Lyons, my cat, etc. etc. I could list off hundreds of people, but these are all I can think of off the top of my head.
Street Style Profile Playlist: Maddie Zerkel
1. Do My Thang – Miley Cyrus
I cannot help it, you guys. I’m hopelessly attracted to the music of Miley Cyrus.
2. Rhythm of Devotion – Sisyphus
I fan girl hard over Sufjan Stevens. Sisyphus is his new very anxious and delightfully strange rap album.
3. Trust In Me – Etta James
Etta James is my go-to sad girl music. It will instantly make me feel better.
4. On and Ever Onward – Dirty Projectors and Bjork
My go-to “i’m feeling weird” music.
5. Anonanimal – Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is my home music. Whenever I hear his voice, I immediately travel to a place of calm and comfort.
6. So Far Away – Carole King
Carole King’s tapestry is my favorite album of all time. My aunt gave it to me for my birthday when I was twelve, and I cannot find any flaws in Carole’s music
7. Sleeping Dogs – Madeline
I attended a Madeline Concert at the Caledonia Lounge in Athens last year. Her voice is magically pure, and her lyrics are beautifully sad. I am very excited because she is coming to the 40 Watt this spring!
Aubrey Mascali is wanna-be fairy trapped in a human body who is intrigued by tiny things and collections of nature stuffs. She enjoys rainy days with a nice cup of tea and cuddling with her dog Nemo. Currently living and attending school at UGA in Athens GA, you can usually find her doing cliche townie things like thrifting for vintage dresses, walking through the local farmers market, and drinking mimosas at brunch. Aubrey’s keen on meeting new people and hearing their stories. If she were a color, she hopes it would be pink, and if she were music she’d want it to sound like Architecture in Helsinki on a good day and Grimes on a weird day. In her capacity as an art student, she enjoys taking photos, painting, weaving behind a loom or spending countless hours doing five year old art projects like gluing rocks to paper. She is currently working on her thesis exhibition which will be on view at the Lamar Dodd School of art in May 2015.