3-15-2026 MY INSPO: fashion is art

 cleveland is by far not an important fashion center. i feel it. especially living in suburbia. inspiration is scarce. or so i thought. i only lived in small towns my entire life and was known for 'eccentric' looks. i saw a comment on tiktok recently, stating something in the style of "it's easy to dress differently in a big city like nyc or la. people with real fashion will do that in a suburb and that's truly bold". i'm paraphrasing, but it was something in that vibe and it spoke to me, made me feel like it's worth having a fashion show here in the seeming middle of nowhere.

enough about me and the philosophy of overdressing. back to my town. it might be the defrosting of northeast ohio, and the recent mix i attended, alongside visiting the rock and roll hall of fame where i realized inspiration is here. not in a meta-world of internet fakeness and brand deals. seeing the pop-up antique shops and my regular consignment visitations, i wanted to give love to this rusty city. 

first, there's a cool substack account and foundation called fashion talks i discovered during last may's mix when they had an asian-inspired fashion show from local fashion students. since that moment, i've been following their work religiously. 

second, my fave fashion news source has become imported goods on instagram. they highlight local creatives but also are in the know with what's new and niche in fashion and music. i was one of their top supporters last year. kind of embarrassing to be that much online, but hey - support local. they're issuing a magazine soon - can't wait to subscribe.

i wanted to highlight a few local spots where i find fashion inspiration:

antiques and uniques
a well-curated vintage mall. best to go every three months, you may find a gem worth more than what you get charged for.

rock and roll hall of fame
impressive collections of the music industry's groundbreaking fashion moments.
from awards to music videos, or to snl's finest moments (current exhibit)

local county fairs
check out the local competitions, and you have an opportunity to learn about dying arts in textiles.

past meets present
one of the best designer consignment stores with a collection so rare it feels like a museum.

shops by the lake
another antique mall worth a full day of exploration. beside wondrous items for the household, the hidden corners hide some charming fashion pieces.

cleveland museum of art
go to the museum during mix to see some inspiration on living art, but even on a slow rainy day the museum has artwork you'd want to wear.