NTS Interview: Sarah Gomes shares her perspective on fashion and streetwear

More and more, the female audience has adhered to and consumed trends directly related to streetwear. The brands, in turn, see women as an opportunity to expand a culture and to gain a new consumer, creating lines and even stores entirely dedicated to them.
Today, resuming our interview series, we spoke with Sarah Gomes, a Brazilian vlogger and social influencer.

To start, tell us, who is Sarah Gomes?  

I am 27 years old, born in Manaus, but I grew up a citizen of the world. I graduated in business administration and today I work in Social Marketing. I am 90% vegetarian and 10% in love with burgers. I could wear sweatpants all day (and I do! haha). I may seem annoying, but I'm nice. I love discussing history and politics. I love sleeping. I'm addicted to photos of neon signs on Pinterest. I think that was a good summary, right!?

Definitely a great summary. Focusing on our main subject, how and when did you start to like streetwear, and what is your vision of the current scene for the female audience?  

Actually, no one likes street fashion. Everything we wear is street fashion; we have no choice. The decades when haute couture pushed trends into everyday life were many, but they are over.  Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Wintour are great defenders of this movement. Everything now is inspired by the street.

This became much more evident in recent years: Saint Laurent is now 100% skateboard inspired. Givenchy skate/sportswear. Balenciaga the same thing. Chanel's campaign photos feature Gisele with a tweed jacket tied around her waist. And all these mentioned brands are classic French houses with over 30 decades of existence. They all now look to the street before creating their collections. Luxury pieces created from sportswear and utilitarian styles.

Most people think that street fashion is sneakers, caps, oversized t-shirts, and sweatpants. In my opinion, street fashion is everything with style adaptations and specific inspirations.

I think that in Brazil there is a great concern with being sexy all the time. There are so many pressures that women forget to ask themselves, "What do I really want to wear?". I go to the club in shorts and an oversized boyfriend blazer and I'm the odd one out! haha. And I think that in Brazil there’s also the problem of trends; everyone dresses the same. And since the consumer pressure for something different is not strong, brands settle for producing only what is most popular and best-selling at the moment.

Do you think that today streetwear for the female audience is more accessible or has it always been? What do you think about it?  

It is definitely more accessible!

What is your opinion on unisex fashion?  

I think it’s a natural movement since women began occupying spaces that were previously only the right of men. I am in favor of utilitarian fashion for everyday life; comfort, many pockets, hoods, and all that. That concept of unisex doesn’t matter to me. If I like it and feel good in it, that fashion is mine too; it doesn’t matter if it’s masculine, feminine, or unisex; it’s mine! Following your profile on Instagram, we can’t help but notice pieces from designers like Rick Owens, YEEZY, Chanel, and others. We all know that these are rare items and sometimes we can’t buy them due to price or accessibility. Is there any item that is your dream to consume that you still haven’t managed to buy?  Designer items are always controversial, but I think that nobody should feel frustrated for not having them. People have to take on a sense of motivation in the face of an object or dream that they haven't yet reached.

Luxury items have been part of my reality since I was 6 years old, when I read Vogue. I always dreamed of the world of great designers and put in my head that it was for me. From the moment you take ownership of that, everything comes naturally. Suddenly you find yourself studying, working 12  months a year without stopping and conquering everything on your childhood list.

The human brain built all of this around us; we are all capable of everything!

People spend more time speculating and envying than acting. Dreams only come true after sleepless nights, stress, sweat, and effort. I have been working since I was 16 years old, I've been in the market for 11 years already; you can follow my  advice.

At the moment I want to consume more experiences than objects. Maybe a trip to Italy with my family would be the next dream to be realized.

It’s remarkable the ease with which you mix High-End with fast fashion pieces. Do you usually do this all the time? Tell us what your favorite stores and brands are.  

I ONLY  do this! haha. Zara, Forever 21, and H&m are my favorites. I think it's possible to find all kinds of clothes that I like. Now I wear a lot of clothing and shoes from Adidas. And Chanel bags are my favorites. I don't invest in expensive clothes, I don't invest in expensive cars; I buy bags! Better investment. Influencers have increasingly taken on an important role for youth and the work of various people. Who are your biggest influences in the fashion field?  Maureen Chiquet, CEO of Chanel, is definitely my biggest influence.

What is Sarah Gomes' lifestyle like during the week? We know you have a Vlog and that interacting with the public is part of your lifestyle. How does that work?  

My life during the week is boring for those expecting glamour! haha I spend the entire day working at home, going to a few meetings, muay Thai class, and eating! Normal. I even think it's good for people to see how much my life is like theirs.

The vlog is on hold for now, but my intention has always been to show a bit of the trips, places, and interesting people.

Sarah, thank you for your participation! Do you have any message for your followers and our readers? Any new projects for this year? Stop placing so much importance on social media. What is shared only makes sense if it exists in real life and is something you are proud of and that makes you happy. This year will be a year of construction for me. Roll up my sleeves and execute all the plans from 2015. Watch Sarah's latest vlog, where she gives a tour of Los Angeles and shows part of the work behind one of the IBN Jasper collections. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uVYoBauNyM&w=1280&h=720]