My heart is broken to hear about the suicide of Lip Service founder, Drew Bernstein. I can't express how much designers like Drew helped me to establish my identity and become comfortable in my own skin. Since I was a kid, I have always been so passionate about fashion, but never felt like I fit the stereotype or attained the proper aesthetic for the fashion world. Discovering brands like Lip Service showed me that there WAS a place for me in the arms of fashion, and gave me the confidence to stay true to my own definition of style. I'm forever grateful for that. The impact Drew Bernstein had on the lives of the hundreds of thousands displaced punk freaks, like me, is immeasurable. I will never forget my first pair of Lip Service skull tights. I wore them to school and alienated all the uptight Westport, CT bitches with their Kate Spade mini backpacks and hideous juicy couture sweats and highlighted hair. It was such an empowering feeling to find a designer who could create clothing I felt comfortable in. Lip Service was the first brand to encourage me to trust my vision and express myself as a teenager. I'm forever grateful, it shaped who I am.
No matter how old I get
how many fashion magazines I read
or how I evolve
The core of my style will always be rooted in Punk-Rock.