Tom Proustington Interview #6

Name: Julian Elvis* Biber
Age: 21
Home town: NYC
Current occupation: Student

What is your favorite article of clothing that you own and why?

I have always been a fan of boots. I am a big guy, so to be wearing dinky little sneakers or dress shoes always looks a bit awkward and disproportionate. In junior year of high school, my father gave me a pair of his old dark brown motorcycle boots. They were large but not chunky and were pointed enough to look a bit more elegant than work boots. They were perfectly worn in, and one of them had a tan burn mark on the back quarter from one of the outer cylinders of a Harley. While the leather was softened by years of use, the heels were a dark grainy wood, which gave the whole boot this wonderful solidity. I wore those heels down to the nub and have gotten them replaced a few times with rubber ones, but it’s not really the same. They go with the quintessential Steve Mcqueen get-up—jeans/khakis, thick sweater, wraparounds—I wish I was in the Great Escape, but without the whole Nazi thing.

What qualities of dress do you most admire in a member of the opposite sex?

I am not too fond of dresses. I know it’s characteristically feminine, but I like it when a woman can show her form, movement, and femininity through items less confined to one sexual category. A white t-shirt and blue jeans on women seems to hit a powerful chord with me. My first girlfriend wore a white t-shirt and some nice fitting blue jeans and it would just slay me every time.

Who are your fashion icons of fiction?

OK, someone already listed Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. Then I would have to go with Han Solo (http://thecostumer.today.com/files/2009/09/hansolo.jpg) in and out of Stormtrooper uniform (http://media.photobucket.com/image/Han%20Solo%20stormtrooper/Dark_Ambika/ Star%20Wars/Wookieepedia/Han3_edited.jpg). I like space cowboys.

Also, Bruce Lee in Game of Death…the yellow jumpsuit speaks for itself (http://www.strangekiss.com/images/detail/bruce_lee_game_death.jpg)
Finally, ANYBODY from ANY movie that’s set in the late 19th century south.

Who are fashion icons in real life?

Michael Caine. Hanging cigarette, dark suit, thick black wayfarers. Unbelievable. Watch him as Harry Palmer in the IPCRESS File and you’ll see what I mean.

Richard Avedon. Again, big-ass glasses (http://static.intelligent.lv/uploadEx/images/ru/people/faces/gq50/Richard%20Avedon.jpg) and total simplicity. I guess in the same chunky glasses vein, I would also have to go with early My Aim Is True Elvis Costello. I have needed glasses since 7th grade, which at first made me self-conscious, but I remember that it was a young Costello that really seemed to make cool to have thick, loud, outrageous frames.

What articles of clothing do you most associate with your childhood?

Kermit the Frog Pajama pants. I wore them to school with a Batman cape and my Green Power Ranger power sword. Ladies loved it.

Under what circumstances do you put effort into your dress?

Too many circumstances. People say I look better when I’m not trying so hard so it’s a real crapshoot. Though sometimes I even put effort into my dress when I go to the library, which seems to be the primary location for looking good and pensive.

What articles of clothing do you most associate with past lovers/love interests?

Oy vey. I bought this blue patterned t-shirt while in Germany a few years back, which my ex would frequently sleep in. A little while after the break-up I accidently ripped the left breast pocket off. How much more metaphor do you need!

When do you feel best in your clothing?

Being big, the key to looking good is usually to dress in dark slimming colors. But walking around looking like you are constantly working as a theater tech or writing a poem about the consistency of crow’s blood gets a little boring. I feel best when I can wear something a little brighter and louder and still look good. A bright dress shirt under a neutral sweater or colorful socks, whatever—something that just adds a little life.

Explain what you’re wearing right now:

white socks…

*[editor's note:]