Style Diaries: Aria Dimalanta
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about where you're based and what you do?
I’m Aria and I’m an Art Director based in Los Angeles with a compulsive shopping disorder. I also style, create content, and just try to do anything that inspires me (which usually happens to be clothes).
How has the city or environment you live in shaped the way you get dressed? Are there pieces or habits that feel specific to where you are?
I grew up on the island of Guam, so being comfortable and dressing for warm weather is part of my DNA. I still don’t know how to dress for winter, but luckily in LA, I don’t need to. I’m very comfortable in a pair of flip flops–I swear, I can wear them with anything. I also am not a very big pant/jean person as much as I am with skirts, dresses, or shorts. My style has always gravitated towards being comfortable first and I let that dictate how creative I want to be.
Walk us through getting dressed on a typical morning. What's your starting point? Is it a piece, a color, a mood, or something else entirely? Are there any style "rules" you always come back to?
I open my closet and look at what skirt or dress I can wear for the day. I’m usually on set and sitting, so jeans are a last resort. I dislike fashion “rules”–because I grew up in such a small community and was always drawn to clothes since I was literally in pre-school, I was definitely looked at weird because I loved exploring with styling from all of the movies I would watch. So I say, you should just wear what you like.
What's been influencing your style lately? It could be a person, a film, a book, a place, or even something you've noticed while walking around your neighborhood.
Honestly, this is a really hard question because I am a creature of habit and my taste doesn’t really change much. However, cultural references and brands that I always revert to are 90s fashion, i.e. Miu Miu, Prada, Calvin Klein, Jil Sander, Chanel, Marissa Cooper, Lily-Rose Depp, and my friends (I have really stylish friends)!
Is there a piece you're excited to wear more this season, or something you're currently hunting for?
This summer, I’m really diving more into color. I’ve always welcomed it but I want to build my color range more. I’m always on the hunt for vintage Pucci year round.
With trends moving so quickly, how do you know when something is truly your style versus just something you're seeing everywhere?
If it’s comfortable and worth spending my money on, I know that I’ll love it forever and not something I’ll be tired of next season. I’m very intentional with spending money–I never buy just to buy. Unfortunately, I’m very good at finding things worth spending my money on so I do shop a lot.
When do you feel most like yourself? Tell us about that outfit.
I know I’ve been saying this a lot, but I really feel most like myself when I’m wearing something that’s comfortable because I know it makes me feel good. In my opinion, the best outfits are ones that aren’t planned–they’re intuitive, effortless, and automatic. This outfit in Paris last summer is so indicative of that. I walked 10 miles in a vintage Calvin Klein skirt, a Brandy Melville tee, a vintage leather belt that I picked up in Paris for 5 euros, and flip flops.
What's one piece in your wardrobe you'll never get rid of, and why?
It’s this vintage Chanel PVC patchwork flap bag. Since I discovered Marissa Cooper when I was 13, I made it my life mission to own a Chanel bag. This one is just so perfect.
What's one fashion rule you've completely ignored?
All of them.
This? Or That!
Current favorite shoe:
Archie’s neon orange flip flops
Most complimented item in your closet:
That Chanel bag I mentioned up there
Vintage or new?
VINTAGE
Uniform or outfit repeater?
Outfit repeater
Favorite place to shop:
Depop
An item you're always borrowing from someone else, or someone is always borrowing from you:
You know what, I don’t borrow and I don’t lend clothes lol.
A piece you regret getting rid of:
None!
Three words that describe your style:
Comfortable, intuitive, feminine
