Luam

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Photographs: Kristina Velkova

Luam, 32, choreographer and cofounder of Wildchild Nation (luam.net), Harlem

Her style: “Freestyle—I wing it. I accommodate not only the various hats I wear (choreographer, creative director, writer, designer, business owner, etc.), but also my moods. I love New York, British, Japanese and Italian style in particular, but no matter what I wear, I have to feel comfortable. My newest addiction is menswear. It makes me feel rogue.”

Her inspiration: “Music. I may dress ethereal boho with Coldplay, streetwear-chic with old-school Biggie, model-off-duty tousled-casual with John Mayer, or classic Jackie O with Chopin. Recently I’ve been feeling rock & roll and grunge, so black leather and spikes with my Guns N’ Roses and Smashing Pumpkins. Music is also the design inspiration for my clothing line, Wildchild Nation (wildchildnation.com), though the influence is specifically hip-hop music and culture.”

Favorite local shops: “My style can be pretty eclectic, so I like to save my best shopping for overseas. In NYC, I love Intermix (I always find at least one must-have in there), Pieces of Brooklyn (unique standout elements to style around), Olive & Bette’s (love their outerwear and interesting cuts), and Urban Outfitters (big chain, I know, but their messy-chic outfits are addictive and affordable!).”

Favorite fashion blogs: Who What Wear (whowhatwear.com), Shoptometrist (shoptometrist.com) and Threader (www.threaderstyle.com)

Favorite brands: “Pinko (pinko.it), Plastic Island (plasticisland.com), Mike & Chris (mikeandchris.com), LB-03 (lb-03.com), Stefanel (stefanel.com), Cheap Monday (cheapmonday.com), and Trash and Luxury (trashandluxury.com). And of course, I never get tired of shopping at wildchildnation.com. Wink, wink.”

On New York style: “It’s powerful and rebellious. Whether it’s three-piece suits and tall buildings or moccasins on cobblestone, you can always pick a New Yorker out of a crowd because they own their style.”

On dance style: “Dance opens up the color palette, allowing me to sometimes play with Day-Glo pairings I would otherwise never wear. Looking authentic is key to creating authenticity. Dance, like all forms of art, is a lifestyle. You have to dress the part. Be your art.”

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