Erin Rembert, 24

What do you do?
I have a few jobs, actually. I’m a burlesque performer, a freelance art curator—today I was at my job as a personal assistant for an online vintage business called BombshellShocked. I’m one of the owner’s models. I also work at the vintage shop Store B. I do some buying there, use my knowledge and all that jazz.

So I could reasonably call you a “fashionista”?
Ugh, I hate that term!

I used it with implied air quotes, I swear!
I just think the term’s played out. It’s like when people refer to black women as “divas.”

Note taken. Have any tips for assembling a fall wardrobe?
I wear vintage all the time, so it’s hard for me to imagine what conventional dressers would consider a fall wardrobe. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I went to, like, Banana Republic. But I like a more tailored look, very well-fitted double-breasted jackets and vintage swing coats. Big angora sweaters—very soft on the skin—and nice thick flannel. First and foremost, I’m function over fashion.

What do you like to see on a guy?
Slim-fitting pants are nice, but they don’t have to be nut-huggers. And I’m not about shit hangin’ off the ass. [A passerby screams, “Love the hair!”]

Does that happen often?
[Laughs] Yes. It’s because I have natural hair.

Is that a political choice?
It’s more about accepting who I really am. I didn’t know what my natural hair looked like for years, but about two years ago I cut out all the straightening chemicals. I’ve gone through that whole militant African-American woman thing.

Is that when you got the Angela Davis tattoo on your left arm?
Around then, yeah. I finally got to meet her when she lectured at Columbia College this year about women in the blues scene. I tried not to weird her out: “Hey, I got your portrait on my arm.” She was like, “Whoa! I’ve never seen that before!”

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