words and photos by Marjorie Grace
beautywithgrace@gmail.com
When you see Yolanda Carmen Perez, it is obvious you are in the presence of an artist. From her impeccably styled, colorful hair, and her flawless makeup, to her head-to-toe ensembles, she exudes creativity and self-expression. But every time you see her, she tells a different sartorial story. Her eclectic fashion ranges from a reflection of her Puerto Rican heritage to bohemian to rock-a-billy. And her art is just as varied: photography, painting, and fiber art all showcase her prolific talent and creative voice. Beaumont is blessed to have such a bold, unabashed artist.
What trends, eras, or places inspire your personal style? How would you describe it?
I’m inspired by bold fashions from 1940-1970: 1940’s utilitarian sophistication, classic exaggerated hyper feminine silhouettes of the 1950’s, 1960’s mod bohemian and beatnik, 1970’s disco, rock and hippie subcultures. As well, I have a soft spot for 90’s alternative fashions that were basically updated versions of decades past.
I like a “bad girl” look from any of those eras – the more taboo the better. I would describe my style as eclectic vintage bad girl in flux, influenced by Puerto Rico, California and Texas.
How did you dress as a child?
My style of dress was very unusual and eclectic. All my clothes were either handmade by my mother and grandmother (both amazing seamstresses) or hand-me-downs from my sisters.
I always wanted to dress as different as I felt, so I styled myself to make the hand-me-downs different from how my sisters wore them. I was very adventurous – mixing prints, mis-matching and customizing each piece.
As I got older, thrifting allowed me to refine my style through experimentation. I would sew, dye, paint, and embroider on my clothes to have the full expression that I craved. It would be my introduction to my future work in fiber arts.
What have been some of your most memorable wardrobe pieces over the years?
Definitely a piece that I hand-dyed, designed the repeat pattern for, and custom-sewed into my version of a traditional Puerto Rican Folkloric tiered floor length skirt. Another fabulous piece is a high waisted bodycon hand-crocheted colorful skirt I made myself.
I used to collect vintage Betsey Johnson pieces – her older designs used to run the gamut of “bad girl” through the decades: edgy, fun, colorful and sometimes very sophisticated. I also have a few pieces made by my mother and grandmother that are sentimental and beautiful.
Why did you choose this ensemble for your photoshoot?
This stunning colorful Free People crochet dress is one of my favorite timeless pieces that I own, a reminder of my fiber arts roots. This was a gift to myself for my undergrad senior Fine Arts thesis show. I paired it with some colorful platform heels, custom made accessories and a
deep magenta pashmina shawl. These are some of my favorite colors and this ensemble makes me feel so beautiful.
What does your style say about you?
My style says that I am bold, creative, thoughtful, unique, eclectic, fun and adventurous.
For more info on Yolanda’s art and to purchase, please contact the artist at ycarmensandiego@yahoo.com
