Dads truly are the original hipsters (and not just because of this tumblr). To celebrate June 15, we called on some of Opening Ceremony's favorite designers to interview their own fashionable fathers. First up: Ava Hama of Bellavance.
"We’re pretty much wearing the same jeans," Ava Hama says, as she sits across her father Larry in her former bedroom-turned-studio. "Old black Levis, and I think mine are actually men’s." It's true: Hers are cuffed, his aren't, but the same minimalist streak runs through both their outfits (save for Ava's bright pink lipstick).
Ava, one half of the design duo at Bellavance, is known for her casually high-fashion designs with minimalist tones. And her father? Well, as an artist and writer at Marvel, Larry is credited for creating the G.I. Joe comic series.
Here, Ava interviews her dad about his style as a 20-something in New York, what he thinks about Bellavance, and the most stylish comic book character.
AVA HAMA: So, what were you wearing when you were my age (24)?
LARRY HAMA: Everyday gear was slim jeans, black T-shirt, white tennis shoes—they used to call them deck shoes. If I was going out, black skinny jeans, black leather jacket, thin lapels, white shirt, and a black leather tie, very skinny. Those shirts you can’t get anymore, the tab collars with snaps on the front. Oh yeah, and hair down to my waist.
Is there one item of clothing that you regret getting rid of?
I had a pea-green Cardin mandarin jacket with narrow toggles. I really loved that thing. It had wide sleeves with no cuffs, a high collar, narrow toggles, and a bamboo motif.
This jacket sounds weird.
I got it at Cardin’s store on Madison back in the ‘70s.
Fancy. What happened to it?
Well, mom made me give it away. It was in perfect condition. And my mom made me a knockoff Cardin, like a ‘60s Cardin jacket, with a zipper on the bias, and a sort of military mandarin collar. Very slim cut. Black velour with grey silk lining.
That sounds absurd.
That went to Housing Works, too.
I remember when I was growing up you always wore black Levis, a white or black T-shirt, and the traditional tan or black Timberlands. That’s all you wore.
Yeah, I just get caught into these uniforms. When I was in high school I wore white Levis, a white Levi jacket, [and] desert boots they called dingos. They were like, pre-Uggs, without the lining. I wore that for years. I went to an interview with Help! magazine, which was art directed by Terry Gilliam, and I walked in wearing white Levis, a white pinstripe shirt, a white Levi jacket, and desert boots. And in this tiny little office this guy is sitting behind the desk wearing white Levis, a white pinstripe shirt, and desert boots. [Laughs]
That’s so awkward.
Up to that point I thought I was being really individualistic.
Did you acknowledge the fact that you were wearing the same outfit?
No. We just sort of brazened our way through it.
Do you have any advice for the future dads of the world?
Don’t stifle creativity. Especially personal style. You went through some stages where you wanted to wear certain things….
That you didn’t like? I remember I got a hard time from mom when I was six about those white cowboy boots covered in silve
"We’re pretty much wearing the same jeans," Ava Hama says, as she sits across her father Larry in her former bedroom-turned-studio. "Old black Levis, and I think mine are actually men’s." It's true: Hers are cuffed, his aren't, but the same minimalist streak runs through both their outfits (save for Ava's bright pink lipstick).
Ava, one half of the design duo at Bellavance, is known for her casually high-fashion designs with minimalist tones. And her father? Well, as an artist and writer at Marvel, Larry is credited for creating the G.I. Joe comic series.
Here, Ava interviews her dad about his style as a 20-something in New York, what he thinks about Bellavance, and the most stylish comic book character.
AVA HAMA: So, what were you wearing when you were my age (24)?
LARRY HAMA: Everyday gear was slim jeans, black T-shirt, white tennis shoes—they used to call them deck shoes. If I was going out, black skinny jeans, black leather jacket, thin lapels, white shirt, and a black leather tie, very skinny. Those shirts you can’t get anymore, the tab collars with snaps on the front. Oh yeah, and hair down to my waist.
Is there one item of clothing that you regret getting rid of?
I had a pea-green Cardin mandarin jacket with narrow toggles. I really loved that thing. It had wide sleeves with no cuffs, a high collar, narrow toggles, and a bamboo motif.
This jacket sounds weird.
I got it at Cardin’s store on Madison back in the ‘70s.
Fancy. What happened to it?
Well, mom made me give it away. It was in perfect condition. And my mom made me a knockoff Cardin, like a ‘60s Cardin jacket, with a zipper on the bias, and a sort of military mandarin collar. Very slim cut. Black velour with grey silk lining.
That sounds absurd.
That went to Housing Works, too.
I remember when I was growing up you always wore black Levis, a white or black T-shirt, and the traditional tan or black Timberlands. That’s all you wore.
Yeah, I just get caught into these uniforms. When I was in high school I wore white Levis, a white Levi jacket, [and] desert boots they called dingos. They were like, pre-Uggs, without the lining. I wore that for years. I went to an interview with Help! magazine, which was art directed by Terry Gilliam, and I walked in wearing white Levis, a white pinstripe shirt, a white Levi jacket, and desert boots. And in this tiny little office this guy is sitting behind the desk wearing white Levis, a white pinstripe shirt, and desert boots. [Laughs]
That’s so awkward.
Up to that point I thought I was being really individualistic.
Did you acknowledge the fact that you were wearing the same outfit?
No. We just sort of brazened our way through it.
Do you have any advice for the future dads of the world?
Don’t stifle creativity. Especially personal style. You went through some stages where you wanted to wear certain things….
That you didn’t like? I remember I got a hard time from mom when I was six about those white cowboy boots covered in silve