Style Icon of the Week 03/11

by Alicia Wu, Creative Director @ SPEC Magazine

Style Icon of the Week is Leah Wolchin!

Getting Down to the Basics

Leah Wolchin is the girl that started it all. She is the mastermind behind this column (formerly known as “Fashion Icon of the Week,” under her tenure). Leah graduated from USC in May of 2020 with a B.A. in Communications. Leah grew up in Los Angeles, CA and she is currently volunteering in Israel for the year before deciding what to do post-pandemic.

Her current theme song is Yellow by Lofi Fruits Music, Orange Stick, and Avocuddle. Her favorite spot in LA are farmer’s markets, as a way to explore a new town on a Sunday morning. Or anywhere in the sun.

Style Icon Q&A

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I wouldn't be able to. Some days I wear neutral and minimally chic looks. Others, I’ve mixed so many patterns and colors I end up being a walking optical illusion.

Q: Who inspires your style the most?

Any blogger from the Netherlands.

Q: What is one brand you want people to pay more attention to/know more about?

House of Sunny because they are sustainable and quirky. I think the versatility of their pieces is very unique. Their clothes are also not age-ist; I’ve seen a lot of older women wearing their pieces. The brand is so diverse in terms of representation, but also in terms of style, colors, and shapes.

Q: What is something you have in your closet you’ve never been able to let go of, and why?

A: My aunt gifted me a hand-embroidered coat from China that is the most magnificent piece you’ve ever laid your eyes on. It’s made of black silk so even with the colorful illustrations throughout, it's still very wearable.

Q: What is something you are passionate about in the world of fashion? Or what change do you want to see in fashion?

A: Sustainability and ethics in fashion. Caring about our planet and humanity is super hop. I think a lot about sustainability in terms of the effect fashion has on our ecological earth, and how big of a role and responsibility the industry has in ruining the environment or polluting our waters. In terms of ethics, there are so many people working for big fashion companies that work in horrible conditions. They are exposed to chemicals that cause long-term health problems. There are a few things I recommend watching to learn more about these two topics in fashion: