Glad Rags: Anna Sofia is Making Moves
Make it stand out
Get your glad rags on gang because our newest column to join the Dollhouse is a look at some of our favourite musician's best garms. This week we're joined by teenage dream Anna Sofia getting deep on style evolution and the difference in dressing for the stage!
How important is clothing to you for a stage presence?
Super important!!! You want to be comfortable on stage. Crazy outfits are super sick, but for me personally I would have a very hard time performing in them. I still love to have a cool outfit, but I still want to be able to move around and dance with the audience. But a major shoutout to people who can wear the most crazy outfits and still be able to rock the stage. I'll crack your code one day...
Do you have a different style on stage compared to off stage?
Not too different! A lot of the things I wear on stage are also things I wear on a daily basis. But sometimes I would style them differently than I would on stage for movement purposes. I love to jump on stage and throw my hands all over the place so I’ve got to be able to do that.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___
Do you think image is important for musicians wanting to be successful?
Definitely! You want to have a look that defines YOU! It doesn’t have to be super crazy but just like music, an image is something people know you by. You want your image to be authentic and something you like. If you love your own image, others will love it too. People will feed off of that and be able to feel more connected to you as a person and an artist because you feel the connection to yourself as well! Aside from music, I think an image is what sets every artist apart from each other.
Who are some of your style inspirations as an artist?
For my day to day style I wouldn't say I really have an inspiration. However for Anna Sofia, the two I really look up to would be Lady Gaga, and Dorian Who. Lady Gaga is iconic. Her outfits are unforgettable and so unique! I always want to have an outfit on that makes me feel good, and that people could never forget! Dorian Who is a fashion designer based in Toronto, Canada. I found Dorian through instagram and immediately loved everything she made. Everything in her catalogue is so unique but so accessible which is what I loved most about her. You could dress her pieces up or down and look like a million dollars no matter what. I feel very confident in Dorian’s clothes and have been so lucky to be able to work with her on a bunch of stuff recently. The first time working with Dorian was for my 6ft Under music video. She dressed me in this super cool orange set that was not only super comfy, but so so cool. From then on, I have loved all the looks we have put together and I am so excited for everyone to see them! Dorian’s brand reminds me that beauty doesn’t need to be uncomfortable. Cool pieces can be easy to wear, and still look amazing! Comfort is the biggest thing for me when it comes to fashion.
“Experiment and let it run its course. These things take time. Developing yourself as an artist in any way takes a lot of time.”
What is your favourite piece of clothing to wear on stage and why?
I don’t really have one specific piece that I would consider my favorite. I usually just wear whatever I know will make me feel good onstage and will allow me to move. I don’t think super hard on my outfits when I’m performing because I typically wear what I would wear on a daily basis. On stage my main focus is to have a good time with the audience, and I can only have a good time when I feel comfortable and feel good. My everyday style is something that I always feel good in, so I like to dress how I normally would on stage too. I usually like to get more crazy with outfits when I am attending events, or doing photoshoots.
What is your favourite piece of clothing to wear offstage and why?
Sweaters!!! This is one piece of clothing that I could just NOT wear on stage. I would literally melt into a puddle of sweat. On stage the lights are blaring in your face, you are surrounded by a bunch of people, and you are putting your all into your performance so it gets really hot up there. Aside from the stage I absolutely love sweaters. They are so cozy and warm and for me they go with anything I wear. I am not a fan of tight clothes at all. I never have been because they make me feel very claustrophobic and uncomfortable. All my sweaters are pretty baggy and oversized so I don’t ever feel like that and I am able to enjoy my day without having to worry about my clothes.
Do you think people look down on musicians who like fashion too and if so, why?
I think if anything, people like it! It's another way for people to connect with us and learn more about us! The way someone dresses can say a lot about them and I like to speak through my fashion for people to get to know me better. Fashion is another form of art in my opinion. It is another creative way to express yourself, and if people don’t like your art then who cares. Everyone is going to have something to say but as long as you feel confident and truly enjoy it, then everyone else's opinions don’t matter. I don’t dress for other people, I dress for myself so at the end of the day people can say whatever they want and I’ll still keep doing what I’m doing.
How has your style evolved alongside your journey as an artist?
My style has evolved A LOT. But I don't really think it had anything to do with my artistry at all. If anything I think my artistry evolved with my style. Throughout high school I was very insecure. I never really felt like I was pretty enough or cool enough to impress people. I started to dress a certain way for people to like me and not for me to like me. When COVID hit and everyone went into quarantine, I wasn’t seeing anyone. So I thought to myself, people aren’t going to see me anyways so I wanna have some fun! I started dyeing my hair a bunch of colours, and dressing the way I wanted to and I really loved it! The longer quarantine lasted, the more I got to play around and I started to feel really confident about my appearance and started to care less and less about what people thought. By the time we were out of quarantine, I was a completely new person. I was so happy with who I was and people liked me more for being myself than being someone I'm not. This then translated into my music as I stopped caring about the people around me and started to make music for myself and do whatever makes me happy.
What advice would you give someone struggling to find their image as an artist?
Experiment and let it run its course. These things take time. Developing yourself as an artist in any way takes a lot of time. The public eye sees the finished product but what happens behind the curtains is a lot more than you think (this sounds like a really wise person’s quote :p). Developing yourself and your image takes a lot of trial and error and error is okay. The more we experience things, the more we get to learn new things about ourselves and eventually you will know you’re to create your image!
