Meet Çoul: The Fashionisto Behind The ‘Street Fashion Meet-Ups’

Çoul (pronounced soul), a fashionisto in the Triangle, has recently started a new fashion movement entitled “Street Fashion Meet-up.” At these fashion meet-ups, he curates a fashion theme for attendees to dress accordingly at each event. This past event’s fashion theme was “Suits and Sneakers.” 

Çoul has recently been hosting these meet-ups at Mansions, a New York-based urban clothing store that recently opened in downtown Durham (130 E. Main St.). This meet-up gives local fashionistas and fashionistos an opportunity to network, mingle and create a photo shoot together. Not only does Çoul style and curate fashion events but he also does photography and serves as the main photographer at his own events, along with some other great photographers and videographers.

Spectacular Magazine (SM) had a chance to get to learn more about Çoul (Ç) and his ÇOULSTYLE:

SM: Could you tell us about yourself? 

Ç: Çoul (pronounced soul) is an eclectic fashion, music and spiritual guy raised in eastern North Carolina. I know eclectic is somewhat of an cliche term for folks like me but by definition, I fit the mold. Religious garments and text, history, subcultures, various music styles, diverse points of view, video games, lifestyles, proverbs; all of these things inspire me and my fashion and music choices. All of these things guide and shape much of my philosophies on life which start with the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto. 

SM: How did you come up with the concept of your fashion meet-up series? Also, could you describe what your fashion meet up event is for those who have not heard of them or who have never attended. 

Ç: Street Fashion Meet-up is a call to gather people who love fashion. At any every major Fashion Week, there is the action that happens inside of the venue, the designer’s fashion show. Outside of those venues is where you can see how people have interpreted the fashion that has been marketed to and inspired by them. That is what is called street fashion. They way everyday people see and wear fashion. Personal Style expressed everyday if you will. My goal is recreate that scene in NC and places where fashion is sold but not shown. NC has many small pockets of fashion enthusiast. I know that because every metropolitan and potential metro area in NC has a Fashion Week or some sort of one day event with name Fashion Week. More celebrated, there is Greensboro Fashion Week, Charlotte Fashion Week, Sparkcon. These big events are a few days long where you see North Carolinians in mass, actually get dressed for day to late afternoon events. However personal style is everyday. What local media, journal, TV or internet publication is chronicling that…nearly none. 

In addition, because I am a blogger and because having a mass repertoire of content is essential to growing in this social space. I understand that bloggers and influencers need content more often than they have money. The Street Fashion Meet-up is that space where they are welcome to come in what they would deem to be magazine or Instagram worthy outfits and have the photos taken for free… street fashion photography style by me or other photographers. Some of the attending photographers work for other publications and are looking to submit work to media. Because of that, the Street Fashion Meet-up event creates a mutual or even symbiotic relationship between designers/retailers who need their product shot, bloggers and influencers who need content, and photographers who need/want content to submit. Inherently it is a creative no strings attached atmosphere that happens on the street.

In short, the Street Fashion Meet-ups are an opportunity for fashion lovers and creatives to show off their personal style and create content at no cost to them

SM: Describe your fashion style, (also include fashion influences) and could you also tell about your blog? 

Ç: Çoul’s style is purely vast and eclectic. Pharrell, Prince, Johnny Depp, Nick Wooster, Marvin Gaye are just some of the iconic style that I’ve grown to identify with. To make it more relative, I like to say I love mixing classic and traditional fashion with streetwear like Pharrell. Every look he gives is a bit of this and that with a twist. My style is confident and crosses traditional gender lines like Prince. I’ve not yet worn anything as fitted or revealing as what Prince Rogers Nelson would wear but when it comes to hairstyles and shoe height, I have no fears or concerned of what others think. I love how affordable and personal accessories are. Having a collection of necklaces, rings, bracelets and watches and not being afraid to wear a lot of them at once is something I gleamed from the Johnny Depp camp. I discovered Nick Wooster recently and he’s me as an older, accomplished white guy somewhat. Like him, I pride myself on being able to give you corporate readiness in a black blue or grey suit one day, and be seen in a pair of drop crotched pants and sneakers, a kilt and boots, or just jeans and  t-shirt in that same day. And of course Marvin Gaye is the smooth dresser. His style is not so much about crazy prints but it’s an assembly of color blocking, mostly solid autumn color palettes, and an overall ‘I want to be comfortable when I do what I do’ vibe. That’s me too at times.

ÇOULSTYLE blog started out like every fashion blog. It was about showing and explaining the inspiration and reason behind my looks. As of late it has become the gallery of everyday people outfits. I feature photos I shoot of people on the street who I find dressed really well. It’s also one other platform I use to journal some of my deeper thoughts.

SM: So far are you pleased with the outcomes of your fashion meet-ups?

Ç: The turnout is always surprising. I’m finding that there are many people who love the idea of fashion but where they shop is about all the energy they give to it. And while this is an opportunity to have done for free what they pay photographers hundreds of dollars to do, many people register to come but do not show up. I’m learning that is par-for-the-course when it comes to free events. Like any business person you want to see your baby grow…which it is has. When it started I was just asking folks to meet me at the Bull in downtown Durham to shoot them. Now there is a need and benefit for people to register before the meet-up happens and I’m not the only one taking photos of folks. Although, I’m not satisfied with the recent numbers, I am always excited, even to tears, to see the support of people I had never met until that event. Even more so, I’m thrilled because even though I’m essentially providing a service; because of the people who show up looking great in a state where fashion is not really a thing, feels like I’m finally finding my tribe. It feels good to see that there are people who are really about this fashion and style life who are right here.

SM: I got the wonderful opportunity to attend the recent “Suits and Sneakers” fashion meet-up. Çould you tell us what influenced you to come up with that concept?

Ç: Suits and Sneakers is now one of the many text book style motifs when it comes to fashion. Like tuxedos and gowns are for formal events, bohemian, punk, grunge, dapper, militant, blue collar, all of these are themes or templates of style found in the fashion and design world. Suits and Sneakers is the uniform for those who work in corporate offices, who live in busy cities where walking blocks in between public transportation is the norm. It was popular for many years starting about 2010. It’s just pragmatic now. I originally thought Suits and Sneakers was a great opportunity for the men in fashion to show up and show out their personal style. I thought it would be easy to execute since you could literally put on any suit and a pair of complimentary sneakers and be fresh (ideally). The ladies killed it again though by default because women show up you know. Shout out to the few well dressed men who did come.

Each Street Fashion Meet-up theme is really just themes anyone can observe if they’ve been watching how fashion moves in cycles. Furs and Leather makes sense in the cold. Having Furs especially speaks to having a legacy wardrobe. In most cases you are not interested in owning a Fur (real or fake) unless one of your family elders had one. If you have one, there is nearly no occasion where wearing it is a great idea. Furs have to be protected and respected. Leathers must be taken care of in their off-season. Suits are expected. What event can you attend where what you have on, your style choice is what is celebrated? NONE. That is what Street Fashion Meet-up is about.

SM: What’s next? What should we expect from you in the near future?

Ç: The Street Fashion Meet-up is monthly. You can expect a new fashion theme to get dressed to ever month. Growth for the event would be more attendees showing up and being showcased in local and national publications. I am working on building relationships with local fashion brick and mortars, galleries, and museums who are looking to have more traffic in their stores. While great photos for free may not draw everyone, it does draw the right kind of people. You can also expect the Street Fashion Meet-up to appear in different cities around NC before it leaves the state. The goal is to highlight how fashion shows up on the streets of all these not so likely places in North Carolina. 

SM: Any additional information you would like to share or add?

Ç: I’m looking to collaborate with other fashion movements to build the fashion community in our state.

SM: Thank you so much Çoul!! Çoul can be reached on Instagram @ÇOULSTYLE or email him at iamÇoulstyle@Çoulstyle.com