By Arianna Johnson
Senior Music major Tyrese Cuevas found out at an early age that he could not only hold a tune but create well thought out ensembles as well. Although he oftentimes found himself being ostracized due to his sexuality and size, throughout all adversity, he found comfort in fashion.
Since stepping foot on campus his freshman year, Cuevas has been known as a fashionable student. So, it was only right that The Panther received the opportunity to speak with Cuevas TO name him the first well-dressed student of the 2021-2022 academic school year.
Q: You’re a music major with plans to go into A&R. How did you get into fashion in the first place?
A: When I was younger, there would be other clothes I wanted to wear and try, but it was always called “gay” for me to be into trying different forms of clothes. It wasn’t really until I got to college that I really decided to try new things because I saw everybody else dressed differently from me. I always dressed nice, but I got better when I got to college and used my creative mind.
Q: What are your thoughts on people like Young Thug and Andre 3000 who’ve been ridiculed for dressing too “feminine?”
A: They try to call it “gay” and use it in a derogatory manner, but when you think about it, gay people are in the background doing your hair, makeup, nails, dressing you, telling you what to say, and they’re the personality behind the person. They just try to use it as a derogatory term to steer men — especially straight guys — away from being creative. They just try to make them hard as rocks all the time.
Q: Being from Jacksonville, Fl, do you think the fashion back at home is different from how people dress in Atlanta?
A: In Florida, streetwear looks like everyone wearing True Religion, Lacoste and Jordan down. That’s how you know somebody has money if they’re wearing those types of brands and they’re wearing it down to the shoe. When you come to a place like Atlanta, nobody in Atlanta is really from Atlanta. You have people from New York mixing with people from Chicago, mixing with people from Los Angeles, and people from Texas. How they all dress makes it easy to get inspired by different people and their different outfits.
Q: If you could be invited to any fashion show with first row seats, which would it be?
A: I like fashion shows that are really good shows and not just fashion, so I would go to Pyer Moss’. He puts a lot of thought into his shows and he had a good come up.
Q: Do you have a specific outfit that you pulled together that’s your favorite?
A: To be honest, I don’t like any of the outfits on my Instagram. I do what I can with the money I have. But don’t get it wrong, I get a lot of compliments from everyone on campus. However, I always feel like I can do better, so I’m never content with what I already have. If I had to pick, however, I’d pick a simple one. The one I did for my birthday with the plain suit and white shirt. It was nothing too crazy — just me and a camera.
Q: You mentioned that you make do with what you have. I’m not asking you to share all your secrets, but how do you pull it together?
A: It’s more about how you’re wearing it versus what it is that you’re wearing. You can literally wear a sweatsuit, but if you wear it confidently like “Yea, I’m wearing a sweatsuit, [expletive] and this is the nicest sweatsuit out of Walmart that they got,” it makes everyone else think “Dang, I like this sweatsuit!” You don’t necessarily have to be super dressed up, but you have to put it on and think about what’s next.
Q: There’s a lot of conversation when it comes to the difference between style and fashion. How do you balance having your individuality while also trying to keep up with the times?
A: I think it plays a big part in how everyone grew up. I grew up Black, Hispanic and gay. I played sports, but I was also into art and music. It’s more about personality that differentiates you from everyone else when it comes to style. Somebody who grew up in the woods isn’t going to wear a shirt the same way someone from the city wears it. Not only that, but you have to create your own trends to make other people hop on your wave. That’s the juice right there!
To keep up to date with Cuevas and his endeavors, make sure to follow him on Instagram and Twitter @late.5am and @late5am, respectively.
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