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How Vogue's Christian Allaire Celebrates His Indigenous Heritage Through Fashion

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Christian Allaire, who you may know as Vogue’s fashion and style writer, has been captivated by the power of fashion since childhood. Growing up in Northern Ontario, Canada, “I remember watching my sister wear jingle dresses,” a traditional, Indigenous style of dress and dance, “and dance at our powwows,” the New York-based writer tells Rose Inc. “Seeing this definitely got me interested in fashion." The fascination grew from there. “Eventually, I started reading Vogue,” he says, adding that it coincided with his passion for perfecting his runway walk around the house. “[My parents have] always joked that I'm adopted because I had interests that were so foreign to my whole family,” he says with a laugh.

Today, Allaire’s work runs the gamut, from documenting Rihanna’s style evolution and in-depth interviews with celebs like The Little Mermaid’s Halle Bailey, to articles celebrating Indigenous beadworkers and fashion exhibits highlighting contemporary Indigenous design. He also uses his personal platform to champion his Ojibwe heritage. “Growing up, I didn’t always see my culture represented in fashion,” he says. A recent passion project includes his 2021 book, “The Power of Style,” which serves as a reminder to young people that they, along with their cultures, have an important place in the world of fashion. “Being in fashion, I obviously love looking at pretty clothes,” he says. "But I think connecting with people, opening minds and telling stories is what’s most important to me.”

Below, Allaire opens up about what Indigenous Peoples' Day means to him and how he celebrates his heritage through fashion.

RI:
How has your upbringing influenced your approach to fashion and beauty?
CA:
I never danced with my sister because I was painfully shy as a kid. But I loved seeing my mom and aunts sewing my sister’s regalia. I saw firsthand the detail and work that goes into it. It was beautiful to think of how all of the different colors and each ribbon symbolizes something. That’s when I understood that fashion is more than just about aesthetics. There's really a lot of intention and thought that can go into it. That’s what made me fall in love with fashion. It took me a few years to realize that, but now I'm constantly calling my mom and my aunts every other day to say, ‘can you make me this?’ So now I'm so into the design process.
RI:
What inspired you to write your book, “The Power of Style”?
CA:
I began thinking about how, as a teen, I didn't really see my Indigenous culture reflected in fashion. That said, I was inspired to create a book that encourages children to see themselves in the industry and know that their cultures are beautiful and just as worthy as what they see on the catwalk. Everyone should be proud to wear their traditional garb. It was so fun to learn about other cultures in the process as well.
RI:
Speaking of embracing one’s culture, I love how you incorporate traditional Indigenous elements in your everyday style. How do you go about building your own looks?
CA:
Growing up, I was always told or shown that it was uncool to rock cultural items. But the more I worked in fashion, the more I met fellow Indigenous people, which has been really encouraging. I really make it a mission to always wear at least one piece of something Indigenous-owned. It’s my way of showing how proud I am of my culture.

I love to mix vintage pieces with Indigenous jewelry. I have a huge collection now. I’m also seeing more and more Indigenous clothing brands, from streetwear to evening wear and swimwear. It feels really good to see more representation across all fashion categories.

“I was inspired to create a book that encourages children to see themselves in the industry and know that their cultures are beautiful.”

RI:
With Indigenous Peoples’ Day this month, I’m curious what the day means to you?
CA:
I always feel funny around the day because I'm like, why do we only get one day? Every day is Indigenous Peoples’ Day for me. So it doesn't really resonate as a huge thing for me. At the same time, I do love that it’s the same day as Columbus Day because I don't think that should be a holiday or something to celebrate. I love that we’re reclaiming it.

And of course, I think it's a great day for people to think about how they can support Indigenous artists all the time. That's what I do. Even if it's just having a bit more intention on this day to support a smaller brand or buy from a native brand, I think that's great. And something everyone should do. For the future, I’ve been thinking about hosting a bunch of my native friends and creatives for dinner. It’s hard to meet fellow native folks in this industry, so it would be cool to bring people together.

By Christian Allaire

“I think it's a great day for people to think about how they can support Indigenous artists all the time.”

RI:
What are some of your favorite Indigenous-owned fashion and beauty brands right now?
CA:
I love Cheekbone Beauty. Jenn Harper, the founder, is so amazing. The brand gives back to organizations like Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction and more. I also love Prados. They’re making really cool palettes. Ah-Shi beauty is great, too — they have really great skincare.

When it comes to fashion, I love what Jamie Okuma is doing. Elias Jade Not Afraid’s bead work is crazy. So talented. Mobilize is a cool streetwear brand. Tania Larsson is another amazing jewelry maker.

By Christian Allaire

RI:
When do you feel most beautiful?
CA:
I feel confident and beautiful when I’m fully decked out in an Indigenous outfit. I just wore a fully embroidered outfit over the weekend that my aunt made me. And I never felt more pretty.

RI:
What’s your go-to complexion routine right now?
CA:
My routine is pretty simple. I try to stay away from things that irritate my skin. I cleanse, tone and I top off with a moisturizing sunscreen. I love a tinted serum, brow gel and concealer. When I’m feeling fancy, I use blush as well.

“I feel confident and beautiful when I’m fully decked out in an Indigenous outfit.”

By Christian Allaire

RI:
Who are your biggest beauty and style inspirations right now?
CA:
Lil Nas X is my biggest beauty inspiration. He brings it every time. I love that he rocks a liner and a lip on the red carpet. He makes me want to be more experimental. My style inspo is probably Mick Jagger.

By Christian Allaire

RI:
Your curls are looking amazing. What are you using these days?
CA:
I've been on a curl journey my whole life. I hated my curls growing up. I would rebel against them. In high school, I straightened my hair and went through the emo bang phase. More recently, what I've learned is that it's all about keeping them moisturized. I’ve been trying different curl creams. I love Tracee Ellis Ross' brand, Pattern. I use the whole line: shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner and a spray. It leaves my curls bouncy. And then to finish, I use a diffuser.

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How Vogue's Christian Allaire Celebrates His Indigenous Heritage Through Fashion

“I was inspired to create a book that encourages children to see themselves in the industry and know that their cultures are beautiful.”

“I think it's a great day for people to think about how they can support Indigenous artists all the time.”

“I feel confident and beautiful when I’m fully decked out in an Indigenous outfit.”

“...all of the different colors and ribbons symbolize something unique. That’s when I understood that fashion is more than just about aesthetics.”

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