CLOSET CASE: Lauren Teng

By Joelle Hyman, Photographs by Ilana Goldmeier I first met Lauren Teng my freshman year. She wore thick, wooly socks peeking out of white high tops, Syracuse-branded track shorts with clear lucite-framed glasses. What would normally be a sartorial disaster is actually quintessential and unique to Lauren; sporty, comfortable, and oozing a kind of self-awareness and composure that the latest Strokes album can't buy. Now a television, radio, and film junior, Lauren still dishes out Zen wisdom and wears those wooly socks with track shorts–in fact, she wore them to our interview. Lauren let Jerk inside her dynamic personal space–holding the many layers (literally) of her wardrobe–which is the stage for more Macklemore dance parties than you would imagine.

Your wardrobe is an illegitimate love child. Who are its parents? A MMA fighter and Gwyneth Paltrow.

How important is it to have a personal space reflective of your style? Everything reflects me. I'm big on nesting and I like creating spaces that are comfortable and give back to you. Clothes have to do the same for me.

How essential is layering to your daily routine? Layering? It's of the utmost importance–especially when you live far away [from campus] and especially in Syracuse. Going in and out of buildings, it's nice to have the option of adding and removing.

How would one of the characters from GIRLS describe your current outfit? Adam would say, "It's nice, it's nice. I get it. Socks."

Name three songs that would be on the soundtrack to your wardrobe. It's one of those hour long links on YouTube to an entire Nujabes album. That's exactly what it is.

Tell a childhood anecdote that explains the path to your current style aesthetic. Well, my mom used to take scissors away because I would cut everything. When my World War II teacher couldn't think of a polite way to ask why I was wearing baggy guy pants, he told me it looked like I was ready to go camping. I remember thinking, "This is a good idea."

I have more ______ than friends. Sweatshirts.

It would be an honor if ______ told me my outfit was hideous. Felicity. Actually, her roommate Meaghan.

I saw _______ wearing army pants and flip flops, so I bought army pants and flip flops. Joan Cusack.

Find Lauren's work on Vimeo and let us know what you think of her style, @jerkmagazine.

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