SLUG Style: Ursula Cohen
Slug Style
As the rugged they/them ready to cause some may/hem, Ursula Cohen wears many hats in every facet of life. Originally hailing from Appalachia, Cohen is a little backwoods-y, with a splice of end-of-the-world streetwear. Just don’t get them started on who can wear camouflage in a metropolitan area… Either way, they are a Gemini sun with a kickass personality that matches their kickass look on life. Hell yeah, brother!
Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.
What are your stylistic influences? This could be a band, decade, fictional character — anything.
“Mourning” (Johnny Cash’s song “Man In Black”), Tank Girl, Mad Max, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, plants, Leftöver Crack, David Bowie, grass widows, babushkas for my Ashkenazi roots or whatever I can wear that won’t inhibit my mobility too much.
What are your interests or hobbies? Which ones are considered more traditional outdoor activities?
Fiber arts (hand sewing, patching, darning, crocheting, embroidery, alterations), finding free things to do or acquire, working on my truck Goldie, working on my friends’ cars (usually a Toyota Tacoma), tuning up bicycles, printing/distributing zines, gardening, going on plant walks or foraging, playing saxophone with The Lavender Menaces and practicing herbalism by making teas, tinctures or salves. Traditional outdoor activities I enjoy would be hiking, backpacking, cycling and shooting firearms.
What is your opinion on the trend of “urban queer camo”?
HAH! I’m mad about it, straight up. I grew up in Southern Appalachia where out-of-towners and dingbats came to make fun of us — especially for wearing camo and being poor — all while guzzling fancy beer and throwing bachelorette parties. Nowadays, I’m witnessing “poor couture” making a comeback with ill-fitting clothes, Carhartts, torn up Harley tees and camo. For me, fashion hits deep — I don’t like to wear clothes that aren’t in line with my politic or culture and when I started wearing camo, I saw it as art imitating nature. So when I see folks ‘round here, who cannot pronounce Appalachia (apple-ach-uh) to save their lives, it strikes a nerve. I know it ain’t because they are goin’ huntin’, are poor or from the South – it’s because it’s “en vogue” and not much deeper than that.
Are you always “on” or would someone see you at the grocery store, for example, with less elements of your style?
Definitely always on. After leaving my white collar job, I got rid of all of my stand-in business casual garbo. I realized I feel a lot better when I wear the clothes that make me feel myself, not what I am supposed to wear. I’ll totally wear sweats in public, but they’re serving.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those be?
I caaaaaaan’t, but if you had to twist my arm… multi, modal, mensch.
I heard you’re part of the Dykes on Bikes Utah motorcycle club. How much of that crowd has influenced your style?
I’m not sure it has, to be honest. I’ve only been prospecting for just a few months, and really the only thing to recently shift is my new shiny prospecting button on my leather vest.
Who’s Goldie? What do you wear when you’re working on her?
My giiiiirl – I love her so much! 2000 F-350 7.3 diesel [Ford] Lariat with the full cab and big booty 8’ bed. I’ll wear my black, steel-toed work boots with wool socks, ideally my black coveralls but usually these thick gray Levi’s, a gross-ass graphic tee that probably says “Fuck Nazis” or “don’t tell me to smile or I’ll cut you with a knife” with the sleeves RIPPED off, and a headlamp. Probably a wallet chain because my girl likes it when I do.
How has your personal style evolved over time?
When I was in high school, I was hellbent on wearing the weirdest clothes I could find from the discount department stores; the only rules I imposed on myself were [that] I couldn’t wear red, white or blue. My style at the time was heavily influenced by ‘70s punk and pop-punk but again, growing up rurally, I didn’t really have anywhere other than Spencer’s to get my studded belt. After I got more into my politics, I started wearing more earth tones [and] practical clothes, with some punk pieces held over. I worked at a vegan punk restaurant back home and that really impacted my aesthetic for a while. As long as I could hop in a dumpster, bike to the punk show or get to the protest, that’s what mattered most.
When I finally made it to Utah, I leaned a lot more into business casual while still trying to cling to my punk fashion roots. It wasn’t easy, but after I switched over to my outreach position, I was able to get back to dressing how I wanted — save for the confrontational shirts, of course. Now that I work in a motorcycle shop, I have been able to sink back down into the outfits I call home. Our only dress code is “wear what you would if you were riding a motorcycle,” which is easy enough for me. I will say that since living here, I’ve felt a subconscious sense of being lightly policed by the general public’s eye, which feels like a holdover from Mormon culture. I really don’t wear clothes to stand out, more or less just to feel comfortable in my skin, but no matter what I wear, people can’t help but comment, which definitely gets exhausting. That all translates to: when I move outta Utah, I’ll be able to truly stretch those fashion muscles.
If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
- People, usually cis straight men, will walk through hell to tell you your shirt is cut too low or your shorts are too short under the guise of “safety.” Fuck ‘em and take it as information that their sense of fashion sucks.
- Don’t wear outfits for your crushes. Sometimes it’s better to not date than to limit yourself.
- The more confusing, the merrier.
Read more SLUG Style here:
SLUG Style: Cyndi and Celeste Lee
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