Jordan Blok (26, bi, they/them/their, Nigerian/Dutch/Mexican) studies and works in biochemistry and research administration, and is an activist in QTPOC health and bioethics. They are an L.A. transplant and a lover of wine and video games, and they’re obsessed with “the fish guy from Shape of Water (like actually obsessed).” If they were to describe themselves as an object, they say, “I would be an elevator because some people are lowkey terrified of me and some people use me as a quiet place of reflection and some people are irritated as shit by me but are also always pushing my damn buttons, but for everyone I am a supportive force that is dedicated to get you to where you want to go, unless I’m feeling broken.”
Special thanks to Fellow Shop, who hosted this month’s SLUG Style in their beautiful downtown store.
Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct and unique member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUGStyle is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.
Click images for captions
“I think Missy Elliot has been a huge [style influence], even though my personal style doesn’t emulate hers at all, or doesn’t look similar at all,” says Blok. “I definitely just like her fashion bravado.” Photo: @clancycoop
“To me, fashion has always been important, because I think—especially if you’re non-binary—even though fashion isn’t what defines your gender, it’s sort of the way that your gender is coded,” says Blok. “Knowing that from really young, I think, even though it’s not the core identity, it’s definitely a way you’re coded. And I think growing up like that early on, you learn that it’s something that what you wear and how you present yourself to the world is a message, even if you don’t want it to be.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I think my interest in fashion came from owning that message [of identity] and owning that narrative,” says Blok. “And whether that’s dressing more masculine or more feminine or more androgynous, I’m really owning how the clothes I wear present and communicate who I am.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I think I’ve been lucky that all of my embarrassing trends have become cool now,” says Blok. “I went through a really, really long kind of ’90s-ish JNCO Jeans and Streetwear phase that was just a lot of tube tops. There was off-brand Tommy Hilfiger and Fubu, which is cool again, which is great. I thought it was great at the time. It was embarrassing for a long time, but now it’s great again.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I’m a huge video game nerd,” says Blok. “Yeah. Mostly that. Just tons of gay nerd shit. I love all of it. There’s a surprisingly good community of that here. I wouldn’t have thought that. But, yeah, that’s kind of my core, main interests.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I don’t have just, like, I’m-going-to-be-garbage today clothes. And I wish I did,” says Blok. “I need to invest in some. But they’re all just my normal clothes usually. I just got this pair of sweats from this online Instagram shop, or whatever. And they’re red velvet. I feel like I look really cool even though I’m just being trash and eating burritos at home.” Photo: @clancycoop
“That thing when you go to another country and you start getting their accent or you have friends and then you start adopting their mannerisms—I feel like the same is true for personal style too,” says Blok. “And I notice the friend group I’m hanging around will influence my personal style in subtle ways. And, yeah, I think as I get older, I’m a lot more cognizant of the ways that that shows up, and picking and choosing things that I like, and noticing it a lot more.” Photo: @clancycoop
“Sometimes I feel like [fashion] is more mood-based. Like, if I want something to be an event for me, then I will scale up or scale down,” says Blok. Photo: @clancycoop
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!["I think Missy Elliot has been a huge [style influence], even though my personal style doesn't emulate hers at all, or doesn't look similar at all," says Blok. "I definitely just like her fashion bravado." Photo: @clancycoop](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SLUG_Style_Jordan_2.jpg)
!["I think my interest in fashion came from owning that message [of identity] and owning that narrative," says Blok. "And whether that's dressing more masculine or more feminine or more androgynous, really owning how the clothes I wear present and communicate who I am." Photo: @clancycoop](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SLUG_Style_Jordan_5.jpg)
!["Sometimes I feel like [fashion] is more mood-based. Like, if I want something to be an event for me, then I will scale up or scale down," says Blok. Photo: @clancycoop](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SLUG_Style_Jordan_9.jpg)