SLUG Style: Arthur Diaz

Something wicked this way comes…and it’s the whimsigoth entity that is Arthur “Artie” Diaz. Diaz’s style is spiritual, yet it feels biologically organic. Every garment, garnet and galosh is either handpicked or handcrafted, perfect for a night on the town or staggering towards a desert oasis. Shadow walk with SLUG as we give you the out-of-body experience that makes Diaz more aura than human. See more of Diaz’s style through their Instagram at @rt_d1az or their kindred practices at @saltcrypt

 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.

Caroline Polacheck. FKA twigs. Julia Fox. Grimes. They often wear a lot of the same forward-thinking brands as each other and incorporate archival and DIY pieces, but they channel their own unique energy in their styling. Polacheck in particular is always personalizing her wardrobe with items you wouldn’t expect — like two aprons styled to look like a dress in the opening of the music video for “Billions,” or how she wore limited edition Koss Porta Pro headphones like an accessory in the album art for Desire, I Want to Turn Into You and some magazine shoots during that era. I actually think the most spiritual moment of my life was when we both wore the same Paolina Russo top for New Year’s Eve 2024, and I didn’t find out until she posted the photos a couple of days later.

I love sci-fi, fantasy, tech, outdoor recreation, antique markets, manga, indie pop, new age and trance music, so a mix of all those keeps me inspired in my outfits. ‘90s and ‘00s aesthetics reimagined is how I’m dressing a lot these days, but I have a big wardrobe and honestly could pull from most decades.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those be? 

Unserious. Cunty. Bene Gesserit.

What are your interests or hobbies? What is the hobby or interest that you have that no one would realize to ask you about?

I’m obsessed with bugs. I wanted to be an entomologist when I was younger, and I’ve recently been learning butterfly taxidermy with some of the ones I’ve kept in a jar for years. The different colors and textures they all come in mean there’s never a shortage of makeup and fashion inspo when you need it. 

I’m also into witchcraft and all things occult. I’ve adopted a wild darkling beetle I found during Element 11 this year who was missing a leg, and I’ve taken him on as my familiar to do my bidding and assist in my divination readings and spellcasting for the next 4-5 years — because apparently these desert beetles can live that long, which is 2-3 years longer in captivity. My friend Alex named him Jurallecula (after his species’ earliest family member from the Jurassic Era), which to me sounded like Dracula, so we call him the Count. 

I get the ick when a man is afraid of insects. I have a visceral emotional reaction to anybody killing a spider in my presence. Most are harmless, and even the venomous ones are overly vilified. I’ve babysat my friend Justin’s pet black widow a handful of times when he’s been out of town, and I don’t think they deserve the hate they get. Nobody’s died from a bite since 1983. Now mosquitoes, on the other hand…

What is the relationship of the digital self to the physical one? How do these appearances affect how we perceive ourselves?

I might be the wrong person to ask this question to — I’m part of a growing group of people who live almost entirely digitally, since I’ve been working remotely since the pandemic. So many people only consider the negative mental health consequences of technology, but our digital selves also include our banking, health data and other information and systems that we can leverage to optimize how we’re managing our needs. I use symbols and music in outfit posts on Instagram, which I would describe as a nascent category of glamour magick I’m pioneering in the Wild West of digital witchcraft. Our digital selves are susceptible to the perception and interpretation of others, but recognizing that arms us with power.

In my opinion, digital spaces should be a shrine to our most aspirational selves and reflect our authentic interests and values, because they’re a portal to finding other like-minded people and communities. That’s why it’s so sad to me whenever I see a baddie’s Instagram do a 180-degree turn into an altar for her devotion to literally just some guy. I don’t think enough people are looking at social media and other digital platforms as a tool for both manifestation and shadow work, because you’re able to set your intentions, use algorithms to understand what content (and thoughts) that you are inviting in with what you choose to pay attention to, and expand your reach to opportunities you’d never get to access IRL. Earlier this year, Bella Hadid’s brand Orebella shared an image of a glamour ritual I did at Spiral Jetty using the “Salted Muse” fragrance on their feed!

Are you always “on” or would someone see you at the grocery store, for example, with less elements of your style?

I think having to be always “on” implies that there’s some version of the way I dress that isn’t real. Alternative people in Utah can all tell each other apart from the normies at the grocery store, even if we’re not wearing heavy glam or platform boots. To me, basic outfits are really fun because they give all my tattoos the time to shine — I love all the work I have from local artists at Mercy Tattoo and Sweetneedles Tattoo. 

But it’s not always safe for queer or gender-nonconforming people to be “on,” during a time when anti-trans panic is being written into the law. Regardless of how “dressed up” I am, I’m always wearing an amulet to keep Republicans away — and the only time I wasn’t wearing it this May, Latter-Day Saint missionaries asked me and my friends if we wanted to learn about Christ’s restored gospel during a stroll on Provo’s center street.

What do you aim for in curating an outfit? What are some of your favorite outfits so far? What are you working on now?

I’m always trying to project the creative universe that I’m building with my art. When I’m really taking the time to curate an outfit, I focus more on layering meaning and personal significance rather than feeding the micro-trend cycle with new style ideas to cannibalize. I’m interested in the relationship between the past and a not-so-far-off cyber future, what queerness and resistance would look like in those eras, so I usually mix elements of tribal or ritual wear alongside futuristic or modern-day garments while still looking cohesive. I speak five languages, and I like the idea that I’m somehow promoting a more global mindset by making people question not just my gender, but also what planet and timeline I come from.

My favorite outfit this year is probably a one-piece swimsuit from KNWLS spring/summer 2023 collection that I paired with some micro mini shorts, classic Hunter rain boots and both a leather tactical belt and silk scarf I bought in the medieval city of Fez, Morocco. The boots always make me feel so Kate Moss at Glastonbury, and Caroline Polachek wore a dress from the same runway show at Kilby Block Party in 2023. I was wearing the scarf like a veil and covered in some cherry-stain tribal tattoos when a sandstorm hit, and I had to close my eyes and hold my friend’s hand to guide me back to the car. It was a scene straight out of Dune.

I’ve been making some one-of-a-kind pieces meant to be worn as spiritual protection from the apocalypse, which has been influenced by a lot of the cyberpunk and dystopian films I love, the Mexican curanderismo in my family lineage, and Utah’s geology. I think right now I’m obsessed with the idea of jewelry or accessories that can confound AI by disrupting video surveillance or digital tracking, especially because of how predictive data analytics are being quietly used by the U.S. military and law enforcement, as well as the deregulation of AI by the federal government. 

Although there are no tech capabilities (yet), I’ve been making brutalist and industrial jewelry for my brand, Saltcrypt, that I wear to feel protected. The style vibes are basically like scavenged and sacred relics brought forth from a cyber-witch in an alternate timeline to save the world from the techno-fascists before it’s too late.

How has your personal style evolved over time?

Something I think a lot of people can relate to in Utah is that the biggest catalyst for my style journey was when I stopped wearing magic Mormon underwear 10 years ago. My style is now a symbol of my confidence and spiritual sovereignty, and not my obedience. 

I feel like I’m actually slowing down lately and going through a really fun phase of revisiting past eras and pulling the best of the different style codes I’ve built up over the years. I’ve had the same stuffed otter backpack for 16 years, and I still sometimes reach for my other stuffed bags too, like an adorably deviant neon pink teddy bear in leather bondage gear wearing a ball gag. There have always been Japanese influences in my style, but that’s become less decora and kawaii as I’ve gotten older and more inspired by ’90s minimalism. 

If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

God doesn’t care if you’re a homo! Keep more of your old clothes! Don’t date or be friends with anybody who would be embarrassed by how you dress! Only surround yourself with other confident people who make you feel more connected to your creativity and magick, and who have deconstructed their ideas about gender, because that’s when you’ll start speed-running your fashion (and life) journey. 

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