standing ovation diaries: hanging with christine
I first met Christine when we were both vending at Peabody Heights in 2021. She had her dog, Henry, in tow and was smiling while unpacking her stuff. The first thing she said to me was, “I love your Megadeath shirt!” Followed shortly after by the second thing. “Wanna be friends?” Immediately yes. She came by my booth later and we ended up trading: she took a 90s muscle tee with a dog (I believe, a bulldog?) on it, and I got a little cap sleeve Harley Davidson shirt. And that folks, is a friendship founded on the love of vintage.
When I initially had the idea to photograph and interview my friends wearing Standing Ovation, Christine was the first person I thought of. I knew she would be game and I had a vision. Sharon Tate on a skateboard. But I have to credit Christine for bringing her own creativity to this collaboration. It was her idea to skate down the hill by my studio with a stack of books. I love women and our effortless abilities to bring an idea to life. While we were shooting, a woman drove by and honked and screamed “Hell yeah!” at us. Hell yeah is right.
To say I’m obsessed with these images we created together would be an understatement.
What song do you have on repeat lately?
no sleep no dream by Gia Margaret. It’s off a very ambient piano album called Mia Gargaret that I highly recommend.
What are you currently reading?
The ever so classic “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could meet myself as a younger, less confident person I would tell her not to change for anyone. Women are so often expected to fit a mold, to bend to the will of whatever the environment wants them to be.
I can’t even count the number of times I’ve changed an outfit to meet my projected expectations of the people around me, or how many times I chose to skip a song when I had the speaker because I was scared no one would like it. As a girl, I was always looking over my shoulder making sure I was accepted for things, even if I didn’t accept those things myself.
Wear whatever you feel good in, listen to what you like to hear. Don’t laugh at things you don’t find funny, and don’t smile when you’re not happy. Be as you are, right where you are, and I promise people will gravitate naturally to that authenticity.
AND. Don’t ever change out of a cool outfit because it’s not conventionally attractive or a widely accepted fashion choice.
Ok, go off, queen!
Favorite haunt?
Idle Hour. It’s a South Baltimore dive with funky music and a hot bartender [iykyk]. My favorite drink there is a Chartreuse Mule.
Favorite album?
Souvlaki by Slowdive, a 1993 brooding shoegaze record that makes you wanna drink red wine and take a bath.
Favorite vintage clothing trend?
Flare Jeans forever.
(Amen.)
Christine has a style all her own. If I had to diagnose it, I would say that it’s one part y2k boho, one part Long Beach skater, with a dash of grunge. Check out a few highlights below and be sure to shop all of her Standing Ovation favorites here. I recommend styling any of these pieces with vans and square sunglasses.
Shop Christine’s Standing Ovation Edit:
