Kieran • Comedy Influencer • S1/E4
Words, photos and video by David LamPopular TikTok comedy influencer finds freedom in fashion.
Kieran Cullen, a TikTok influencer known for his comedy skits and unique fashion sense, questions traditional gender norms. Cullen believes that "gendered clothing is kind of an outdated idea." He adds, "If something looks good, just wear it."
Cullen, who grew up in rural Pennsylvania, has experienced resistance to his thoughts on gendered clothing. He recalls a time when he was shopping and was told by a cashier, "You know, this is a women's jacket right?" Despite the comment, Cullen continued to explore his style.
"I used to love dressing with, like, colorful pants, very edgy styles," he says. "And it used to really bug me when people would see how I dress and kind of comment on it." However, after moving to New York City and being exposed to a more accepting and diverse culture, Cullen's outlook on fashion and personal expression has evolved.
"I feel like now, after living in the city for three years, it's really changed my whole outlook on how I dress," he says. "You kind of just have free reign to dress however you want. And it's freedom. I think fashion is freedom."
Cullen's unique style often involves mixing and matching different pieces, regardless of their intended gender or style. "I would describe my style as kind of a weird, edgy mix," he says. "On any given day you can find me wearing all black with gray and black stripes, and the next day you can find me wearing purple pants and a neon green shirt."
One of Cullen's favorite wardrobe staples is jackets. "For my entire life, for as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with wearing leather jackets or just really any overcoat," he says. He also mentioned that as someone who is of average height, he often looks for clothing that adds bulk or height, like Doc Marten boots.
Despite the challenges of staying relevant as a content creator, Cullen says that fashion helps him stand out and connect with his audience. "I find that wearing wigs, wearing completely different outfits and just kind of playing dress up for a video really works in my favor," he says.
Cullen says that the right outfit makes him feel "unapologetically like myself." He adds, "When I wear the right outfit and when it's right for me and it's right on the day, I just feel so in my element and in my zone that I feel like I can do anything and I have all of the opportunities in the world."
More like this
Lead singer shares her experience overcoming insecurity and finding her unique style on stage.
Credits
Featuring
Kieran Cullen (TikTok: @Yimmmy_v2)
Camera, sound, graphics, edit & production
David Lam
Music
“New Dimension” by ShyGhy
“Elevate” by Saint Evaleen
“Here We Go Again” by Night Lights
100% Clearance through Musicbed
Listen on Spotify
Additional footage
Kieran Cullen
ACIDBITE
Additional photos
Unsplash
Shengpengpeng Cai
Jan Krivec
Kitti Incedi
Luke Hodde
E-vitka
Wolfgang Mennel
Sam Jotham Sutharson
Filmed in
Boston, MA, United States, November 2022