Avani Gregg never let others determine her fashion sense — even when she was 11 years old walking through her middle school hallways in high heels and fur coats. The TikToker's love of fashion has kept her often exploring new ways to self-identify, and that was even more daunting growing up in Indiana.
In the Midwest, Gregg's carefree style wasn’t always well-received by her classmates, but she didn’t care. She wanted to wear what made her feel good — and it worked out. The 20-year-old TikTok star has made a name for herself in the fashion space, building her entire career online career surrounding her style. Now, Gregg is taking things forward and stepping out from behind the screen, working with many clothing brands, like Aerie, and even attending the prestigious Met Gala (a.k.a. fashion lovers’ biggest night.)
As the holiday season swiftly approaches, we’re all thinking about what we’re giving and (hopefully) receiving this year — and Gregg is no exception. Below, we caught up with Gregg to talk about fashion trends she's shopping, her love of gift giving, and finding yourself sartorially in a small town.
Teen Vogue: When did you first get into fashion?
Avani Gregg: I started caring about what I was wearing in the sixth grade. I started my thing where I wore a different outfit every single day because I was a thrifter, and I loved thrifting. I did not repeat an outfit. I still haven't, and I don't know how many years it's been. But I think my current fashion has changed from when I first started. Now, I pay attention to the art of fashion, and that happened when I was 17. Now, I'm very much into what brands are doing best and how they are doing with their artwork, their designs, and their style design origins.
TV: You grew up in the Midwest. How did the styles predominant there affect how you were forced to dress?
AG: I grew up in Indiana. Fashion there was not what I wanted. It was not what I was trying to give. In middle school, I decided to stop caring about what others think. I said, “You know what? I'm gonna just wear what I want to wear.” I went to school wearing fur coats and heels. I was definitely on something, but I just didn't really care to pay attention to everyone else.
I've been on social media since I was 11. I've had videos blow up before, and classmates bully me, but I would still show up in my fur coat and in my baggy jeans and heels and be like, “Well, this is me.” But here, it's completely different. I live in L.A. now, and you can wear whatever you want. People don't care here. If I wore the things that I wear now in Indiana, they would care, and they would say something, but like, I don't care.
TV: What are some of your Aerie faves?
AG: I love the neon undergarments collection. I remember walking into Aerie, and I saw neon, and it literally put me back in my neon stage. I love neon. I'm obsessed with it. Also, a lot of the sweaters are so comfy, and then also the workout gear. Aerie has the most comfortable workout pants, like the high cross leggings that they have. I literally have like three of them in my bag now, and I'm only here [in New York] for two days.
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TV: The holiday season is coming around. Do you like to give or receive gifts?
AG: I am definitely a gift giver. 100 percent. I do love getting gifts. I just don't have the best reactions because I'm a bland reactor — or I am a late-reaction person. Gift-giving, though, is so fun. It makes my day. I love listening to people for years and then finally finding the perfect gift for them. It's my favorite thing to do. I think it's my only hobby.
TV: What’s one thing from Aerie you see yourself gifting from its latest collection?
AG: Last week, I gave my friend this exact sweater that I'm wearing right now because she loves it when they have the thumbholes and the slits on the side. [She told me] and I was like, “Are you kidding me? I literally just received one of these sweaters. I have to go buy it for you.” So I went and got her this exact one.
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TV: What fashion trends are you loving right now?
AG: Because I'm in L.A. and it's hot during the day and then cold at night, I love a big oversized sweater like denim ones, fuzzy socks, and then the tall UGG platform boots or just fuzzy slippers. That’s what I'm wearing right now.
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TV: What have you been eyeing this holiday season?
AG: Huge, oversized crewneck — no hood; I don’t like those anymore; they’re out. Get a hat instead. Jorts and then those boots with the bows on the back and then a neon Rolex. These are things I would love to receive, but I’m so bad at reactions that I end up just buying them myself.
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TV: What would be your style advice for other young people who are hoping to explore it more but don’t feel confident in pursuing it?
AG: I think genuinely because I started off the same way: wear what you think is comfortable but also wear things that feel in trend to you. Obviously, there might be people that could bully you, there's always going to be haters, but that's throughout your entire life, no matter what. So I think you should start out by gradually bringing in what you actually want to wear instead of what the trend currently is. Bring in your real style slowly, and then all of a sudden, you're wearing exactly what you wanted to wear and exactly what you thought was the best option for you.
