Rome into The Matrix

We got a chance to sit with a friend of ours named Rome, who is a movie aficionado of sorts. As you know here at The Velvyt we are all about showcasing and inspiring all the different places that one could pull from when creating their own personal style. And movies are definitely a big influence in a lot of different ways. Movies can create fashion influence just from how it’s being used in the storytelling.

So with that, we asked Rome to tell us about a movie that he pulled some of his own style influences from. That movie being The Matrix. So take a seat, grab some popcorn, grab your shades and jump into The Matrix with us (no pills required).

Fitting into a new culture

Rome! Thank you for joining us today. As you know, The Velvyt is a fashion blog dedicated to all the places where you can pull fashion inspiration and use that inspiration to curate your own personal style. One such place of inspiration is media, and movies are a significant part of that. You were asked to choose a movie that you feel had a strong fashion influence on you and in general. You chose The Matrix! So please, let’s begin with what it is about The Matrix that was so influential to you?

Rome: The Matrix is one of those movies that I would watch over and over again. For me, it was the concept of Neo, the main character. He goes from being very disheveled and nerdy, kind of an outcast, to evolving and becoming more of himself. That resonated with me because, as an immigrant from another country, I felt like an outcast in my hometown in Connecticut. I related to that whole idea that I don’t fit into modern society. My Jamaican culture was very different from American culture. Watching Neo try to conform and find his own personal style in The Matrix, as the movie progressed, really spoke to me. And it was a dope story.

That’s incredible that you’ve interwoven The Matrix and Jamaican culture! To be able to find influence and inspiration, to help you navigate a new place.

Rome: Yeah, that’s something I realized I do. I pull a lot of my personal style from movies and TV shows. It’s a reflection of how I see the world around me. A lot of people pull what they wear from movies, like with Back to the Future. It was a way for me to better understand American culture, being from another country. It helped me better understand where I was.

Since we are pulling your sense of fashion, and how you like to dress from movies as our topic. Which you know isn’t unheard of with examples like Marty McFly and that windbreaker jacket from Back to the Future that everyone wanted to wear. You said you pulled a lot of your style from The Matrix, what fashion keys stood out the most to you in The Matrix? 

Rome: The punk rock look. Growing up, I listened to a lot of rock music and fell in love with the punk rock metal scene. I was trying to nderstand what other kids liked and were dong. Watching The Matrix, especially the moments on the ship in the real world, not n the simulation, the way they dressed in baggy sweaters and tight jeans, skinny jeans, really influenced me. I tried my best with skinny jeans, even though they didn’t always fit the way I wanted. I definitely was a fan of the emo aesthetic, the all-black look. It all fit with me trying to blend different aesthetics into my own personal style. So a lot of times it ended really just being a lot of black for me. Sometimes throwing on a baggy sweater, some jeans or even trying out the more corporate look of them n the simulation with like polos and button downs. I primarily gravitated to the all black look though.

The way to stand out from the crowd

You mentioned the all-black aspect, the look that The Matrix is known for, with its long monochromatic outfits and edgy vibe. In what ways do you think these fashion aspects of The Matrix had an impact on popular culture and fashion at that time?

Rome: Wearing an all-black outfit makes you feel confident and dominant. The whole concept of The Matrix was a rebellious statement against a conforming society. The simple all-black look with the glasses had a big influence on people who wanted to be rebellious. It was a big fluency on people who were trying to be rebellious. For me it was my escape from trying to conform to the regular, popular style. I wanted to be different, a bit edgy, which has always been my main idea when putting an outfit together. I’m gong to put on the big shirts, the jeans, to stand out from modern society in a sense. Going against the norm.

Would you say the all-black look made you more confident when putting outfits together?

Rome: Absolutely. Black is slimming, and as a bigger kid, the all-black look slimmed me out and gave me better shape. Where you aren’t focusing on specific attributes but the outfit as a whole. Definitely was a way to help me build up my confidence.

We’ve covered both Goth and Minimalist aesthetics here at The Velvyt. Would you say the fashion choices made in The Matrix influenced the resurgence in popularity of these aesthetics?

Rome: The Matrix created this whole idea called the opium aesthetic. It included leather accessories, big and baggy clothing, the big chunky boots. The Matrix definitely influenced those styles. You have the leather, the all-black, the big boots. It’s like a new age version of The Matrix trying to conform but also stand out with unique blends of black, leather, and big baggy clothes. It’s like an Avant Garde wave of dressing. Kind of the vampire chic way of dressing. To be more unique.

So in your research, you’ve found out about the opium aesthetic. The baggy jeans, the chunky boots, roughly that seemed to be a popular look in the early 2000s. Would you say The Matrix started that trend or pulled from an existing trend?

Rome: We came to America around that time, ‘97 or ‘98. The all-black look was already popular. The movie pulled from the concept of the outcast, away from the norm of society. It made the emo, goth, and grunge styles more popular. The all black aesthetic was the signature of the out cast. I thought of it as a way I could stand out more, be more cool. Leather became a big thing. I remember having a leather jacket, which I still have.

A fashionable simulation

With The Matrix being so influential at the time, do you feel that designers still pull inspiration from it for edgier aesthetics?

Rome: Yes, definitely. I really liked the Galliano collection for Dior at that time. It was simple, minimalistic, with more loops and distressed stitching. The glasses were a staple of the aesthetic, and they’ve stuck around. Glasses mirror the world around you and keep the world from perceiving you. It’s like hiding your views. High fashion isn’t really my thing, but I appreciate how they incorporated leather and big baggy clothes. Leather is hot, so incorporating it in a breathable way is great.

You mentioned the glasses and the concept of not being perceived as pivotal in the movie. Do you think the fashion choices in The Matrix enhanced the movie’s storytelling?

Rome: Definitely. It’s about evolution. Neo goes from loose-fitting, disheveled clothes to tight jeans and baggy sweaters as he tries to figure out who he wants to be. As he becomes more confident, he transitions to all-black and leather. The trench coat is like a superhero’s cape, symbolizing his power and freedom from the system.

Do you feel the stark contrast between the literal matrix and the real world in the movie, aesthetically, drives the movie? Is it important?

Rome: Yes, it does. In the matrix, you have to conform, but out of the matrix, you can be more yourself. The contrast of him in all-black versus baggy sweaters and tight jeans shows his journey from being restrained to rebellious. If he wore the same outfit throughout the movie, it wouldn’t have worked.

Would you say the style choices did a great job of driving home themes of nonconformity, self-expression, and self-discovery, which seem to be important themes of the movie?

Rome: For sure. The NPCs in the movie blend together, while the main characters stand out in all-black leather with glasses. It shows they’re going against the system. Kim Barrett did a great job.

Popping off the culture with The Matrix

The long leather trench coat became popular after The Matrix. Do you think it was a pivotal moment in pop culture?

Rome: Yes, I saw the aesthetic pop up in a lot of ways, especially in music videos. Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, and others incorporated black leather into their videos. It showed they weren’t trying to conform and wanted to be different. The Matrix is one of those movies that, when you pull from it, you immediately know where it’s from.

I see The Matrix influences in Missy Elliot’s music videos now! I hadn’t thought about that.

Rome: Yeah, Missy Elliot’s all-black fit and glasses gave the power to be unique. Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Scream music video – big influences for sure.

With the popularity of leather influences in music videos, do you think the demand for cheap leather alternatives played a role in fast fashion?

Rome: Definitely. Everyone wanted that look but in a cheaper option. Fashion Nova has a lot of leather-esque garments and jackets. Fast fashion gives people the means to get that look at a lower price point. We want to be fashionable but affordable.

Two decades later, do you still see influences from The Matrix in fashion?

Rome: Yes. Lady Gaga’s Chromatica era had a lot of Matrix elements. The opium look, the vampire look, and Playboi Carti’s style are great evolutions of what The Matrix started. The rise in vampire popularity, colorful aspects, and rainbow coding also show its influence.

We talked about The Matrix’s influence on music videos. What about movies? Could Men in Black have been influenced?

Rome: I never thought about that! I think Men in Black came out first, but both have the glasses and conformity themes. One was trying to keep the status quo, and one was trying to break it.

This has been incredibly lovely, Rome! To wrap up, does The Matrix still play a role in your personal style development?

Rome: I’ve dressed in all black my entire life, but now I’m thinking of trying something new and switching it up. I want to incorporate more accessories, colors, and earth tones like browns and sage greens. Maybe even more leather. Pushing boundaries is what The Matrix is about.

Do you have any closing statements for us?

Rome: Live your best life how you want to live it. Choose it for yourself and don’t let anybody choose it for you. Be your most authentic self at the end of the day.

Back to reality

There you have it. One movie, about rebelling against the societal norm, has been so incredibly influential in the realm of fashion. And the movie itself isn’t even about fashion. Crazy isn’t it? Well not really. This has just been one example of the ways movies can influence the way we express ourselves in our appearance.

A huge thanks to Rome for taking the time to speak with us, and share all the knowledge he uncovered about this iconic movie. Please give Rome a follow on his social media, where he often reviews movies and gives his own perspectives and takeaways.

Please follow Rome on his socials for more of his awesome movie opinions: Twitter and instagram

Talk again soon!