Odessa A'Zion Says "Ordinary People Suck"
We caught up with the actor on everything from vintage finds to music and her latest fashion campaign.
There aren’t many people in Hollywood who genuinely feel like they’re doing things their own way, but Odessa A’Zion comes close. The actor, musician and self-styled fashion star has built a reputation for following her instincts, whether that’s sourcing her own red carpet looks, releasing deeply personal songs or carving out a career that’s anything but predictable.
A’Zion shot to fame following her breakout role in Marty Supreme just mere months ago, and has since stepped foot on all the major red carpets from the Met Gala to the Cannes Film Festival, been at the center of wig rumors (just like every celeb with great hair) and is now carving out a name for herself in fashion, too.
Spend five minutes talking to A’Zion, and it’s clear she has little interest in sounding overly polished. She’s quick-witted, self-aware and refreshingly blunt, admitting she simply has no time for “boring-ass” people. It’s the kind of authenticity that can’t be media-trained, and perhaps that’s exactly why audiences have gravitated towards her.
Now, alongside the second season of I Love LA and the upcoming psychological thriller Fonda, A’Zion is stepping further into her fashion era as the face of Crocs‘ latest campaign. Celebrating the brand’s “Wonderfully Unordinary” ethos, the campaign introduces the reimagined Classic Crafted Clog, a vegan suede take on the signature silhouette and, naturally, styled by A’Zion herself.
We caught up with the multi-hyphenate to talk fashion, vintage grails, making music and why being “wonderfully unordinary” beats fitting in every time. Read on for the full interview.
You’re known for your unique sense of style, even styling all your own red carpet looks. How would you describe your aesthetic?
I don’t know why, but that’s the hardest question for me to answer. I feel like if I answer it, then I’m kind of putting myself in a box and labeling it. But I’d say I’m inspired by rock stars, old music videos, movies, whether that be the Led Zeppelin movie or Back to the Future, or Hair, or Harold and Maude. Then also the people around me, like my roommates. I’ll walk out, and they’re wearing the most unique, incredible pieces, and I’d never think to style something like that. So, I don’t know how I would describe my aesthetic because I always feel like it changes. Sometimes I just want to be comfortable, and other times I’m more open to being out of my comfort zone and wearing a smaller shirt with shorter pants and maybe a heel, you know? I think ever-changing; that’s the aesthetic. There we go, we found it, we found the name for it!
I loved your look at the Cannes Film Festival this year. How do you approach planning a red carpet look?
That look specifically was Jonathan Anderson’s Dior, who I think is a genius. We’ve known each other for a while now. I love Jonathan. I’m lucky enough for him to let me come in and borrow some pieces because he knows that I’m working alone when it comes to carpets. He let me come in and try some things on, and there was an amazing seamstress who helped me pin some pieces up at the back of the pants and everything. I think the more carpet looks I’ve done, people have learned that I don’t have a stylist, and because of that, they’ve been welcoming me to come and borrow stuff. I’ve also found rental houses where I go and rent pieces. It’s been really cool to learn the ins and outs of styling.
You mentioned being experimental with your style. Have you always been like this, or has your relationship with fashion evolved?
It’s probably embarrassing to say that I’ve been experimental because if anyone looks up what I’m wearing in my day-to-day life, they’re thinking, “That b-tch is not experimental!” But I think in high school I was more experimental, for sure, because high school felt like a fashion show every day. It’s kind of a competition of who has the coolest outfit, but not in a bad way, in an exciting way. Since then, I’ve sheltered myself and become more focused on being cozy than stylish. In the last year, I’ve gone back and forth between wanting to be comfortable and wanting to wear something that is well put together. My little sister is great at it. She’s got incredible style, I think.
That’s cute, shout out to your sister.
Yeah, to both of them!
You’re fronting Crocs’ new campaign, which celebrates being “Wonderfully Unordinary.” What does this phrase mean to you?
I think it’s an awesome phrase, honestly. I think it can apply to more than Crocs and shoes. It could apply to who you are as a person, what you decide to do with your life and how you decide to express yourself, you know? I think the more unordinary you are, the better. I don’t want no boring-ass nothing. I’m trying to be excited and stimulated and interested, and I think if you’re a wonderfully unordinary person, then that’s what you’re doing. Unordinary people are inspiring, way more inspiring than ordinary people. Ordinary people suck.
Why did this campaign feel like the right fit for you now?
I think because of everything that we’ve talked about, really. I like that Crocs cares about all that stuff, and at the same time, still cares about comfort, which is really important. They’re also all about self-expression and childhood. I just love Crocs.
You wear a lot of thrifted pieces. What’s the best vintage find you’ve ever scored?
Oh, that’s a good question. Well, now I’ve learned a thing or two about online vintage shopping, so I feel like you can kind of find almost anything. But pre-knowing about online vintage shopping and just going to the stores, I’d say the craziest thing I’ve ever found, hmm… I used to find insane cameras at Goodwills in my neighborhood, and I don’t think people knew what the cameras were, so I’d get them for like five dollars. I got a Canon AE-1 in high school for ten bucks, which was awesome. At a flea market one time, I found this vintage deadstock guitar strap that I still use around my camera. I don’t know if it’s the craziest find, but it’s maybe the only thing I’ve ever bought that I use every single day and will continue to use every single day.
You’ve also been exploring music as another creative outlet. How does music allow you to express yourself in ways that acting and fashion can’t?
Oh my god, music is a whole different thing for me. My music feels like my journal and my genuine outlet; it’s so personal. There’s so much that I release while writing it, just allowing whatever to come out. For me, I feel like music is more of a personal self-expression than acting and style because I’m doing it alone and just letting my brain say whatever it wants to say, without anyone else around me. You know what I mean? It’s just journaling, basically. No one else is there to judge you or tell you what to say.
So finally, what’s next for you?
I just wrapped shooting Fonda in France, and I’m about to start season 2 of I Love LA. I’m super excited to get back in with the cast, and the scripts are hilarious. Of course, I would love for more music to come this year. I didn’t have time after I released those first two songs to do anything with them or any kind of promotion, but it was just important for me to let them go into the world. But hopefully, this year I can work on and share more with people, even if it’s scary!
