From The Excess Issue
Courtesy of MARIO SORRENTI
Username: Velvet Coke. Number of followers: 2 millions. Identity? Unknown. We talked about 80's fabulousness, fashion and fame with the creator of one of the most exhilarating accounts on Instagram, whose passion for pop culture is only equal to her obsession with the Mob Wife aesthetic, Michelle Pfeiffer and Prada bags. Welcome to the excessively fabulous world of Velvet Coke.
Who is Velvet Coke?
V.C. I’m a living Bratz doll in my early 20s whose job is to be fabulous. It’s a demanding job, but I give it my best.
What about the name: Velvet Coke?
V.C. I decided to embark on this journey right before starting high school. My username was created as an ode to the fabulousness of the 80s. Both velvet and coke were quintessential elements of that decade. It also simply represents all things expensive and glamorous, edgy and chaotic, which is basically what I am.
Pop culture is a fascinating journey. When does it begin for you?
V.C. It started with watching The Nanny and seeing her red, heart-shaped Moschino purse and little black dress. From that moment, I knew I was a fashion and pop culture girl. However, the major turning point was when I was little and saw Lady Gaga perform ’Paparazzi’ at the 2009 VMAs, the moment she started bleeding. I knew I was witnessing a legendary performance and wanted to be involved in the beautiful chaos that is Hollywood.
Who would you put in your pantheon of celebrities?
V.C. Lady Gaga, Tom Ford, Rihanna, Rick Rubin, Kim Kardashian, Snoop Dog,
Dolly Parton and Donatella Versace.
How do you nourish your creativity?
V.C. I can get inspired by anything in real life and use it as a reference in my work or posts. I like to surround myself with beautiful things and enjoy every moment. It makes life better.
Can you recall an iconic music video or pop culture moment that epitomizes excess?
V.C. There are so many, I miss when music videos were the biggest thing. Lady Gaga’s videos were a work of art, especially ’Alejandro’ directed by Steven Klein. Beyonce’s art, from ’Partition’ to ’APESHIT’. Kanye. Early 2000s era and Paris Hilton’s 21st birthday party. The list goes on.
Which musical genre best embodies excess?
V.C. I’d say hip-hop and rap. Kanye is one of my favorite examples of excess.
What do you think is the golden age of pop culture?
V.C. I feel like the Y2K era (1998-2002) was the era that birthed many iconic moments. The space age aesthetics, tabloid scandals and the anticipation for a new era are some of my favorite things about it. Some of the best music and movies were created right then.
Velvet Coke’s visual imagery is strong and sharp. How do you choose
the content you publish?
V.C. It’s honestly the vibe captured in the photo. Sometimes it could be a good outfit or a specific detail, but the most important thing for me is to collect imagery that shows a desired vibe. Badass, spontaneous, weird, bizarre, sad, anything else. If you know, you know!
You’re followed by major artists and creatives from all over the world. How pop culture inspires creativity and innovation?
V.C. Pop culture is present everywhere. As Rick Rubin said in his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being: everything is seen, done and thought already. Having access to an archive of references is priceless. That way we can constantly take parts of pop culture and reinvent it to create new forms of art and entertainment.
Velvet Coke is all about nostalgia, like an incessant ’madeleine de Proust’ as we say
in french. Do you consider yourself a nostalgic person?
V.C. I do consider myself nostalgic and I would often find myself longing for a past I’ve never even experienced. It’s an interesting feeling, especially because it’s so intangible, far away and unknown to us. Velvet Coke happens to be my little madeleine.
Your account captivates millions of fans who religiously follow every post. How do you explain the success of Velvet Coke?
V.C. As cliché as it sounds, authenticity is key. I chose to present myself in an unconventional way, through my style, music and interests without necessarily showing my face (although, that is still an option!). I stayed true to myself without jumping on a bandwagon or backing down. People recognized my intentions, and the rest is history.
Is community important to you?
V.C. Extremely important. My account and audience make me feel like I’m home.
I like to imagine we’re all having a giant girl’s slumber party whenever I’m posting.
What do you think of the cult of celebrity?
V.C. Is it fun? Yes. Is it healthy? Not really. What I do know for sure though, is that it will never go away. Personally, I like it that way.
Is Velvet Coke all about excess?
V.C. For sure. Velvet Coke is an excess of everything you can think of. Glamour, tragedy, fun, scandal, love and hate.
3 words to describe Velvet Coke?
V.C. Bratz, smoking, cigarettes.
Who can break the internet today?
V.C. Me.
