Style philosophy: Mike del Campo
On identity, vintage, and style as visual language
A big reason we started Picnic is to feature inspiring people in our town. Our first community interview is with a local style icon in his own right: Mike del Campo.
Mike was born and raised in downtown Santa Barbara and has lived here all his life. He’s the real deal — photographer, vintage collector, supportive friend, and Brand Designer at SeaVees. He’s that guy around town with the fire ‘fits. Here, we get deep with Mike and chat about his style philosophy, Santa Barbara, vintage, and identity.
‘My easiest touchpoint is what I grew up around.’
I try not to overcomplicate [getting dressed]. I try to only purchase things that I really love so that no matter what, I'm always wearing something that I love. At this point, most things have a story to them, so it doesn't feel like cosplay to me. If someone asks me about something, I can speak to it.
Like these pants, [local artist] Toshy Clements painted them for me. I was inspired by a tradition in the ‘50s and ‘60s called ‘Senior cords.’ I think Purdue University was the first university to do it. They would take corduroy pants or long corduroy skirts and they’d draw things on them, almost like how you doodle in a yearbook. I was so fascinated with the personalization of it all, and the story that comes with it. I love things like that.
Oftentimes my reference point is my grandparents and my relatives, so I was attracted to this old, moc-style chukka boot because it reminded me of what my grandparents would wear — something casual and comfortable. So, when I put together this outfit, I was thinking of that time frame — the ‘50s or ‘60s — and nothing too precious, that's why there’s rips and tatters [in the trousers]. But also, I was channeling how I would maybe dress in that time period. That's where my head is at with a lot of my outfits.
My easiest touchpoint is what I grew up around. I didn't realize until I got older why I was obsessed with ironing my clothes for school in 5th or 6th grade, but it’s because I'd see my grandma ironing and steaming my grandpa’s clothes every morning.
It's very easy for me to say, ‘I don't overthink [styling myself].’ But I think it comes with being way more secure with myself than I was 5, 10, 15 years ago. It’s being more secure with my identity, but it's also like practicing. With anything you practice, eventually you're gonna be so good at it that you don't have to think so hard about it. When someone asks me about my outfit, I can directly speak to it because it’s me, and I do it in my own way.
On identity
When you're young, you’re influenced by what your friends are doing. I’ve always loved art and culture. By the time I hit junior high, I was into skating and that whole culture. I loved videotaping my friends skating. I loved the documentation aspect of it. I used to keep all the skate catalogs from the mail, and I used to collect, and still collect, old skate stickers.
Thrifting, too. Growing up, there were three humongous thrift stores my grandma would take me to on State Street, and I've always been a big collector. I realized all these things are second nature to me because I've been doing them my whole life.
I’ve always been interested in the fashion stuff, but it’s not until now that I feel more comfortable with my identity. I was always searching for who I was. ‘Am I American? Am I Mexican? Am I Mexican-American? What does that even mean for me?’ I didn't figure it out until maybe five or six years ago. I became more comfortable not fitting into either box, not having to pinpoint it. Being in this limbo is now more familiar to me than being attached to or trying to force a particular identity.
Now, I’m searching for my past. I’m more interested in why my family migrated here — and from where — versus who I am. My great grandparents came to the states to help build the railroad system. Some family started in Texas and migrated as the railroads came to the West. My grandparents and my family would go back and forth from Mexico to California, and my grandparents finally planted themselves in Southern California. My grandma worked as a seamstress, my grandpa was a lemon picker, my other grandpa worked in the service industry. That's why I feel attached to denim or workwear, because they're trades garments that my family actually used every day, so there's that familiar touchpoint.
Finding inspiration in retail
I buy most things at flea markets, estate sales, or yard sales. I do a lot of browsing on eBay, too, but every weekend I also go and hit the local stores. I’ll go browse at Favorites, Loveworn, SeaVees, and Jake and Jones and see what's available. If I absolutely love something I'll pick it up, but I just like to be in the stores to see what people are wearing and how they're wearing it. I don’t feel the need to purchase something to still get that sense of shopping in a store, it’s more just a way to get inspired by what's around me.
Vintage (and DIY) philosophy
Collecting is second nature to me, but I’ve slowed down a lot. As of recently, I've tried to only purchase things that I know I will absolutely put into rotation, or if it’s something special I've never seen before. Before, I just couldn’t leave things. By now, I know if I never stop looking for things, I will always find things. A friend years ago told me, ‘Hey, I know you really hold things precious, but if I told you you were gonna find more of it, would you change your perspective on whether you should keep it or not?’ And I realized I probably would. Like, if I knew I was gonna find more letterman jackets then I wouldn’t have to pick up every single one I see. There’s an abundance of most everything. Now I just photograph most things.
I've been finding a lot of things from the ‘40s to the ‘60s. I found a really cool patch from UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), and it’s this beautiful, handmade, multi-layered piece. It’s not just a basic patch. All the different components — the crest, the nopales, the eagle — were all printed on different colored fabric, and all silk screened individually and sewn together. Now I'm trying to find a jacket from that same time period for it, instead of just putting different patches from different eras on it. I’m thinking, ‘If I were a student [at UNAM] and could only afford the patch, but not the jacket, how would I go about it?’ Maybe I'd go for a jacket from the segunda. That’s how I try to come up with my own stories. If it was me back then, what would I do?
On Santa Barbara and local style
I can’t say I have a particular take on [Santa Barbara style]. Most people are influenced by how close they are to the beach, what the weather is like here, and what's comfortable for their day to day. I think in that regard, most people wear shorts and flip flops, things that make total sense when you're out and about in a beach town.
I think the whole argument [that Santa Barbara lacks style and culture] is funny. Anybody who says things like that in terms of style, music, or art are people who aren’t really tapped in, and maybe they don’t care to be. Like the people who say, ‘There’s no art scene here.’ I'm like, ‘That’s weird, because I go to an art show every month.’ Literally all my friends are talented artists and really cool people who like to create, love to collaborate, and love to show and share their art.
A lot of transplants and people who move here compare us to other cities and don’t understand that Santa Barbara is small, and that's what makes it awesome. You can bike or walk everywhere — or drive everywhere — and the community is tight knit if you come to it wanting to give, instead of trying to change it to fit your needs. The gentrification is a problem, and a big reason why is because a lot of people try to change the neighborhoods to serve themselves, and don’t go into those situations wanting to be a part of the existing community. I guarantee you there are families who want to stay [in town], if they can stay, who wouldn’t be disappointed if a family that’s different from them came to the neighborhood and was a good neighbor and cared about them and looked after each other. It’s always an issue when people come here and only care about themselves and how the neighborhood serves them, but not the other way around.
‘I enjoy styling more than I love fashion.’
I don't think ‘good style’ matters as much to me anymore. Now I'm just like, ‘Are you nice? Are you a good person?’
Style is a mode of self expression. If you're intentional enough to try and style something, then you're trying to tell me something, and if I ignored that, it'd be rude. So I try to respect people for that and try to read what they're trying to tell me. If I gravitate toward someone's style, I am inclined to try and connect and have a conversation with them.
I enjoy styling more than I love fashion. Now I'm trying to soak up how people approach style in general. Like, how does a florist approach their style? Maybe they don't realize how good they are with color, but it's second nature to them because they understand how colors complement each other. And maybe they're not necessarily trying to be stylish, or what they wear is more utilitarian for what their needs are for work…There's something to that, to how they approach that.
Personal style as a visual language
People obviously have bigger problems than worrying about their outfits every day. But I do try to be conscious about my visual language, what I'm translating to people with what I wear. Most things have some sort of character to them, whether it's a beat-to-hell jacket or patchwork everywhere or paint splatter or whatever. Everyone has a different story. If you don't know me and you look at my outfit, my hope is that you’ll be intrigued enough to ask about it. Why not?
My mom is really good at having the craziest, deepest conversations with someone she just met on the street. I never understood how she got into those situations, but I learned it’s about listening and being present and not judging someone. And that makes someone feel comfortable enough to open up. People love to ask me about my car. They say, ‘That was my family’s first car,’ and it brings back some sort of memory. That’s the reason I really like older stuff. Most things were designed with intention and more care, and I like that it sparks conversation and interest.
Isn’t that what a garment should do, though? Maybe you’re just interested in where someone got it, or maybe it's just a beautiful color to you. People should compliment each other more often, especially if you feel it in the moment.
I think the best outfits or garments are things that you love, and that energy radiates in the way you move. People will see that and you might inspire someone. It’s all just connecting, and that motivates me.
As told to Cami Garcia on Aug. 20, 2024
Let’s chat
Have a style question you want us to answer next week? A thought sparked by this week’s interview? Feedback about what you want to read next? Email zoe@jakeandjones.com.
Favorite Picnic so far!! 💯
Mike's stories are so great and I can so relate. Thanks to Mike and you and Zoe for sharing his stories. Love it. X- D