Lee’s fashion choices are ‘a way of reclaiming the stares that happen to me.’Mark Binks/The Globe and Mail
Who are you, and what do you do?
My name is Sean Lee. I’m the director of programming for a space called Tangled Art and Disability. We operate Canada’s first disability art gallery, and we’re dedicated to showcasing art from MAD, deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities, as well as advancing accessible curatorial practices.
Where are you?
In the courtyard at 401 Richmond, where Tangled Disability + Art is based. It’s one of the few nicely preserved buildings in Toronto, and there’s just something magical about it.
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What are you wearing?
This outfit is a remix of some pieces I wore during my wedding. The centerpiece is a Simone Rocha look; on most folks, this piece would be worn as a vest but on me, it’s kind of a mini dress. I wore it with Steve Madden platform shoes and my go-to shorts from a now-closed shop in New York called OA. The crown is something I bought on Etsy, and it’s my homage to an Alexander McQueen collection where the models wore these antler-like headpieces. For my wedding, I wore it with some tulle covering it for the ceremony; now, I’ll wear it as-is to concerts. The Spinelli Kilcollin ring is my custom engagement ring, and I’m also wearing Simone Rocha pearl jewellery.
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How would you describe your style?
As somebody who’s never had the option of blending in, fashion is a way for me to take control of how I’m seen. I make different choices around gender, race and disability when it comes to dressing, and it’s a way of reclaiming the stares that happen to me. It’s a bit gender-bending. I love to wear dresses, and I love to mix different kinds of tailoring within what I wear.
How has your style evolved?
I went through a minimalist phase in the early 2000s as I was coming into myself as a gender non-conforming person. And I’m still drawn to brands like Rick Owens, Complex Geometries and Yohji Yamamoto. But when I started playing with silhouettes, I wondered how I could bring a little more joy into what I’m wearing.
What other items help you achieve some day-to-day drama?
I like wearing different types of eyewear. I have a pair of steampunk-like glasses from a collaboration between Mykita and Damir Doma that I love. I used to wear a lot more jewellery, but as I went to a more fun place with my clothing, I started paring back the jewellery a little bit. I have pieces by Canadian designers like Jenny Bird and Vitaly; I’ll break them out when I’m wearing something more minimal. There’s an equilibrium there.
Who is your special occasion style icon?
Lady Gaga. When I was first coming into my own fashion-wise, she was just starting out and talking about the idea of “fake it till you make it,” “work with what you’ve got,” and “if you tell people you’re important, they will think you’re important.” I’ve always taken that to heart. As a person who’s experienced my disability with a mixture of pride and shame, fashion is where I could resolve that tension on my own terms.
