SUMMER AND STYLE WITH NIL00: LIFE IS BORING. JUST DRESS SILLY

Fashion rarely gets the seriousness of art. In Nil00’s world, art is rarely taken seriously.

Think of it as “never mind” fashion, punctuated with Kurt Cobain-esque sunglasses. This nonchalant take on fabrics suits Nil00, whose song, “You’re the most beautiful fish in the ocean, I am the luckiest fish in the world,” is deeply moving.

Nil00, or Niloofar Sharifi, is a multi-disciplinary artist from Liverpool. They started with videography and music journalism, then ventured into music, releasing two EPs and multiple singles, including “Beautiful Fish.” The remix of this track has over 1 million listens on Spotify. The full title, “Beautiful Fish (Just Remember You’re Beautiful and Two Hours Comes Pretty Easily, I Wanna Spend it With You),” showcases their unique vision.

Dressed for “a summer festival,” as their stylist Rhys describes, Nil00’s look suits both stage and street. But we’re at the L7 Market in Kensington, Liverpool. Even artists need their five-a-day, and this shoot really “ate.” It’s 11 am, and shoppers are busy picking up shallots and bright red peppers in the light rain. “Every aspect of the outfit is formal, but altered,” says Rhys, as he and Nil00 tweak the look with purple pins and coloured laces. Nil00 debates over vintage ballet shoes, and five minutes later, the look is complete.

The standout piece is the “T-skirt,” a vintage tracksuit top turned into a mid-length skirt by Gina Corrieri (@ginacorrieri_), an independent designer from North London. “I love supporting small businesses; they often produce the most interesting stuff,” Nil00 comments. Their garish purple outfit clashes fantastically with the everyday market bustle but matches the aubergines perfectly. Suddenly, I crave baba ghanoush.

Kirsty Richardson’s fanciful yet realistic fashion shines with a tie and shirt from her brand XTSY (@the.xtsy.shop). Rhys highlights, “everything is reworked—the shirt that’s cut, tie-dyed, and painted.” This independent label caters to “current diverse progressive babies,” aiming for clothes that keep up with our fast-paced lifestyles. “The manufactured aspect is key,” Rhys says, “Nil00’s look is avant-garde, pushing boundaries with textures, colours, and themes.” He illustrates this with a tie made from found material and reworked Burberry fabric.

We’re in a supermarket, and the look isn’t practical, but it’s iconic. It’s paparazzi—the rush of a supermarket sweep. Nil00 shops here, and today, in their artist guise, they’re unfazed, much like their music. It’s unapologetic, surreal, silly, tongue-in-cheek, and beautifully obnoxious.

An Adidas skirt layered under a tutu Nil00 picked up in Venice, purple fishnet tights paired with Iranian socks, and classic Nu Rocks from eBay, the subcultures visible in the layers. Rhys remarks that purple is making a comeback, and I’m definitely not disagreeing with him—in fact, I flash my purple nails at his face and give my fingers a wiggle. The accessories are key – fishnets and sunglasses bought from Upstairs in Soho (@soho_liverpool), a Bold Street-based clothes and record shop. “You can always get a bit of grungy alt stuff to throw on and make an outfit look cool,” says Rhys.

It’s daydream culture, clutching a tin of tomatoes—the preppy, punky look is inappropriate, jarring, and wonderfully disparaging. Nil00 leans into it, taking a pitiful selfie on the floor while a shopper decides on packed lunches. “Life can be boring. Dressing up is a way to have fun and experience childlike glee,” they explain.

A purple-lined keffiyeh made in Palestine by a family company ensures the money goes directly to them, not a sweatshop. Rhys and Nil00’s colour scheme was a happy marriage, echoed in the laces and boots. Rhys says, “The more thought into every detail, the more people will notice the slopes and silhouettes.”

“You’ve got to decide about trends—do I want to be on or off?” Rhys adjusts Nil00’s hoodie top, part of Nil00’s brand ‘Cl0thes.00’ (@cl0thes.00). The brand’s success was overshadowing the music. “The clothes were selling well, but the music was suffering,” Nil00 admits. “Now, I’m an artist who just makes clothes.”

“I’m reading ‘The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity’ by Julia Cameron. It says if you’re not making stuff, you’ll create issues in your life instead. The drama belongs on the page, and that applies to silly outfits too—it’s about putting your emotions into whatever you do.” Fashion is self-expression and creativity, but it can also be challenging. Nil00 wants to stand out with their fashion, while Rhys emphasises embracing imperfections and ugliness.

My opinion? Fashion can be a healthy way to compartmentalise life, pushing boundaries to create something unique and meaningful.

Photos by Kieran Irvine (@aka.keeks)