SELF-STYLED celebrates individuality

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ANTHONY LYCETT is a London based photographer who in 2008 has created the Self-Styled project. For over 10 years now, with more than 350 different characters, Anthony has been capturing eccentrics, dandies, punks, goths, drag queens and the avant-garde personalities, his portraiture work has encompassed the sub-cultures of London and Paris and is an important project that lets people be fearless, creative and express themselves.

Anthony has various photography awards including BJP Portrait of Britain 2018 winner and had exhibitions in London, Paris and Berlin with his recent Self-Styled project showcased in Marconi Gallery in London.

We love the way Anthony and the Self-Styled project brings people together at the same time stressing the uniqueness of each individual and enhancing the freedom of expression. Anthony talks to artPLAY about the project and the ideas behind his work.

“Self-Styled celebrates individuality”

Started Self.Styled in 2008, I wanted to celebrate individuality by documenting people with a strong personal style. I’ve never understood why people can be negative to other people who may look different to them, I say let everyone have the freedom to express themselves the way they want to and accept them as they do you.

At that time before Instagram there was not a platform for these people and they were not seen as an interesting subject. Everyone is welcome whether they are club kids, dandies, drag queens, vintage or tattooed.

No filter is needed, people choose what they wear, they are their own stylists, it is a statement of their personality so how could anyone else get involved, I just create the set and I always keep that the same.

It is easy to say that these people are attention seeking but actually they are just doing what it takes to be able to step out of the front door into the world.
These days there is lots of interest in people with an alternative style, i’m just happy to keep going and discovering more people hopefully giving confidence to future generations that it’s okay if you feel and think differently to others around you, whether it’s the way you want to dress or the colour of your skin or your gender. We have the freedom at the moment so you have to take it.

“I did not want to focus on one kind of sub-culture but to show that even if your styles may be different it’s a state of mind that brings everyone in Self.Styled together”