Karla Azzeh doesn’t dress to impress—she dresses to express. One day it’s safety-pinned lace, the next it’s glitter tears and a broken-heart pendant. Her wardrobe has always been a mirror, reflecting everything from TikTok confidence to Tumblr-era melancholy. In this interview, Karla opens up about growing up goth in the Balkans, the fashion crush that started it all, and why ripped tights sometimes say more than any caption ever could.
Thank you for the question! Well, I guess by mixing classic gothic/metal elements that are a bit more rough with girly accessories or like by make up, such as pastel glitter tears. Wearing a heart necklace, but it's broken or adding safety pins or a harness to a lacey soft dress.
My style is all about representing our contradicting nature and somewhat breaking the barriers between fashion as in selling and faking an immaculate image, instead I will use my naturally ripped stockings or in any case focus more on raw feeling, rather than just another perfectly clean outfit.
Hmm I would have so much to say to my younger self in this matter haha. First, to just wait a bit to actually grow up a little and then she'll have the freedom to persue anything she wants, from dressing as freely as she wants to affording it and also to try and not defy adults so much, not to wear those platform boots, harness and overall shocking outfits to events that aren't appropriate to show up like that haha.
This is very hard, as I'm a person who is very passionate and falls in love with everything. All I can say is "alternative" no matter how vague it sounds, as I embraced this fashion and life style, precisely because of its versatility.
My aesthetic has always been closely tied to my personal growth, with each stage of my life influencing and shaping it. Throughout the years, I’ve used creativity, art, and my alternative style as ways to express myself, communicate my emotions, and reflect how I view the world around me. As I’ve evolved, so has my aesthetic, growing deeper with every experience and challenge. The way I present myself through my style isn’t just about fashion; it’s a direct representation of where I am mentally, emotionally, and spiritually at any given moment. Each change in my life has sparked a shift in my look, allowing me to connect with and showcase different aspects of myself, from rebellion to introspection, and everything in between.
With my followers the fashion hauls mainly, or if I do outfit checks in public—especially with a beautiful background—as I feel it inspires them and gives them courage to be able to dress as they want to in public as well.
To be honest, I think it was when I got offered to collaborate with them, I told my friends and we all shouted and cheered. After that we started reminiscing how far I've come and how growing up, especially in a poor Balkan country, owning clothing from such brands was so expensive and such a distant dream... and now I get offered to work with them. It was a nice reminder that hard work pays off, as well as an exercise in humbleness, gratefulness and remembering one's roots with pride.
Heartbreak, nostalgia, and feeling things deeply have a profound impact on my art and how I style myself. These emotions are the driving forces behind much of what I create. There are times when I feel like I’m trying to communicate things that can’t be put into words, but I find peace in knowing that I can at least translate those feelings into my looks. It’s a way of giving form to what’s often intangible. My aesthetic is a reflection of that—cigarettes, sadness, orchids, and blood-red lips are all part of the metaphorical language I use to express what’s brewing inside. These elements capture the emotional weight I carry, allowing me to channel my internal world into something visual. When I can embody those feelings through my style and art, it’s like I’ve managed to speak what words often fail to express. I like to think of myself, my style and art, more as something better left as a concept.
About alternative fashion, they taught me that it goes beyond just fashion and that there are actually people out that care and want to built genuine connections in the most honest way... about myself, however, they taught me so much, I would have to write an essay, but short story long, they helped me realise my potential.
I use my wardrobe as a way to step into different characters and escape from everyday life. By making DIY items, I can build and shape my own narrative through what I wear, creating looks that feel like a second skin. It’s not just about dressing up, it’s about transforming into someone or something else, allowing me to embody a new persona that feels more aligned with my emotions or state of mind. Over time, this process of building characters through my wardrobe has helped me become more confident. Each outfit becomes a piece of armor, empowering me to express parts of myself I might not feel comfortable showing otherwise. It’s a way to reclaim my identity and take control of how I’m perceived, all while escaping into a world where I can be whoever or whatever I need to be.
