BTS with KATYA LINEHAN

Behind the Style

Katya Linehan is an SF born and raised artist, and one of the coolest gals we know. We chatted with her about how getting a mullet changed her life, tips for dressing yourself when you’re a petite princess, and her love of Prince memorabilia. Full interview up now on our blog, and swipe through to see some of Katya’s looks in her BARO closet!

October 10, 2023

Where are you based?

San Francisco, CA

What do you do?

I’m an artist and also work at a natural wine bar in North Beach called Bodega. I’ve been doing photography for a while, and recently I’ve gotten into drawings and oil pastels. I’ve also been playing more with ceramics, hand building specifically. I really want to do family portraiture but have yet to take the leap because with portraiture—especially when it's intimate or it's people you know—you can get precious about it.

Who or what is inspiring you right now?

I really love finding artists through Wondering People—it’s a UK based curated art collective and they have a ton of artists that are doing really cool stuff. Rory King is someone I discovered there who’s art I love—light work has been inspiring me a lot, just playing around with lighting.

How would you describe your personal style?

Comfort is the most important thing for me, especially if I’m moving around the city a lot. The Bay Area weather is always changing so you have to be prepared for anything. I love classic pieces, so a basic tee with a cardigan in simple, solid colors. I’m petite, so I can't just buy the latest trend and go with that. Patterns tend to swallow me so I stick to a simple color palette and then accessorize. Focusing on creative practices has also helped with my style. I also didn't know how important it was to dress the part. Cutting my hair into a mullet really helped me embrace the more creative part of myself.

What are some brands you love?

I love vintage Comme de Garçons. I’ll buy stuff from the 90s that is marked as a medium but it fits like an XS. I also find items from Asian designers fit me really well because their sizing runs smaller. For example, Kim Shui or Anderson Bell. Sizing aside, I love Acne and the way they style their pieces. I’ve been loving Citizens of Humanity for jeans and Charlotte Knowles for tops.

What are a couple of your favorite pieces in your BARO closet?

This beautiful black silk dress from Alice and Olivia with a deep V and long slit, it’s just timeless and super sexy. A vintage poofy dress in burgundy with off-the-shoulder puffy sleeves. This really unique black jumpsuit that looks like a strapless dress on top with dressy pants underneath. It has this sheer component that drapes on the front and looks really cool.