SLUG Style: Yadel Huest

Yadel Huest may say it best about himself, that a “local plant dad with a nerdy spirit and a passion for fashion.” But boy, howdy, you don’t really know it until you see his style in action for yourself, baby. Huest was born in Ensenada, Mexico, and has lived in Utah for 15 years. Let’s consider ourselves blessed as we take a look at these artful and striking looks that Huest has in store on the regular.

Every month, “SLUG Style” features a distinct and unique member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.

SLUG: What are your stylistic influences? This could be a band, decade, fictional character—anything.

Huest: Video game and anime characters have always inspired me with their edgy outfits and confident demeanor, something I try to embody within myself everywhere I go. Couture runway shows from the mid-2000s, supermodels like Coco Rocha, for example. Mexican and Latin American culture has a lot to do with the color palettes that I choose, as I like to remind myself of the colorful personalities and traditions I grew up around. 

SLUG: Your Instagram showcases amazing ensembles that you put together, especially on rooftops and basking in the sunlight. What’s your ideal setting to live your best life?

Huest: Plants, a beautiful sunset, a fierce outfit and some disco are the essentials I need for a fabulous day. Preferably next to a beach if possible—I love to relax and get lost in the sounds of nature. Comes with being a Taurus. 

SLUG: You’re a self-proclaimed plant dad! What do plants bring to your life?

Huest: Joy. Plants make me happy and feed my Taurean soul. I’ve learned to care for myself through them and how to appreciate the slow, steady and bumpy ride that is personal growth. Working at a greenhouse helped me tap into my plant-daddy skills, which are always evolving. 

SLUG: Please tell us about some of your plant babies. 

Huest: I’m about to sound like those parents showing pictures of their babies. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! I’m not a size queen, but I do love my bigger tropical plants like my Philodendron Selloum or Alocasia “Dark Star.” Vining plants like pothos and strings of pearls make great décor and are fun to have hanging off the shelves or walls. I currently have around 55 plants and don’t see myself completing this ever-growing collection anytime in the near future. 

SLUG: Your style seems often to feature accents or splashes of color. Pink also seems to be a favorite! What goes into how you make your looks pop?

Huest: Growing up in a heteronormative, Christian household didn’t allow for much color or fashion choices. Thankfully, I’ve learned how to embody my queerness in all aspects of my life. Especially in the way I dress, bold bright colors remind me that I don’t have to be afraid to put myself out there and be seen. And hopefully, it can inspire someone to try and live authentically, as hard as it may be. We’re all in this together, gurl. But I mostly dress based on how I feel that day. Oddly enough, I wear black when I feel happy and color when I am a bit gloomy. Funny how that works. 

SLUG: What are some of your favorite pieces?

Huest: I recently purchased a black pair of sheer pants with a frill on the sides. They’re great for shows, dancing or just to make a fashion statement. There’s also a black-and-white pair of chunky heels that I wear with dresses, long coats or some leather pants. Some of my favorite accessories are a tiger’s-eye necklace and turquoise ring that I wear with everything lately. I tend to get obsessed with certain clothes or accessories for weeks at a time. 

SLUG: What are your interests or hobbies? What is the hobby or interest that you have that no one would realize to ask you about? 

Huest: I’m a very curious person, so I have a wide range of interests. Photography, houseplants, cooking and building small-scale figurines are some of my favorite hobbies at the moment. I also collect video game and comic book figurines; people always seem shocked when I tell them, for some reason.

SLUG: Are you always “on” or would someone see you at the grocery store, for example, with less elements of your style?

Huest: I feel like I can usually turn a look, even if it’s something mundane like grocery shopping, but that’s why I do it—to add an element of fun to my daily activities. Plus, I’m just the type of person that is always overdressed. Sorry, not sorry. 

SLUG: Per your Instagram, what’s the best part about just chilling in your underwear?

Huest: Comfort, confidence and relaxation. It’s been a long journey to get to a place where I feel comfortable with my body, but nowadays, you can find me at home doing just about everything in my underwear, such as taking photos off my balcony, feeling my hair flow in the wind in my favorite pair of undies or jockstrap. Sometimes I’ll even water my plants in the nude to create a more “natural” setting.

SLUG: What determines whether it’s a hat day, top-bun day or “let the mane flow in the wind” day?

Huest: I prefer to always have my hair down, since I like the feeling of it in the wind. I’m a dork, but that’s really why I grew it out—that and so I could do sexy hair flips while dancing. I usually wear it up when working out or hiking. Hats are for when I don’t feel like brushing my hair. 

SLUG: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those be? 

Huest: Charming, laid-back, fierce.

SLUG: How has your personal style evolved over time?

Huest: It has gone from a total scene kid to a thrifty indie style to just buying whatever I find appealing and throwing it together in a way that is aesthetically pleasing for me. Fashion is a lifestyle, darling.