Director Melina Matsoukas Shows Off Her Denim-Filled Closet

The "Formation" director shows how versatile denim can be.

Melina Matsoukas’s personal style can be effortlessly compared to the masterful works that are featured in her portfolio: ingenious and aesthetically pleasing. We were lucky enough to chat with her about all things denim and, unsurprisingly, even Matsoukas’s denim game is as untouchable as her camera work. We uncovered her obsession with reshaping vintage Levi’s as well as her infatuation with denim-on-denim looks and how she was part of a classic hip-hop denim moment.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas’s personal style can be effortlessly compared to the masterful works that are featured in her portfolio: ingenious and aesthetically pleasing. We were lucky enough to chat with her about all things denim and, unsurprisingly, even Matsoukas’s denim game is as untouchable as her camera work. We uncovered her obsession with reshaping vintage Levi’s as well as her infatuation with denim-on-denim looks and how she was part of a classic hip-hop denim moment.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

"My style really is all over the place. I am very big on mixing and matching. My style is super versatile and doesn’t pertain to any one category. It can be best compared to a mood ring. It is very dependent on the mood I am feeling for the day."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"My style really is all over the place. I am very big on mixing and matching. My style is super versatile and doesn’t pertain to any one category. It can be best compared to a mood ring. It is very dependent on the mood I am feeling for the day."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

Photo By Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur

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"My latest favorite is a Stella McCartney denim-on-denim outfit that is a denim and blue lace bustier with high-waisted denim flare capris."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

Photo By Photo by: Jake Rosenberg/The Coveteur

Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

Photo By Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur

"Levi’s is definitely my favorite brand for denim. I simply don’t love any other brand of denim as much. Levi’s are original, authentic, genuine and classic. I love that you can rework them to look and fit however you want and they are always flattering. They look great ripped and distressed, baggy, fitted and dressed up or dressed down. I love them so much that I wear them until they are shredded and torn so much, that my ass is peeking out and they are borderline not appropriate to wear anymore." - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"Levi’s is definitely my favorite brand for denim. I simply don’t love any other brand of denim as much. Levi’s are original, authentic, genuine and classic. I love that you can rework them to look and fit however you want and they are always flattering. They look great ripped and distressed, baggy, fitted and dressed up or dressed down. I love them so much that I wear them until they are shredded and torn so much, that my ass is peeking out and they are borderline not appropriate to wear anymore." - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

Photo By Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur

"All of my vintage Levi’s jeans are obviously my favorite, but I own a few denim jackets that are classic denim jackets of different styles. I love them because they go with everything."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"All of my vintage Levi’s jeans are obviously my favorite, but I own a few denim jackets that are classic denim jackets of different styles. I love them because they go with everything."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

"I love Aaliyah and DMX’s denim moment in DMX’s 'Back in One Piece' music video. I believe Aaliyah was wearing a white tee with these bedazzled blue jeans and DMX is wearing a baggy denim jacket, a white tee, jeans and Timberlands. They are hanging out on a stoop and on a fence outside, which is very New York and a classic hip-hop moment."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"I love Aaliyah and DMX’s denim moment in DMX’s 'Back in One Piece' music video. I believe Aaliyah was wearing a white tee with these bedazzled blue jeans and DMX is wearing a baggy denim jacket, a white tee, jeans and Timberlands. They are hanging out on a stoop and on a fence outside, which is very New York and a classic hip-hop moment."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

"I have two main go-to denim looks that include lots of denim-on-denim, which I especially wear on set, and, of course, my vintage Levi’s, which you probably could’ve already guessed by now. I love to pair my vintage Levi’s with anything and everything. I love that denim can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Anything goes." - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"I have two main go-to denim looks that include lots of denim-on-denim, which I especially wear on set, and, of course, my vintage Levi’s, which you probably could’ve already guessed by now. I love to pair my vintage Levi’s with anything and everything. I love that denim can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Anything goes." - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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Melina Matsoukas. In partnership with The Coveteur.  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

"The beauty of denim is that you can literally wear anything with it and you cannot go wrong. You can throw on jeans, a T-shirt and some slides if you want to look like a bum or you can dress it up and sprinkle some glitter over your denim for a more Diana Ross feel."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"The beauty of denim is that you can literally wear anything with it and you cannot go wrong. You can throw on jeans, a T-shirt and some slides if you want to look like a bum or you can dress it up and sprinkle some glitter over your denim for a more Diana Ross feel."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

"If I could wear denim every single day, I would. As you know, I am a video director and when I’m shooting, my costume consists of denim on denim on denim. My new thing is to see how many different denim-on-denim ensembles I can come up with while on set. Denim is a staple in my closet because it is what I feel most comfortable in while working and even aside from that, it is just so versatile."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)

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"If I could wear denim every single day, I would. As you know, I am a video director and when I’m shooting, my costume consists of denim on denim on denim. My new thing is to see how many different denim-on-denim ensembles I can come up with while on set. Denim is a staple in my closet because it is what I feel most comfortable in while working and even aside from that, it is just so versatile."  - (Photo: Jake Rosenberg / The Coveteur)