A Girl You Should Know: Valeria Ayawa Agboati
Meet the 20-year-old law student with an eye for vintage, an opinion on everything, and a teal City Bag she never leaves home without.
If you've been tapped into Paris street style lately, chances are you've seen one of Valeria Ayawa Agboati fabulous outfits on your feed. The Brussels-born fashion-obsessive grew up poring over fashion magazines with her mother, and now 20, she’s living her best life in Paris, splitting her time between lectures and the vintage shops of rue de Turenne. Her advice? Shop secondhand, and never leave the house without something fun.
Age: 20
Occupation: Law and history student.
Where are you from?
I was born in Brussels; it’s a gorgeous green city. My mother works for the European Parliament, and I attended an international European school, so it was a very multicultural environment—I myself am Italian and Togolese.
Where do you live now? And what do you like most about it?
I live in Paris. When I first moved here, I thought, If I’m sad and everything is going wrong, at least I’m in Paris! Today, I marvel at living somewhere where so many gather for a plethora of cultural events across the year, from fashion week to sports tournaments to political matters. There’s so much history around every corner. It’s wonderful to experience. It makes you feel part of something bigger, like you’re contributing to the culture in your own minuscule way.
What were some of your early influences growing up?
Definitely my mother. I remember critiquing fashion magazines with her as a toddler. We were very tough critics! She’s a beautiful, stylish and very intellectual woman. I like to think I carry some of those same qualities. She still prides herself on the fact that I was always the best dressed at daycare.
Favorite place to hang out in Paris?
While I love the Marais, like any other basic fashion-victim wannabe (a trait that I proudly claim), I also love the 6th arrondissement so much. I like walking around the Odéon, visiting Jardin du Luxembourg, and sitting by the Seine on nice days. Most people say that this side of the Seine is boring, and they don’t go as much. But that’s exactly why it’s less hectic and cooler. I hope they keep saying it, honestly!
Where do you shop?
I practically only buy secondhand, except for extremely specific things, or when I’m collaborating with brands. I get almost everything from Vinted: good pricing, sustainable, lots of choices and gorgeous pieces if you know how to look. It’s the perfect place to develop a personal style independently of the trends. If I’m treating myself, I go on Vestiaire Collective for secondhand designer pieces or I visit the vintage shops on Rue de Turenne.
Biggest style inspiration?
My style is very personal, but it’s also the amalgamation of everyone and anything I come across. I like to observe on every scale, whether it’s designers or girls on Instagram. Some of my favorite designers include Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons, Phoebe Philo for Celine, the Caten brothers for DSquared2, Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen for his own label.
Where do you find references?
I have a Pinterest where I save all my favorite shows, and I find it fun to try and recreate the looks with what I have. I also have a few instagram muses, such as Katya Braithwaite, Stella Bocle, Olivia Halle, Ailene Weatherly, and Rachel Ojuromi to cite a few!
Current obsessions in your closet?
Right now, I’m loving everything very low-waisted: jeans, sweatpants, and skirts. Speaking of skirts, I adore tulle tutu-style skirts—perhaps worn with studded heels and dressed down with a graphic baby tee. Another combo I love is ripped jeans and colorful flip flops, yellow or pink! I recently bought a Dolce & Gabbana cardigan, it’s ridiculously long and in this outrageously bright yellow-green. And of course, I never go anywhere without my teal Balenciaga city bag.
One trend that should die?
Looksmaxxing and anything adjacent to that. It’s literally every toxic thing about the Internet all wrapped into one. Eating disorders, insecurities, self-harm, racism, and misogyny. It sends shivers down my spine. I can’t help but wonder if these people have actually ever been outside. I’m not against bettering yourself and taking care of your appearance—it does hold social value, sure—but the people in that community are locking themselves in a pseudo-eugenicist microcosm. Politics aside, I don’t think they understand the essence of beauty anyway. They usually just end up with some mangled caricature of it.
One trend you stand behind?
So many to be honest! I’m really not against any fashion trends. It’s cool how we’re all collectively enjoying something at the same time. It’s so lame to force yourself to dislike things once you deem them too mainstream. For instance, last year I bought a Napoleon-style jacket, and a few months later, I watched it go insanely viral. I wasn’t mad about it. It’s cool to see how everyone styles it.
Three words to describe your style: Fun, effortless, and swag (duh!).
What does your camera roll look like?
Walk us through how you would spend your perfect day?
Firstly and most importantly, I wake up in a neat apartment, rested after a full night of sleep, which is very rare for me—bonus points if all my dishes are done. I head to pilates, then struggle for the 50 minute session and leave feeling productive. Obviously it’s a perfect skin and hair day, and my makeup looks amazing. I don’t feel any anxiety, and all my schoolwork is done. I get dressed, coming up with an insane yet simple outfit on the first try. Ideally I’m wearing flip flops because it’s precisely 71 degrees. I head out to meet a friend for brunch, where I have eggs Benedict and an iced rose-matcha latte.
After that, we head to the vintage shops on Rue de Turenne. It’s not the weekend but I have the day off so it’s not crowded, and I find one perfect item within my budget. On that high, I record a TikTok on the first try and post it immediately…it goes viral. We keep walking around, get cute pictures, maybe sit by the Seine and do word searches. In the evening, we go to a terrace and order a Hugo spritz and mozzarella sticks. I go home, get changed and host my friends for pre-drinks before we go to La Fête, where the bouncer lets us in immediately. Inside, we run into literally everyone we know, somehow don’t pay for a single drink, and the D.J. plays songs we all know all the words to. We head home at 4 a.m, and order O’Tacos on Uber Eats—either that, or a day at the beach.
Favorite color?
Green. It’s life. It’s trees. It’s grass. It just fills me with such a sense of peace and calm. But green can also be loud and subversive, even repulsive. It’s so versatile both in shades and vibes.
Most-used emoji?
Something nobody knows about you?
I don’t try to hide it, but I think my most unexpected trait is my obsession with musicals. My favorites include Hamilton (the gateway drug), Spring Awakening, Ride the Cyclone, and Into the Woods. Adjacently, I’m also a huge Gleek! I force this passion on all my friends, and I’m quite insufferable about it.