Unlikely Style Icon: Pedro Sánchez from Napoleon Dynamite

It's our blog birthday week! Yes, Wardrobe Conversations is almost 4 years old. Can you believe it? It feels like we just turned 3 yesterday. We always like to mark the occasion in some way. In the past we've had a party for two, dressed up as each other and celebrated with milkshakes. This time around we decided to pay tribute to our favourite on screen bffs - Pedro Sánchez and Napoleon Dynamite from the 2004 comedy classic Napoleon Dynamite.

I'm kicking things off with a full on Pedro look, though I'm not sure I've completely captured that blank stare of his. Now, here's where I admit that on the first time of watching Napoleon Dynamite I wasn't a huge fan. It wasn't that I didn't like it, I just wasn't blown away by it. Don't worry though, that all changed on second viewing. The characters, the outfits, the dance moves, Tina the llama... it's all wonderful! If you've only watched it once, or haven't watched it at all, I strongly urge you to seek it out. The film now sits happily among my favourite comedies, others being Little Miss Sunshine and Eagle vs Shark (I guess I just really like films about awkwardly unaware characters).




I have a soft spot of Pedro in the film. He's quiet and calm guy who isn't afraid to go for his dreams - his campaign to become class president is inspired. Plus he has some awesome skills, namely having a sweet bike, being really good at hooking up with chicks and being the only guy in school with a moustache. For my look I didn't go as far as growing a moustache (if you see anything above my top lip it's shadow, ok!) but I did give myself some pretty bad hair. I was trying to go for a look similar to the wig Pedro wears after he shaves his hair off but what I ended up with was just a general messy bush. Seriously, it upsets me to look at it. But it fits in with the cluelessness of the character, that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it.

Shirt | Charity shop
Jeans | New Look
Boots | Zara
Tie | Little Lies
Brooch | Unknown
Glasses | c/o IOLLA





For the rest of the look I went with a slightly western, cowgirl style. Pedro appears to be a big fan of a plaid or checked shirt. I thought this shirt fit in with that idea but brought the brightness up a notch, which is where I like my brightness to be. I added this fun and versatile wrap chocker tie in place of the concho Pedro wears in the film and then pinned this cassette brooch on as a finishing touch. I think it fits nicely with the analogue feel of the film - tape players and VHS feature quite a bit. This brooch has a nice friendship tale to it too as it was gift from Kimberley. She gave it to me about 9 years ago (I think!), this being the reason why I can't remember the name of the maker! The whole look is pretty simple and actually rather wearable, but then Pedro's a pretty simple and straightforward kinda guy.



Watch out for Kimberley's post later this week.