“Why be basic when you can be stunning?” muses Christopher Griffin, known to most as Plant Kween. From 9-5, you’ll find NYU’s assistant director of the LGBTQ+ center behind their desk. On off hours, they’re prancing about their Brooklyn apartment, clad in sequined gowns, showering botanical knowledge on all who follow (via @plantkween). Nestled in said jungle of a home, you’ll find not one, but three closets. One serves as a catch-all, another is for vintage, and the last specifically houses designer fashion. The latter is essentially an ode to the designer Griffin admires most: Christopher John Rogers, whom they donned for their bookYou Grow, Gurl!''s cover. “[His clothes] are bold, colorful, playful, shapes, daring, brave, courageous, never seen before. And not only are they [items] of clothing, they are works of art. I don't wear them lightly.” If it’s not Christopher John Rogers, Griffin either thrifts their clothes (the antidote to their “expensive sweet tooth”) or uses their fashion purchases to support those in the LGBTQ+ and Black communities—bonus points for their intersection.
Aesthetically, those purchases often have a flair for the dramatic. Though Griffin doesn’t dress in drag, they glean inspiration from queens in their sartorial exuberance. That said, their first taste of this bold sense of creative expression came from Black churches growing up. “Fashion show,” they say. “Outfits galore, sequins, blazers with the shoulder pads, hats that defy gravity and architecture.” Griffin's grandmother, a church-going woman, connected these dots for them early-on. Naturally, her closet provided a certain refuge. “I was in my little world in her closet," Griffin muses.
The aesthete vividly recount a specific memory, in which they click-clacked down the stairs in a pair of her kitten heels amidst a family gathering at a very young age. “Everyone grew quiet. And my grandmother was like, ‘Oh my goodness. Isn't this precious? You look so wonderful.’ And I think in that moment, she let my family know this was something that was normal. This is something that I needed to do and that I was allowed to do.” That outward acceptance gave Griffin the permission they needed to explore their self-expression outside the gender binary.
Coat: Fabrice Silhouette
Grandma, the “original green goddess” also bestowed upon Griffin her green thumb. "[She made me] understand that gardening is very important to our family's legacy." Now, their relationship with plants skews philosophical in nature. A first generation college student and avid learner, Griffin has created their own classroom of botany, in which they are both professor and student. “Plants are rich in history. They're living, breathing creatures that we need to survive on so many different levels. Plants have a deep connection to human existence. they provide an avenue for a reflective mirror to the very different ways that I can care for myself.”
Griffin of course waxes poetic in the realm of clothing, their other love, as well. As a non-binary person, gender is their playground. I like to hop, skip, and jump around to different things. Clothing, for me, is just one of the various ways that I can express myself and show up in the ways that I want to.” The manifestation of which is ever-evolving. “I think unfortunately as a non-binary person living in a very transient place like New York where you [can’t hide], some days it's about safety. I don't feel like experiencing transphobia today, so let me blend in. And then other days I'm like fuck it. I want to be who I am. And I'm just going to show who I am on my sleeve. And so on a good day, when I'm feeling fierce and I'm feeling grounded in my identities, it's really about fun silhouettes, playful patterns, and bold colors.” Their job adds a layer of responsibility to this decision. Griffin works in an LGBTQ+ center where they encourage all students to be themselves, unapologetically. "I think it's important that while we do the work, we also live the work," they say. "We have to set an example for our students." That means heels and dresses often circulate through their corporate wardrobe. “As Ru[Paul] said, "We're all born naked. The rest is drag. So why not have fun with it?" Continue scrolling to explore Griffin's exuberant closet.
