Spicy snack brand Flamin’ Hot® unveiled the Flamin’ Hot University apparel collection to inspire students and creatives to put their boldest, most authentic selves forward. For stylist, content creator, and designer Kai McPhee, standing out from the crowd comes naturally. After moving to New York and honing in on his personal style, which he coins a blend of streetwear and antique flair, he was brought closer to a unique sense of individuality.

Over time, McPhee schooled himself on fashion and even began sewing his own clothing to ensure his wardrobe was elevated by one-of-a-kind pieces. Reflecting the fierceness of the entire Flamin’ Hot® University collection, created in collaboration with streetwear designer Melody Ehsani, the tastemaker teamed up with Flamin’ Hot® to style each piece his own way. Incorporating vintage elements such as heirloom rings, while spicing each look up with his own personality, McPhee brought the Flamin’ Hot® campaign and collection to life.

Kai McPhee: My name is Kai McPhee. I am a 21-year-old content creator, designer, and stylist. I am from Baltimore, Maryland and I’ve been living in New York for one year.

Hypebeast: What originally piqued your interest in fashion?

When I was in the 11th grade, my school had a fashion show. Before then, I was not into fashion — I would gladly wear a sweatpants set anywhere that I was going. One year I found out about the fashion show and I thought it looked like a fun idea. I tried it out and styled myself and I honestly loved the outfits. It was so fun to play around with clothing — it just felt like another form of expression that I never really tapped into. Before then, I was really into acting, musical theater, and painting. But after that happened I thought, ‘Whoa, fashion is so fun and I want to continue this.’

You mentioned your style journey when you explained how your style eventually shifted. Take me through that journey.

My style journey, in the beginning, was very much trend-based. But then after a while, I got sick of seeing everyone shopping from the same places. I don’t like doing things that everyone else is doing. So I started thrifting more, then I decided I wanted to make my own clothes. I bought a sewing machine in 2020, taught myself, and started sewing the majority of my outfits. If you scroll through my page, most of my outfits have at least one piece made by me. After that, I moved to New York and I started playing around a lot with my style. I went through a lot of phases with my style and I think that right now I feel much more grounded in my taste — more than ever. I feel as though now I know exactly what I like and what I don’t like. But I still think I’m experiencing that journey. All of the purchases I make now, I want them to be very intentional because I want to have these pieces now and in 10 years.

If you had to describe your personal style now, in this moment, how would you? What elements do you gravitate toward when putting an outfit together?

I would say my style is: high-end streetwear, androgynous, antique. I like a lot of feminine qualities. I like a lot of masculine qualities. I like a lot of statement pieces and just doing things that will make me stand out ’cause I try not to assimilate. Then most of my jewelry is antique or vintage. I usually have on a statement earring, like pearls. And the streetwear is the core of all of it. Anytime I style, I always think from a streetwear perspective.

What’s your hottest take on a current, mainstream trend right now?

I think that ‘balletcore’ is becoming very oversaturated, even on the runway. I think that if it goes with your brand, go for it. But if you’re just throwing ribbons on everything and it doesn’t even go with the vibe, then I don’t like it that much. I think that when trends come around, try to fit it within your own aesthetic, but I don’t think you should just totally evolve yourself or your brand into a ballerina because it’s hot right now.

How do you feel that living in New York City for the past year has affected the way that you dress?

It affected me a lot because I’m from Baltimore and I feel as though people dress very differently there than they do here. I really wasn’t seeing anything inspirational or anything different. But moving to New York, I got to see so many different styles and so many different walks of life. Literally just walking the streets of New York is very inspiring because I see something new every single day. It has definitely given me more ideas about how to curate my own personal style. Everyone is an individual here and it helps you settle into your own individuality. It’s so easy to see something and just copy it, but instead, I always try to recreate things in my own way.

As far as the pieces that you styled today from the Flamin’ Hot® University collection, do you have a favorite one? How did you add your own personal flair to these pieces?

My favorite pieces today were the varsity jacket and the jersey. I really like the varsity jacket because you can style it in so many different ways. I dressed it down and went for that more streetwear approach, so I added some nice denim jeans, a tank top, and I had this cool flame hat that was perfect for the Flamin’ Hot® theme.

What advice would you give to those people who are still figuring out their personal style?

I would say to get to know yourself first. You kind of have to stop looking on Pinterest or stop looking on Instagram, and instead just think, ‘What does Kai want to wear today?’ Because I feel as though a lot of trends are pushed on us. We have so many outside forces trying to influence us. When really, the biggest influence can literally just be yourself. I know that’s so cliche to advise people to ‘Just to be yourself!’ but I think that really just knowing yourself for who you are and what you like, will really elevate your style. My second bit of advice is just not caring what other people think. I think that’s a big thing because, with styling, you have to understand that not everyone is always going to like your outfit. Who cares. I like my outfit. That’s all that matters. And I think that’s how you’re supposed to go about life.