Inside Alithea Castillo and Kim Tin’s Wardrobe, Featuring New York Vintage and Versatile Staples

NYC-based creatives Alithea Castillo and Kim Tin invite us into their shared wardrobe, inspired by the city, a childhood spent in the Philippines, and “many K-Pop idols.”

Partners in life and directors in crime, Alithea Castillo and Kim Tin are a couple taking over NYC in street style and their creative company Of Becoming Us: from shooting celebrity portrait reels at the CFDA to the arrivals at Dior shows and the behind-the-scenes films at Calvin Klein campaign shoots.

Having been together for seven years, the two share a gender-fluid wardrobe. “My partner and I wear the same clothing and shoe size,” says Alithea. “She really upgraded my personal style,” confesses Kim, who finds themselves often returning to dapper and streetwear sensibilities with brands like Thom Browne, Kozaburo, and Uniqlo.

Alithea credits her lola for igniting her interest in fashion, as “she was a skilled mananahi [seamstress]” who often handmade clothes that Alithea used to try on. “Growing up in the Philippines, I couldn’t really afford anything designer so I would go to ukay [thrift shops].” To this day, she still buys secondhand and doesn’t have much of a desire to acquire luxury brands, unless it’s by independent designers such as Meruert Tolegen, Melitta Baumeister, and Dauphinette.

Kim is similarly intentional, saying, “If I’m going to buy something, it has to be versatile.” They look out for garments they can mix and match, or statement pieces like their recently acquired Louis Vuitton loafers, taking inspiration from Marc Forne and “many K-Pop idols.” Around two years ago, the couple combined their closets into one, and now ask each other, “Are you going to wear this?” when shopping, to ensure they can make the most out of any purchase. In Alithea’s words, that’s “queer couple math if you will.” 

By LAWRENCE ALBA. Photographs by LAWRENCE DE LEON. Fashion Editor DAVID MILAN. Producer: Bianca Zaragoza. Photographer’s Assistant: Andrew Perkins.