“The concept behind today’s look is—I am a dead fish that’s caught in seaweed.” That was how I got introduced to the brilliant mind of Gabby He. One second I’m doomscrolling through a micro-trend cyclone, and the next I’m pulled into a new style dialogue through this concept called abstract styling, as some may call it. So what exactly is “abstract styling”? Think outfits inspired by a specific mood or concept—filtered through a more artful and intuitive lens.
@balenciagabbyhe Jewelry @fishfelon22 Dress set @EASTEAM #ootd #styleinspo #fashionbrand #fypシ #fyp ♬ original sound – Gabbyhe
As for the Brooklyn-based TikToker, she lenses this through entire narratives, with her ultra-detailed, story-driven moodboards. She started with a simple joke that turned into a whole format; one of her early TikToks featured Hello Kitty scooter earrings paired with oversized round glasses, and she quipped that the glasses were a skatepark so the earrings could ride their scooters there. It went viral, and suddenly, Gabby’s tiny universes began stacking up, one oddly specific concept at a time.
And to make things even better, she also designs her own accessories to go along with her outfits, drawing from her background in textile design. My favourite? A spaghetti bag—also with a small pouch because we are not skimping on the utility aspect—that she, of course, pairs with a dress that conceptually acts as the tablecloth for the pasta. Strange, yes. But also exactly the point.
@balenciagabbyhe Pasta purse tutorial coming up☺️ Gingham set @Glassworks London Necklace @Crafturday #ootd #styleinspo #fashioninspo #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – Gabbyhe
Her creative process usually begins with a single object that catches her eye—mini hats from a craft store, for example—before it spirals into something bigger. Case in point: her “hat infinity” concept, which starts as a stacking idea and turns into a magic-trick narrative of bunnies in mini hats emerging from a larger hat, then chicks in even smaller hats emerging again, the whole thing expanding like a Russian doll situation. Somewhere along the way, she noticed the hat’s indent looked like a mouth that could hold infinite things—so she turned it into a purse, fully committing to the bit.
Maybe that’s the appeal, and what makes Gabby’s flavour of style feel so fun right now. In her world, getting dressed is pure play, and the only rule? Committing to the plot (literally).
@balenciagabbyhe I’m serving hibiscus flower tea🍵 #ootd #fashioninspo #styleinspo #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – Gabbyhe
Could you introduce yourself and tell us more about the world that you’re building online?
My name is Gabby He, and I’m currently based in Brooklyn, New York. I’ve always been passionate about art and making things. For undergrad, I studied Textiles at Rhode Island School of Design. During those four years of intensive studio practice, I realised that I’m naturally drawn to storytelling. I tend to see narratives everywhere, even in unexpected places. The world I’m creating online uses my love for working with textiles to bring to life the slightly odd world that exists in my imagination.
Your moodboards are wildly specific, from “a dead fish caught in seaweed” to “hibiscus flowers escaping a teabag.” When did you realise people really connected with that kind of hyper-specific storytelling?
One of my first TikToks was a very casual video where I wore Hello Kitty scooter earrings with oversized round glasses. I joked that the glasses were a skatepark so the earrings could ride their scooters there. The video went viral, and when I made a few more in the same format that also did well, I realised people really resonated with this kind of content.
@balenciagabbyhe #ootd #hellokitty #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – Gabbyhe
What I think draws people in is the way a story slowly reveals an underlying connection between everything I’m wearing, when the connections aren’t immediately obvious at first glance. As the narrative unfolds, different elements of the outfit become activated and interconnected. The themes become hyper-specific because each detail gains meaning through the story. It’s almost like watching a riddle unravel, where the outfit gradually reveals its own logic and world.
Your concepts feel playful and a little surreal. Where do these niche references usually come from?
Usually, they originate from one item that catches my attention—for example, mini hats from a craft store. My initial thought is often, I bet I could do something with this, so I chew on the idea of using mini hats for an outfit for days in the back of my mind. Once I settle on an initial idea, I use it as a starting point and begin fiddling with the materials.
The design usually changes drastically during this process, because the physicality of each material carries unique qualities. At this stage, I try to be really observant and focus my energy on how to best utilise those material qualities in the outfit construction, rather than the story itself. This process often pushes me to expand on my initial idea, or, in some cases, completely change it, to arrive at a more refined, niche, and organic story.
@balenciagabbyhe Just an everyday fit Coat (without the post-it notes) @Glassworks London #ootd #styleinspo #officelife #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – Gabbyhe
People have been calling your approach “abstract styling.” How do you describe what you do?
I see styling as a creative medium in itself, no different from painting, writing, or working with ceramics. Using an outfit to tell a story is inherently abstract, because you’re constantly balancing functionality with creative vision and working within the silhouette of the body. Those constraints can feel limiting, but they also push you to communicate ideas in a less literal, more nuanced language. For me, developing an outfit concept is like creating a riddle and then figuring out how to solve it, and that process is what I enjoy most.
I don’t think I’m intentionally pushing against traditional fashion aesthetics. The way I make things comes pretty intuitively to me. I just really enjoy the process of developing concepts and having fun creating unconventional, unexpected fashion pieces.
Take us through your process. How do you go from one idea to a finished look or moodboard?
To me, it’s really important that every design decision is intentional. Nothing is random; everything included serves a purpose. I think this is a good time to circle back to the mini hats. At first, I just wanted to stack mini hats on a regular-sized hat, almost like a Russian doll situation. But as I thought through the specifics, like how to arrange them, the only solution was to bring in a subject to wear the mini hats. That led me to think about classic magic tricks, where magicians pull bunnies or birds out of hats.
@balenciagabbyhe No head left behind #ootd #styleinspo #fashioninspo #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – Gabbyhe
Combining the Russian doll idea with the magic trick, I ended up with bunnies wearing mini hats coming out of the human-sized hat, then chicks with even smaller hats coming out of the bunny hats, hence creating hat infinity. While making the hat, I noticed the indent looked like a big mouth that could hold infinite things, which inspired me to turn it into a purse to hold my own possessions, and of course, the smaller hats—doubling down on the hat infinity.
Are there any visual worlds, designers, or references you find yourself returning to again and again?
I really love the magical realist world portrayed in One Hundred Years of Solitude. It’s a world that works with the most mundane elements of life, but everything feels slightly magical and odd because it introduces rules and exaggerations that reinterpret ordinary things or highlight the oddness in things we’re so used to. I find the way it blurs the line between magic and reality really fascinating. I also go on Pinterest a lot.
What’s next for you?
I’d like to continue developing my skills in draping, pattern making, and garment construction. I think the next steps for my work will present themselves as I grow and become a more skilled designer.
