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Music

Style Rider: The Dø Demands Clothes That Don’t Hinder Their Moves

See what this Parisian indie-pop duo's got stashed away in their carry-on bags.

Photo by Arthur Le Fol

Parisian indie-pop duo The Dø has been making music together for more than a decade, but when Olivia Merilahti and Dan Levy drop their third album—the awesomely-titled Shake Shook Shaken—on February 11th, they’ll be debuting a whole new sound. Gone are the acoustic lullabies and melancholy melodies of their early hits. As you can tell from their sensational new singles, “Sparks” and “Trustful Hands,” somewhere along the way they’ve discovered minimalism and embraced synths.

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Merilahti’s personal style has recently undergone a similar transformation. “Since I started working on Shake Shook Shaken, most of my wardrobe has changed,” she explained. “I hardly wear dresses anymore. I'm more into modern, high-tech clothes, and I’m not so much into vintage stuff anymore.” Rather than the fancy skirts and ruffled numbers she used to wear to perform, she now relies sportswear staples like varsity jackets, Adidas by Raf Simons sneakers, and leggings (but rarely pants—it’s imperative that she’s able to dance at the drop of the hat).

Right now, The Dø is hitting the road in Europe, taking their synth-pop to France, Sweden, and everywhere in between, after which they’ll (hopefully!) be swinging through the States. Ahead of the album’s release, we stole a few minutes with Merilahti to find out what she always has stuffed into her bag when she’s on tour.

All photos courtesy of The Dø

LEGGINGS

“In mixed fabrics like leather, lace, cotton, and denim. They're more comfortable than trousers. I like to dress as if I might have to stretch or dance any minute.”

LEATHER JACKETS

“They can be worn all year round and they protect me like a second skin.”

HIGH TECH SNEAKERS

“My all-time favorite item. I've always had sci-fi shoes. I see them like the best way to step into the future. My favorites are a pair Adidas by Raf Simons that I bought in Berlin that I wore in our video for ‘Despair, Hangover, and Ecstasy.’”

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PLATFORM SHOES

“I’m still clumsy with real high-heel shoes, so I like this easier alternative.”

WHITE SHIRT

“I love wearing crisp white shirts with a collar. My little brother once told me that a black and white look suited me well so I try to follow his advice.”

SHORTS

“I used to wear mostly skirts but shorts are great with colored tights. They don't hinder my moves.”

Casey Lewis does this every other week. She's on Twitter - @caseymlewis.