As part of our new summer US project States of Independence we've invited our favourite 30 American curators, magazines, creatives and institutions to take over Dazed for a day. Today, as part of our State of Fashion week, the radical New York-based brand, store and online phenomenon VFiles is curating our content – from the debut of new show Intern Files, where hopefuls battle it out for a coveted position, to Preston's favourite Model Files picks.

We managed to tempt the one and only Mel Ottenberg to take some time out from personally styling Rihanna, fashion directing the Berlin-based 032c magazine and being a certified pop culture expert to have a virtual rummage in the VFiles vaults. Below, he presents his most inspirational images.

#1 – WORK IT IN WALTER

Love the Walter Van Beirendonck SNOW jeans with tight party top and bicep pads for wading in the jacuzzi, and a cute hat to block sun rays.

Filed under: Skin tight

Take a look at Walter Van Beirendonck's amazing archive below:

Walter Van Beirendonck archive
Walter Van Beirendonck 'Sexclown' SS08
W.&L.T. 'Believe' AW98
W.&L.T. 'Paradise Pleasure Productions' AW95
Walter Van Beirendonck 'Hardbeat' AW89
W.&L.T. 'Believe' AW98
Walter Van Beirendonck 'Sexclown' SS08
Gallery / 30 images

#2 – SEEING STARS WITH PAM

I styled this shoot with Pamela Anderson in 2001. This is one of the first photos I ever styled, and this moment with Pam might be the most genius moment of my career.

Filed under: David LaChapelle

Check out our Pop Quiz with David LaChapelle here.

#3 – RETRO HOMOEROTICA

Art direction that looks like a baby did it is really speaking to me these days and Tony Ward is my everything idol beyond forever.

Filed under: Tony Ward

#4 – BABY BROOKE

The crimped hair and Brooke Shields' "fake best friend glamour" creative vision is perfect for a future shoot.

Filed Under: Jailbait 4 Eva

#5 – REBEL REI

Rei is killing the personal style game here and forever, she cuts glass.

Filed under: Comme des Garçons

#6 – WHEN DONATELLA MET DIDDY

This arresting Puff Daddy collage by Ari Marcopoulos from the early 2000s caught my eye when I looked up "DADDY" on VFiles. NICE!

Filed Under Versace: the magazine

#7 – MILLENNIAL GISELLE 

I need to go back to 1999 to get these fucking pants back. They are mine.

Filed Under: Vogue '99

#8 – THE ULTIMATE LATIN LOOK

Perfection is perfected at The International Male. SS15 shoe research for all the European houses.

Filed Under: International Male summer 2001

#9 – ORIGINAL GANGSTAS

So many feelings. #IMMATURE

Filed Under: Telfar's faves

#10 – HARLOW GOES HAREM

Shalom Harlow in Dior Couture SS97 is a perfect couture moment for all the gays.

Filed Under: Fashion Tits