I met Michael Wheeler this past Thursday before a dinner. I had seen him around the Plaza area a few times, and he’s caught my eye with his cape. I wondered how much knowledge he had in fashion. So I approached him with the idea of interviewing him; for my fashion blog. He was very open to the idea. Very easy to talk to and very humble. He told me a bit about his mission and background, which intrigued me even more. We set up a time and date for the interview and here we are.

This interview took place December 14, 2014. I am so glad I jumped on this opportunity. I have a lot of faith in this article. This is my very first interview.

Inspired VKL – This interview is in the name of fashion, of course.

Micheal Wheeler – Okay, I love it.

iV – These questions are about your inspirations that transformed your life in fashion.
Your cape ensemble, has captured many eyes. Do you feel you’ve influenced fashion in that sense.

M – Yes. With me putting words to it, it gets peoples attention. On my cape I have “ I Trust Jesus”, its just not a red cape. My superman shirt, I have “Jesus” on the front. I have the peoples attention, because everyone grew up watching Superman. The fashion, the colors and Jesus gets the generations attention.

They ( different generations) grew up seeing that one style of Superman, one color. He was the only superman people knew.

I grew my beard out just for this season. I’m wearing the red, green…. Look at my socks (Chuckles). It gets peoples attention.

I used to just wear them (the socks) with just a t-shirt, but I got the idea to wear them with my cape. I thought “Oh Lord, they’re gonna think I’m nuts!”

I told myself, I have a reason. So I started running in it and news channels like, “41 Actions News” and “Foxl 4” all interviewed me. Even the “New York Times” interviewed me, while in Ferguson, Mo, only because they saw that I was different. They saw that I had my own new style.

People get set to just one style. That is why I can say I have been a trailblazer all my life. That is why I love this. I had to go through people calling me nuts, but thats okay.

iV – It’s something that inspires you. Okay! So, I know you travel a lot. When you travel, do the awkward stares bother you?

M – I go to a different city, they know me. They’ll pull their car over and ask “Can I take a picture?”

The other week I was in Minnesota, I ran from Minneapolis to St. Paul. Thats probably about, 7-8 miles and the police were watching me. They pulled their car over and jumped out. I said “ Aw, here we go again.” They said “Man, can we take a picture with you? We saw you running and we said ‘You got some strong legs.’”

About three years ago I was running down Main St. The police pulled in the parking lot, two of them and they said “ Come here.” I said “Aw man, was I speeding? How fast was I going, are you going to give me a ticket?” They said “ Naw, man we like what you’re doing”

So, (Chuckles) it’s catching on.

iV – I read an article about your cape being handsewn, correct me if I am wrong.

M – No, I bought the cape already made. I just used stencils to paint it in.

iV– Thats great! Do you have any sewing or tailoring skills at all?

M – No, I don’t sew. But, I have a good partner who is a professional designer and he designed a few different capes for me. One is a bright yellow one. You may see me running at a fashion show.

iV – Thats pretty amazing, okay. I know growing up, you experienced the evolution of style and trends. What style of clothing set you apart?

M – Coming up, we had these pants called “bell bottoms,” with the flare you know. And I liked how that was different though. I also liked how it was black people relating to their own style. And it stood out in my mind my whole life. I didn’t like to do what, everybody else was doing. I like to have my own way of doing it, with the colors.

iV – Thats cool. And also, everybody knows quality clothing is important, what clothes do you still have from multiple years ago?

M – Well, I used to but, with me traveling a lot I have gave a lot away. I got a lot of new stuff. I’m kind of stationed here, for the past years I have been traveling all over the nation.

iV – Did you have any of those pieces in your life, years ago? Could you name a few?

M – Coats like uh, cashmere coats. And different hats like Stetson hats and uh..

iV – The Stetson Hats and Kangols, did you have and Kangols?

M – Aw yeah, yeah I grew up with that. And um, different kind of jeans. Levi jeans and stuff.

iV – So were you big into trench coats or pea coats, you know like the big oversized blazers?

M – Yeah, I like the trench coats. London style coats.

iV – London Fog?

M – Yeah, yeah.

iV – Okay, must be nice. Okay, and if you could bring something back that you had in the past, to wear again right now. What is like that timeless piece that you would bring back again?

M – Okay, let me think. Let’s see um… Maybe the (chuckles) the bell bottom pants (chuckles).

iV – Bell bottom pants?

M – Cause I know this generation, is like a…. I think its apart of them. You know. I like the kind of bell bottoms, when they flare out… I can kinda see them in Westport wearing them. And platform shoes. I grew up on that.

iV – Oh, right. So, more like the Disco era?

M – And i think I kind of seen women in those shoes. Thats a different version but with men, we used to wear them platform shoes (Chuckles).

iV – Right, but did you do anything with the glitter?

M – Anything with glitter?

iV – On your hats and stuff?

M – yeah, kind of like a golf type hat, I used to love them.

iV – Bootsy Collins, did he or any singer, entertainer,or musician inspire your style? I know you said you were a trend setter and you take something and you run with it.

M – I liked the singers, like the Motown Singers. They wear those suits, you know. I liked that, the way they had their own style.

iV – Puffs on their sleeves?

M – Yeah, you know. And I liked the dashiki’s, from Africa you know.

iV – Do you have any dashiki’s?

M – No, but I did have one similar in style. They look like a…. it fits all sizes. And it looked like similar to a Muslim style.

iV – Okay.

M – its for all people, like in India.

M – See clothes, it has a lot to do with reaching the society.

iV – Thats pretty amazing. Well you know Kansas City was known for a lot of tailoring shops and nice menswear stores. Which store did you frequent the most and enjoy visiting?

M – Harold Penners and Hardy shoes because it was a little bit cheaper. You know, we didn’t have too much money, we went to Hardy’s Shoes and it was about $8.88 for a pair of brand new shoes. When I got a job, I started going to Harold Penners for shoes.

iV – What about Michaels Fine Clothing?

M – As a youngster, I used to want to shop there, but I never had the money. One day, I have faith, that I can go shop where ever I want.

iV – Amazing.

M – Thats my name, Michael. So that’s my store.

iV – What does style mean to you.

M – Style to me means expression of oneself. How you feel. So when someone says, that’s not my style, its not apart of them. The way you express yourself, the clothing that you wear, along with the colors and the way you feel. Because a lot of times, the person that is feeling down…. I mean as a kid, when you get new clothes, you’d be so happy. You’ll walk a little different and have a little strut, a little swagger. Those simple things growing up.

iV – Your from the Kansas City area right?

M – Well, I have been here most of my life. About 59 years.

iV – So from what you’ve seen, what do you feel about the fashion scene in Kansas City?

M – I think it’s pretty good. Theres good fashion, a lot of good clothing stores, good fabric stores for material. Like my friend in Kansas City, he is local here, but he goes all over the nation… To Chicago and everyone knows him, because he has his own style of clothing, has his own brand, even jeans.

iV – What’s the name of his clothing line?

M – Earl, he’s on my Facebook. (Connected World Alliance)

iV – That’s cool. I have to check that out. So through your traveling days. I know you’ve been many places… What places have inspired you the most?

M – I was 33 when I started traveling. I would go to California, and notice Californian’s were trendsetters. You would come home to Kansas City and see a trend California Already came out with. Even with music.

iV – I know you touched on traveling earlier too, but who do you feel has the most style to you? East Coast or the West Coast?

M – I would say…. the East Coast.

inspired VKL– We have our winner! I would like to thank you for your time, and allowing Inspired VKL to interview you.

Micheal Wheeler – Thank you, Sister Vanessa

Check out him out in Instagram @superjesusrunning