With more than 27,000 students on campus, it can be tough to stand out. However, some students capitalize on their own personal style – whether they like to dress up or employ clothes as a way of self-expression – and use campus as their platform to showcase it.
The following students were photographed around campus and asked about their fashion inspirations, their current favorite trends and how they would describe their own personal style.
Alysa May Ilchert, senior in history
Describe your style: Comfortable, but feminine. I always try to look put together, even if I’m only wearing only a basic print tee and jean shorts. I like to put thought into how I present myself to the outside world, even if I am just going to class or the store!
Favorite piece in my wardrobe: A floral, cotton, high-waisted skirt. It can be dressed up or dressed down to fit any occasion.
Advice for someone struggling with personal style: Try many different styles until you find what fits you. Go 80s one day, Hollywood glamour the next.
Malone Powell, senior in child and family studies
Describe your style: I love dresses and I love skirts; things that are not modest, but nothing too tight. I like loose things. I like colors, and I also like solid, basic pieces.
Favorite stores: I love Altar’d State, Urban Outfitters and I love boutiques.
What inspires me: I love Pinterest. I think I know what I like in my style and I always go to certain types of shapes of dresses and stuff like that. I also look at people around me, if I see something cute I think that I need to look for something like that.
Cameron Sutton, sophomore in College of Arts and Sciences
Describe your style: My style is very unique and I try to base it off of what I like the most and what people don’t wear a lot.
Favorite stores: Urban Outfitters just for the variety of clothes they have, PacSun and Ralph Lauren are a couple of my favorite stores.
Favorite piece in my wardrobe: I have a variety of all kinds of shoes. Any outfit I have, I have to have the perfect shoe to go with it. Nike is my favorite brand for shoes.
Mallory Pizzitola, sophomore in journalism and electronic media
Describe your style: Chic and colorful. I always like to wear colors.
Favorite trend right now: I like hippie stuff and high-waisted shorts. I can’t wear pants in the summer. And crop tops mostly.
What inspires me: Pinterest definitely. That and music festival websites.
Diamond Rayborn, senior in marketing with an international business collateral
Describe your style: Spontaneous. The fact that my name is Diamond, I find I really like taking a different approach to every day whether I am getting ready for class or hanging out with girlfriends.
Favorite trend right now: I would have to say high-waisted jeans for sure, and patterned shirts that are sleeveless and cropped. That’s my main style that I’ve been going after lately.
Advice for someone struggling with personal style: I would definitely tell them to check out Pinterest. That’s what I do, and fashion blogs. And even taking notes from friends that are into fashion, that’s a great idea too.
Justin Roush, graduate student in economics
Describe your style: All over the place. I think as I have gone through life and really decided what I wanted to look like and try new things out. Economics, jock nerd is my style.
Current piece in my wardrobe: Button ups, Tommy Hilfiger button ups.
Describe campus style: Very relaxed, it’s eclectic. Definitely before lunchtime, it’s pajamas and sport clothes, and then every now and then after lunch you’ll see people dressed up.
Fashion mantra: I don’t believe that there’s such a thing as overdressed.
