It is a crisp Saturday morning in October; I throw my favorite military jacket over dark skinny jeans and head to downtown Providence with a few of my closest friends. Catching an hour-long train ride to Boston, we pore over fall fashion shoots in the copy of Elle that I stashed in my bag before boarding. Upon arrival, the shopping adventures begin. Starting with Buffalo Exchange, we wind through the city, scouring the racks of secondhand stores in search of abandoned gems. One of us may get lucky and stumble upon a crocheted Ralph Lauren top or jeans that fit perfectly — but whatever we find, there are laughs at the funky, fringed vests and oversized shades that we will inevitably try on.
If I had endless amounts of free time, I would love to spend many weekends like this, ambling around New England cities in search of thrift stores and stylish people. The fashion scene here mirrors the structures on which the cities are built: in constant state of repurposing and redefining in order to create an eclectic mix of old and new. I love this layered philosophy, where individuals do not hesitate to combine a leather jacket raided from their parents’ closet with a trendy splurge, like spiked loafers. These creators, the ones who sit next to me in a sleepy 9 a.m. section or frolic on the Main Green during precious sunny days, are the reason I love to be a street style photographer.
In my past two semesters as a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista, I have enjoyed meeting these folk whose sartorial choices are an inspiration to their fellow students. As I approach my third semester and senior year at Brown, I look forward to branching out and writing about beauty in addition to this amazing style. Whatever I may find on Thayer Street or Ruth’s Quad, I am crossing my fingers for some Prada-inspired purple and orange, outrageously embellished collars and a bit of DIY whimsy.
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