Fall break is the perfect time to seek out fashion inspiration and to prepare your wardrobe for the coming cold months. While visiting my hometown Memphis, Tennessee, I stopped by the Rhodes College campus on the students’ first day back from break and found these two Fashionistas catching up on the quad. Combining chic neutrals with striking colors and patterns, these Rhodes students are ready to face the second half of the semester in style.
Name: Allie Bankart (left) and Elizabeth Zuelke (right)
Year in School: Senior
Major: English Literature (Allie) and Economics and Business (Elizabeth)
College Fashionista: What are you wearing?
Allie Bankart: My top is from Target, my jeans are Tory Burch, my shoes are Jack Rogers and my necklace is from a random boutique online.
Elizabeth Zuelke: I am in love with J.Crew, so a lot of the outfit came from our store here in Memphis. I just bought the jeans from there a few weeks ago. I am still trying to get used to the whole high-waisted trend, and I bought the gingham navy shirt there ages ago. My boots are my mother's old riding boots that I found in the back of her closet one day and couldn't resist. My bag I got as a Christmas present, also from my mother. It's from Fossil, and it’s the perfect size for my bike basket and my books. The bike is an old Swenson. With parking a little tight here, it’s my main mode of transportation!
CF: What was the inspiration for your outfits today?
AB: I fell in love with the bubble necklace trend and wanted to wear neutral colors so the turquoise could pop and be the focal point of my outfit.
EZ: With these boots, I am really into the equestrian look, and I am not afraid to wear one color. So the navy jeans with this shirt is one of my new favorite things to do.
CF: Who are your style icons?
AB: I love J.Crew's classic preppy look with a twist, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch and Milly. I also love how Olivia Palermo puts together her outfits. She uses classic staples but with mixed prints and textures.
EZ: I'd have to say my grandmother. I love going through her closet and seeing the things she used to wear, it's a great source of inspiration.
CF: How has living in the South influenced your style?
AB: I am actually from Nantucket, Massachusetts so coming down to Memphis was a bit of a culture shock for me at first. I've found that the southern style isn't much different from what I am used to seeing up North besides the fact that the shoe of choice down here is a cowboy boot and not Jack Rogers like I'm used to. I still stick to my New England style.
EZ: I am from Alabama. All the women in my family are always “dressed,” and they have always expected me to do the same. My mother even had pants made out of the same material as my dresses! I didn't stand a chance. All of my mother's friends are the same way, and I grew up going to parties and things where everyone had an “outfit” on, even in the heat.
CF: What excites you most about fall fashion?
AB: I really like jewel tones and also love wearing sweater dresses. I think the thing that I'm excited for the most is just throwing on a blazer over jeans and a cute top. I think that easily pulls an outfit together.
EZ: Jackets!
How To: Be bold in your choices! Allie and Elizabeth are each taking style risks but do so with careful consideration of their overall looks. If you want to showcase a statement piece of jewelry, tone down the rest of your outfit to draw attention to your focal point, as Allie does. A simple black dress like this Free People shift will complement any dramatic jewels. These Fashionistas are working simple patterns that add more intrigue than a typical solid ensemble—and as I’ve written before, gingham can be incredibly versatile. Shirts like this one from Marc by Marc Jacobs or this one at J.Crew will jazz up a simple base layer. Riding boots like Elizabeth’s or this pair from Ralph Lauren are a fall essential, so choose a color that will best complement the colors in your wardrobe.
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