When I spied this Fashionisto on the sidewalk, I almost didn’t look twice. His ensemble was classic. We all have spotted the classic person’s wardrobe: polos in neutral tones, flannels in subdued hues, single color button-up shirts, khaki pants or shorts, dark-wash jeans, cargo shorts in colors like tan, gray, and camel; classic is relatively common. Yet as I nearly walked past him, a thought struck me: classic is underrated. Today, nobody asks a person dressed in a button up and jeans for style advice. People typically tend to focus on those who stand out with their fashion choices and ask them what inspires their crazy selections, but I decided to ask this Fashionisto why he chooses to keep it classic rather than courageous.
Name: Taylor Coplen
Major: Philosophy; History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science and Medicine (HIPS)
Year: Second Year
CollegeFashionista: How would you describe your personal style?
Taylor Coplen: I would describe it as conservative and simple.
CF: What’s your fashion staple?
TC: My fashion staple is Plaid.
CF: If your wardrobe could only consist of five items what would they be?
TC: They would be Cole Haan Air Yacht Club Boat shoes, a plaid button-up shirt, dark-wash jeans, a dark green jacket, and a Brooks Brothers polo.
CF: What’s your favorite fashion season?
TC: My favorite season is winter.
CF: What’s your go-to item in your wardrobe?
TC: My go-to item is a flannel button-up shirt.
CF: Where are your favorite places to shop?
TC: My favorite places to shop are J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, and Cole Haan.
CF: What fashion advice do you have for college students?
TC: Focus more on your classes than your clothes. Have a simple wardrobe that allows you to keep your mind on other things.
How To: Taylor’s wardrobe is simple because it’s classic. With a classic wardrobe it’s difficult to go daring on colors without stepping into preppy territory. There exists a very fine line between a classic wardrobe and a preppy wardrobe. I suggest for classic’s sake that you keep the overall outfit neutral and only splurge on the color in the plaid of your shirt.
So you should start with a flannel, button-up shirt, or polo in a subdued hue. For colder weather, if the colors on your shirt are dark, choose dark wash jeans. For warmer weather, choose khaki shorts or cargo shorts. This Fashionisto chose to stray from classic in his shoe choice with a pair of plaid Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers. Yet he keeps his outfit looking classic by choosing a pattern that matches his shirt and colors that match his shorts, so that the shoes don’t look out of place. I highly suggest following in Taylor's footsteps and straying from classic on your shoe choice by matching the colors on your shoe to a brighter color on your shirt or by choosing a pattern that matches the pattern on your shirt, or both!
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