When Miuccia Prada, granddaughter of Mario Prada and the woman behind the label’s success story, said, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language,” I took a better look at my own style. It really is hard to express yourself sartorially while in college, especially when there is that nagging desire to throw on sweats to study. Inspired by writer and artist Jean Cocteau, who said, “Style is a simple way of saying complicated things,” I put sweats behind me and focused on what I had to say.
I am a sophomore at Dartmouth College and am studying engineering and studio art. I have always loved the technical side of things, but became more fascinated with design and creative projects as I got older. My major combination has helped me dive into both of my interests and keeps my classes interesting! Growing up in a preppy town and summering on a preppy beach shaped my love of everything nautical - especially stripes! My mother’s undying love for navy and orange also played a huge role in what went into my closet before college. Though I will never stop loving these tones, I started to play with my personal style when I moved to Holland after high school.
I was young for my grade and decided to take the opportunity to play field hockey for a Dutch hockey club and expand my horizons. I had no intention of straying from my jeans and cardigan look, but the minute I crossed the pond, I was immersed into a world of possibilities. Everywhere I turned there were new styles and no two people dressed the same. It was all big scarves, fur, and leather. Needless to say, I went on some shopping sprees with my teammates and started to develop my own look. It changes every day and sometimes I go back to my preppy roots, but I feel much more comfortable in the clothes I have today and don’t care if people think I am too dressed up for school. I still hold true to the idea that one can never be overdressed if they are comfortable and confident.
Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago and going to school in New Hampshire, I am no stranger to the cold. As much fun as it is to wear next to nothing in the summer sun, I love the winter because I love to layer. Scarves from Madewell, jackets from Zara, and boots from L.L. Bean are all sure to make their appearances in 2013. There is no such thing as being too warm as the crowd scuddles across campus, so I am excited to see what styles my classmates have in store for this winter!
Comments