Name: Paris Parker-Loan
School, Year: CC ’18
Major: American Studies with a concentration in Sociocultural Anthropology
Hometown: Montgomery County, MD
What is your most worn accessory and/or article of clothing?
Easily my white low-top Air Force 1s—I swiped them from my mom’s closet years ago for a ’90s themed high school party and have been stomping around in them proudly and unironically ever since. These kicks have taken me everywhere from class to gigs to gallery openings at my (very laid back) office. I pair them with crew socks: either stark white, solid colored, or sparkly ones depending on the rest of my look.
Where do you like to shop?
Fast fashion makes it temptingly easy to shop a curated selection of trendy items at an accessible price point, but for me it kind of loses its appeal when I see eight other people wearing the same jacket styled the same way on my walk to class. I definitely try to source more unique statement and investment pieces at smaller stores when I can. Consignment shops are always great—last time I was home, I picked up a perfectly tapered pair of vintage 501s and a gorgeous rust-colored satin neck scarf that I’ve been wearing a lot as the weather changes. In the city, I like The Vintage Twin for outerwear (they have great windbreakers right now!) and Reformation for basics.
Where do you get your fashion inspiration?
Working in the creative sector means that I’m always surrounded by people with distinct but equally well-developed personal style. As such, I am inspired by everyone from my best friends at school to my co-editors on Hoot Magazine to strangers I see in the crowds while doing PR for concerts. I also appreciate social media, flawed as it may be, for making it possible to see how an entire network of cool young creatives—visual artists, musicians, models, etc.—style the pieces that they own.
How has your style changed since coming to Columbia/Barnard?
My hometown toes the line between preppy and crunchy, so growing up I was always the sartorial sore thumb even for something as simple as wearing all black. Though I do still gravitate towards monochrome outfits, I now use them as an opportunity to play with mixed materials and experiment with more unexpected colors. I’ve also gotten much better at curating my wardrobe by shopping deliberately, rather than just grabbing trendy pieces that will reach their physical and aesthetic expiration after three wears.