Name: Donna Askari
School, Year: GS, 2017
Major: History and Middle Eastern Studies
Hometown: Great Neck, NY
What is your most worn accessory and/or article of clothing?
Short black boots for all year round, also a gold necklace from Iran that has a portrait of a boy that my mom gave me. I usually pair these with my self-deprecating sense of humor.
Where do you like to shop?
Topshop, Aritzia, ASOS, friends’ and sisters’ closets, and the occasional thrift.
Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?
I aspire to dress like a cross between Alexa Chung, Julian Casablancas, and Albert Hammond Jr., but alas, it’s a bit unattainable. Old photographs of my grandmother in the 1960s are also pretty inspiring to my fashion sense. Students at Columbia are super well-dressed, so if you ever see me staring, it’s likely because I’m envious of your outfit.
How has your style changed since coming to Columbia/Barnard?
I think I’ve become less trend-conscious and focused more on collecting pieces that I like even if nobody else does. I dress mostly in dark colors, so I like to find pieces in neutrals that have some sort of unique feature to them, while trying to maximize comfort.