Most of the time, I wake up far too late to really pick a satisfactory outfit for the day and far too early that I overcompensate for the amount of time that I theoretically have to get ready for class. Part of the problem, as I would like to believe, is that I don’t have enough of the garments that I would truly wear on the day to day. Sure, I have a good collection of comfy sweats and hoodies, as well as my fair share of free shirts that I’ve collected over my year and a half on campus, but it’s never quite what I need. I have two very simple requirements when it comes to dressing: it must be wearable, and adaptable, meaning that it can be styled as much as possible, as little as possible, and everything in between. Now that we have the criteria, based on looks solely (because I am not important enough or connected enough to actually attend a fashion show) I will present to you a short list, in no particular order, of the most eye-catching garments I saw during this most recent season.
- Dries Van Noten’s beautifully ornate jackets that would actually work with a rather simple outfit underneath. It’s a beaded and printed extravaganza of bright blues and boringly exciting neutrals.
- Strangely, I am very into the Prada skirts (specifically Look 14) that are kind of light dungarees in a sense. I kind of like the minorly utilitarian aspect to them. They have a bit of restriction to them because they hang off the shoulders rather than the hips, but I personally think there is nothing more freeing than a skirt.
- This runway Coach Brooklyn with the kiss lock compartment on the side, chef’s kiss.
- This vibrant orange Chanel skirt is probably not the most practical, especially as somebody who walks to class a lot, and given that Michigan weather is not forgiving. However, it reminds me of Firebird, which is a monumental and important ballet to me, therefore I would wear it to class. As I am an astrophysics major as well, I would be remiss if I didn’t include something from this season’s Chanel show, as it had massive planets hanging from the ceilings and protruding from the floors.
- Apparently I’m really into feathers. This Balenciaga look combines a bright, slightly mustard yellow and a deep royal purple. All the separate components of this look would go great with other basics like a pair of jeans or a white shirt as styled with the skirt here. I also love the drama of the hat.Â
- These sunglasses careen down almost the entirety of the face, which I find very practical for when you want to hide the two hours of sleep you got from studying for physics all night. Also, the v-neck and height of the collar on the leather jacket is so elevating.
- I love the pop of green among this dove grey woven leather trench.
As of now, I lack the courage to wear any of these clothes out and about, however, I found much solace in the curation of this list. As my life starts to diverge from the safety of my childhood, I find joy in expressing those childlike portions of my personality that I am slowly losing touch of. This is why I decided to channel my passion for fashion and fantasy into this article and why I find it important to build confidence. Even though making this list seemed minuscule and one would think it provides nothing in creating confidence, I like to look at it as a small step towards becoming more comfortable with myself and who I am growing into. Yes, this list is short and light-hearted, it is also a reflection of who I am and my personality. Thus, clothing, no matter how extravagant, is a depiction of the person who adorns it and is a window into the person itself despite its vanity. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to walk around campus in fun bright embroidered jackets or obnoxiously large frames, but as of now I will just imagine I am.