In the midst of ladies sporting jeans, loose sweaters and Sperrys, junior English and philosophy double major Jinin Berry is not hard to spot. Her sophisticated, prim and proper, somewhat character-like outfits, complemented with demure shades of scarlet lipstick, set her apart from the pack. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Berry, who describes her style as feminine, classic and slightly alternative, feels that clothes are a form of expression. “It gives people a glimpse of your personality,” she said. “That’s why I like [dressing up] and that’s why I do it.”
Decked in smart velvet blazers, feminine oversize button downs, high-waisted belted pants and vintage footwear, Berry certainly looks like a lady who’s been fashion forward all her life. However, it was only recently that she started crafting creative, head-turning ensembles.
During her freshman year of college, Berry said she “started to become more conscious of what she wore” and what most girls around her were wearing. After deciding that she no longer cared for the standard jeans-and-T-shirt get-up, she set out to build a new and original wardrobe.
Inspired by the couture she saw in Twin Peaks, a show from the early 90s, she began collecting classic, vintage pieces from stores like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters.Â
Eventually, she found herself regularly hitting up her local thrift store, which offered an impressive selection of 90s clothing at prices that were drastically cheaper than the clothes at the mall.
At the moment, Berry is a huge fan of her black GAP jeggings. “They are very slim-fitting and they make you look really good,” she said. “People always ask me where I got them from, which is unusual.”
Her current go-to purse is a small, vintage Dooney & Bourke cross-body leather bag that she scored at the thrift store. “It has contrasting neutral colors and it’s really sturdy so I can wear it with anything,” Berry said.
Before creating an outfit, which usually takes her about 30 minutes, Berry said she sometimes reads fashion blogs, watches YouTube videos and peruses through fashion sites like LOOKBOOK.nu for a boost of inspiration.
“If I don’t plan [my outfit] the day before, then it’s gonna suck,” said Berry. “I’ll just be stuck wearing jeans and a sweater to school, and I don’t really like to do that.”
Over the years, Berry has proven to be quite fearless where fashion is concerned and although she generally receives positive feedback on her outfits, she sometimes gets rude looks and questions about her clothing choices. When that happens, Berry said she becomes “salty” and sometimes starts to argue.
Regardless of the reaction her outfits evoke, Berry doesn’t think she will ever give up her unique, cosmopolitan style. “Lots of my clothes are classic so I can wear them for a long time,” she said. “I can’t really imagine me changing my style or just wearing the typical stuff that everyone else wears.”