1. Rahul Sharma, 4th year (he/him)
Details of the Fit
- French Gardening Clogs from Plasticana, made of hemp plastic
- Old Jeans from high school that have always been slightly too short, handsewn patchwork to repair fresh rips
- Yellow Acrylic Button-up from the 60s, found in Richmond thrift store
- White Jean Jacket from NYC based brand Knickerbocker
- Rings are heirloom gifts from grandma and mom
- Bracelet was a birthday gift from a UVA friend
- Sunglasses Frames from Urban Outfitters, Tinted Prescription Lenses set into frames in India
What does fashion mean to you?
I think of fashion and style as 2 separate things. Fashion is something that’s out there in New York, Paris, or Milan. But the thing that’s surrounding it, the people that go to the shows, the street style photography, and the individual rather than the brands, that’s style.
That’s more of what I’m interested in: wearing outfits that are interesting to me and hopefully interesting to other people.
I’m still aware of the way that I dress and that it changes the way that people perceive me. So in a way, I’m manipulating people’s perception of me, but it’s mostly about trying to feel cool myself.
What is the number one thing on your clothing wishlist right now?
I'm not really a watch person, but I’d really love the Cartier Crash, a watch modeled after the famous melting watch Dali painting, or a pair of classic black horsebit Gucci loafers, but those are both very expensive.
2. Peyton Yee, 3rd year (she/her)
Details of the Fit
- Black Doc Martens Loafers thrifted from a Flea Market for $35
- White Crew Socks from Amazon
- Floral Midi Skirt from TJ Maxx or Marshalls
- Black Cami from Forever 21, bought in 8th grade
- Yellow Button-up Vest from Depop
- Floral Earrings from Flea Market
- Knit Bag was Handmade
Who are your biggest style influences?
Oh, definitely Betsey Johnson. I love that woman's work. She's just so fearless in everything she does. I look at her clothing and her shoes and I just think, This should be so ugly, but I love it.
How did you first fall in love with Betsey Johnson?
My mom is obsessed, like so obsessed, with shoes. God, she has so many. So, we would always go to Dillard’s and look at all the different shoes. It was always our bonding moment to go look at and try on the expensive shoes, and Betsey was always there. I’d always say, Mom, this is it. This is the shoe, and from there, I started looking online at her stuff and it’s just such beautiful work.
3. Justin Ortega, 3rd Year (he/him)
Details of the Outfit
- White Sneakers from American brand DC
- Black Leather Pants from a secondhand site, brand is Vansons Leathers
- Black Fishing Vest, source unknown
- White Deep U-neck Tank Top, originally a Zara polo shirt that was thrift flipped and cut into a tank
- Silver Bracelet from Etsy
- Silver Ring from Washington DC Flea Market
- Silver Chain Necklace from Amazon
- Belt from online marketplace Grailed
Who are your biggest style influences?
The weather. The temperature and amount of sunlight heavily influence what I wear.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Secondhand shops, but I don’t like thrifting because it takes so much time for so little yield. I buy a lot from Grailed and Japanese proxy servers like Mercari.
What is the number one thing on your clothing wishlist right now?
The 2005 Dora The Explorer Purple Rescue Backpack.
4. Sydney Queener, 3rd Year (she/her)
Details of the Fit
- Gray Bolero from Shein
- Swirl Tank Top, spray painted wife beater from Walmart
- Gray Pleated Skirt from TaoBao
- Black Loafer Platforms from Koi Footwear
- White Crew Socks from Shein
- Necklace was handmade
- Earrings from Vivienne Westwood
Where are your favorite places to shop?
My favorite is TaoBao, it’s like China's version of Ebay. There are a ton of brands, some are more wholesale and some are independent, that are pretty affordable.
For brands themselves, I have been liking Stylenanda right now and also Jaded London, their knits are really cute. I also have been following more expensive brands like happy99, no dress, and heaven by Marc Jacobs.
What is the number one thing on your clothing wishlist right now?
Anything from the Issey Miyake x Aya Takno collab
What does fashion mean to you?
I am pretty reserved and sometimes have trouble expressing myself so having an outlet to show parts of my identity very obviously to others helps me feel a sense of security when meeting people.
5. Sarah Tirado, 2nd year (she/her)
Details of the Fit
- Brown/Gray Bomber Jacket from Goodwill
- Black Top from Goodwill's Kids Section
- Floral Midi Skirt from Salvation Army
- Black Saddle Bag from Depop
- Black Loafers from Doc Martens
- Rings from Downtown Mall, an Heirloom from Grandma, and a New York pop-up
- Necklace from Honduras, Graduation Gift from Aunt
What does fashion mean to you?
Growing up, for a lot of people, humor was their thing. But I feel like my thing was experimenting with fashion and style. I’m not high income at all, so I love being able to go thrifting and finding outfits that make me happy.
What is the number one thing on your clothing wishlist right now?
Classic Ultra Mini Uggs (Low Uggs)
6. Justin Kim, 3rd year (he/him)
Details of the Fit
- Black Metal Tipped Boots from ASOS, replica of Raf Simons x Calvin Klein Boots
- Blue Cowboy Bootcut Jeans, favorite pair of hand-me-downs
- Liquid Metal Detailed Belt from somewhere in Charlottesville
- Women’s Black T-Shirt with Exposed Seams from Vetements at Dover Street Market from NYC, bought on clearance with friends
- Navy Blue Sweater is thrifted and turned inside out, stripes are created by the inner seams
- Silver Ring from an Asian Independent Business Owner at a Street Fair
- Silver Necklaces are matching cuban links with friends & a matching bear best friend necklace with Maya Roeung, brand is heaven by Marc Jacobs
- Earrings are miscellaneous
Who are your biggest style influences?
On a daily basis, I’m mostly influenced by other people that I see, whether it’s online or in person. and also general trends. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was inspired by celebrities like Uzi, Carti, and Rocky.
In terms of how I want to dress in the future, definitely Demna, he was at Vetements, but now he’s with Balenciaga, Raf Simons, and Jacquemus. I do look to Asian designers too like Peter Do, who’s recently blowing up, and Ambush, a Japanese designer, and this Korean brand called Post Archive Faction.
What is the number one thing on your clothing wishlist right now?
The brand I was talking about, Post Archive Faction, makes these crazy puffers with all these zippers that curve and are super detailed. I’ve been wanting one for so long, but they’re way too expensive.
What does fashion mean to you?
In high school, when people would ask me, “Why do you always dress up for school, it’s so pointless,” I'd always tell them that it was a way of taking control of my day right off the bat. Fashion is more than self-expression, it’s self-autonomy or ownership.
7. Maya Roeung, 3rd year (she/they)
Details of the Fit
- Black Platform Loafers from Jeffrey Campbell
- White Crew Socks, stolen from a friend
- Black Pleated Skirt from Yesstyle
- Oversized White Button-up from mom’s closet
- Black Tie from dad’s closet
- Silver Tiffany Rings are gifts from mom
- Silver Bear Best Friends Necklace, matching with Justin Kim, brand is heaven by Marc Jacobs
- Silver Locket Necklace is handmade 3 years ago, has never been taken off
- Gold Bangles/Bracelets are gifts from mom
- Silver Earrings from Urban Outfitters
Who are your biggest style influences?
My older cousins have really good style. Growing up, I really looked up to them and wanted to dress like them. I’d always ask, “where do you guys shop?,” but they’re such gatekeepers, so I said, “whatever, I’ll find my own style.”
I like to look a lot on Instagram and other social media platforms. I don't have anyone specific, but I like brands like Margiela and Balenciaga.
What is the number one thing on your clothing wishlist right now?
The Margiela Tabi Boots. God, I’ve wanted them for so long but they’ re so expensive. People think they look like hooves, but I want to be trotting around Grounds.
8. Annie Trinh, 3rd year (she/her)
Details of the Fit
- Black Leather Jacket from Depop
- Black Strapless Bodycon Dress from H&M
- White Mesh Top from Zara
- Black Platform Heeled Boots from AliExpress
- Necklace & Rings from Etsy
Who are your biggest style influences?
I get most of my style inspiration from Chinese and street style and influencers off a social media platform called ”small red book” in Chinese. I also get a lot of my style and aesthetic inspiration from @sabrinaaalan_ and @ashleyseryn on Instagram.
What does fashion mean to you?
I’m a big believer in when you look good, you’ll feel good. Regardless of how other people perceive you, if you’re wearing something that suits you, your taste, and makes you happy, it gives you a different confidence walking around.
Fashion to me is also an art of expression. More than just personal expression, fashion expresses the atmosphere and the moment.
9. Dean Paler, 1st year (he/him)
Details of the Fit
- Brown Corduroy Cowboy Pants are thrifted Levis
- White T-Shirt from Patagonia
- Sweater is thrifted
- Black Velcro Sneakers from Vans
Who are your biggest style influences?
I’m not influenced by a specific person, but more just social media. When I see something I like, I’ll keep it in the back of my mind when I go thrifting.
It feels weird to say you’re copying other people, but I guess that’s just how it is. A lot of my style inspiration comes from emulating what I like on social media.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Recently, I also started going to the Goodwill bins. Goodwill is really expensive, but the bins are much cheaper obviously because you have to do the manual labor.
It’s really disgusting because everything’s unwashed and you have to go in the morning right when it opens to get the good stuff, but it’s worth it. It’s definitely not a casual spontaneous plan though.
10. Gabe Sirak, 4th year (he/him)
Details of the Fit
- Black Wide Leg Jeans from Salvation Army
- Red Timberland Sweater from Goodwill
- Black Loafers from Doc Martens
- Rings are gifts from friends & family, mom, aunt’s trip to Ethiopia
- Silver watch was a Christmas gift from dad
- Bracelets are gifts from friend’s NY trip
- Gold Chain is a baptism gift from birth
- Silver Necklace is a gift from mom from Ethiopia
- Industrial Belt pulled from a pair of Khaki Cargos at Goodwill
How has your style grown over time?
Especially my first year when I first started getting into fashion, I felt so much anxiety over trying to expand my closet and my fashion as quickly as possible. I’d go to thrift stores and really just grab anything without a lot of concern for how it would make me feel to wear.
One thing I didn't appreciate enough was finding clothes that fit well rather than clothes that simply look nice. For any type of clothing, if it fits you well, it’ll look nice and you can work around that. Since then I’ve become more intentional when thrifting, paying attention to “Hey, does this fit well? Would this fit in my closet?” And, “would this make me feel good?”
What does fashion mean to you?
When my parents came to the United States, they experienced a lot of identity loss. I feel like it’s an experience a lot of immigrants face: sacrificing passions, interests, and hobbies for work and for family. And fashion was one of the more particular ways I saw that identity loss in my parents. My parents used to tell me stories of how they’d go shopping together, how’d he’d buy her dresses and she’d buy him clothes, but that never really continued past when we were born.
But since I’ve become an adult, I have the autonomy to decide how I want to represent myself. And by engaging with fashion, especially with Ethiopian textiles and designers, I can not only express my pride in being Ethiopian American, but also it’d be a shame if I didn’t look for ways to express myself as authentically as I can when my parents sacrificed so much to give me that privilege.
