Fashion Forward College Students

By Mark H. Russ

Donald Brown

College student’s fashion choices change as quickly as their majors. What matches their personality one week, clashes with their personality the next week. Still, fashion is one way of outwardly expressing creativity and individual style.

Candice Joyner, 22, a communication arts major in her senior year at Hood College in Frederick, Md., said that her favorite designers are Michael Khors and Louis Vuitton. Joyner also said that her style is determined by where she is going that day.

“I save my flashy clothes for events where I want to make a good impression on the people that I may come into contact with,” Joyner said. As she has gotten older, and exposed to different things, her style has changed significantly. “Most of my fashion inspiration comes from Instagram. Many stores also show their clothing online and that inspires me.”

Donald Brown, 21, an English major in his junior year at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, said that his style has remained the same since he was five years old. “My mother and father started dressing me in Polo by Ralph Lauren when I was in kindergarten,” he said. “I still love anything by Ralph Lauren because, to me, his clothes are crisp, clean, and all-American.”

Brown also said that he doesn’t pay a lot of attention to advertisements and what’s popular.

“I know what looks good on me and I like to remain consistent. I don’t like trying on a lot of different clothes,” Brown said. “I like to go into a store, buy the same shirt in four different colors, and go home.”

Junior Heidi Marino, 20, studying communication arts and public relations at Hood, said she feels that looking good looking good is directly connected to her major. “In the communications major you have to do a lot of presentations, public speaking, and even an internship. I think that looking well-put-together is a big part of your overall presentation.”

Marino said that her favorite designers are Marc by Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen. Her favorite part about dressing is mixing textures and patterns. “I like seeing lots of layers like scarves with multiple shirts or sweaters over-top each other,” she said. “I enjoy mixing jean jackets with leather and a bright loafer. The contrast of all the opposing items together looks awesome.”

Khyle Ball, 19, an integrated communications and marketing major at Hood, likes to mix higher-end designers such as Armani and Burberry, with more affordable brands like Kenneth Cole and Express. He is inspired by what he sees in fashion magazines like GQ, Vogue, and his friends.

“I used to dress very frumpy and blah,” Ball said. “Now I am inspired by things that are new age and sleek, that’s what helps to determine my style.”    

According to a report by Fox Business, clothing expenses are listed as one of the five money pits that add to college students financial woes. The 18-to-25 year old age group is often-times heavily marketed to by advertisers. This need to keep up with fashion can result in credit card debt exceeding $4,000 upon graduation.

While looking good and socializing is a part of the college experience, graduating with the minimum amount of debt should be a goal for students.
The article recommends students shop at daily deal websites such as amazon and EBay, ask retailers if they offer student discounts, and even swap clothes with friends too remain stylish, and keep spending and debt at a bare minimum.

Carissa Smith, 21, a nursing student at Hagerstown Community College, said that while she likes to look good, style is more important than the designer name on the piece of clothing.

Carissa Jade

“I don’t have any favorite brands to be honest. I go with whatever works for me,” Smith said. “I think that people feel that they need to spend a lot of money too look good and that’s not true. I shop at Wal-Mart, Target, Goodwill, thrift stores, and every clearance rack in the mall.”
Smith said that what takes her so long to get ready is coordinating her outfit with her hair and her makeup.

“Today I am feeling very 1980’s Madonna. I have on lace gloves, a jean jacket, ripped tights, knee high Doc Martins, layers of necklaces and rosary beads, and according to my mother, way too much makeup,” Smith said. “Too me fashion is supposed to be fun. Today I am feeling like Madonna, tomorrow it may be Beyoncé, and Monday I may be feeling very granny and raid my grandmother’s closet. I like to have fun and never take style too serious.”

Dominique Quesada, 21, a communications arts major at Hood said that her job the retailer Express made her want to keep up with the latest trends. She counts Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, and Express as her fashion mainstays.

“My style is seen as fashion forward, but at the same time being comfortable,” Quesada said. “Denim and leather have become more popular than before.”