Alyssa

Name: Alyssa B.

Year: Junior

Major: Advertising and Public Relations

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

What inspired your outfits? Lately, I’ve been really into mustard yellow and been eyeing these pants for a long time. I love florals and patterns. I decided to wear the floral top because normally people don’t wear patterns together, but I felt like the shoes tied it all together.

What is your everyday style? I think about this a lot because I really like fashion. I can’t say that I can choose one style because some days, I wake up and I want to be boho-chic and some days, I want to wear a vintage t-shirt and jeans and dress grungy. I don’t like to define my style by one certain genre or category of fashion. It changes day by day. Some days, I want to be girly, and some days, I want to wear all black.

Are there ways in which you conform to or rebel against what you think others want you to wear? I struggle with that a lot because there are some things I want to wear that people are uncomfortable with, because they might think my shorts are too short or my shirts are too cropped, but I realized I have to wear what I feel comfortable in and not let my personal style be determined by the public. I believe what I wear enhances my overall image and personal style. I think my fashion makes me feel strong and self-expressive.

Do you think you fit in with the Pacific Northwest style? Yes and no, but definitely since I’ve come here, my style has conformed. I wear Birkenstocks, and my style is definitely more “effortlessly cool” now. I’m more laid-back and not as “hottie tottie,” whereas, in L.A. I wanted to dress up to a certain extent every day.

How do you think fashion has affected your life? I think it has hugely affected my life because when I was 8 years old, I would obsess over fashion magazines. I try to take it seriously because I am constantly trying to find new ways to change my style. I search fashion blogs and try to find the most current colors or trends. I think it has taken over my life in a positive way. I love fashion.

What do you want to do when you’re older in terms of a job or career? I am not sure because I feel like I have a couple different options. Ever since I was young, I wanted to work for a fashion magazine, whether it was as a stylist or editor. I also love writing, so I think that would be the perfect career for me. I could also see myself starting my own business with a boutique or clothing store.

What draws you to fashion? Why is it so important to you? The elegance of it. When I was younger, I would idolize people who had it all together in terms of their outfits and how they presented themselves. I think clothes are a key factor to self-confidence. Fashion is a form of art to me.

Why did you start making your own clothing? It was a spur of a moment thing. I realized other people would probably want the shirts I was making, and the money aspect played a key role too. The shirts I make are a cheaper version of LF’s shirts, which are in popular demand amongst college students. They are also fun to make; it’s not like a job to me. It’s actually relaxing.

How do you sell them? I sell them on Poshmark and Mercari, which are apps made to sell clothing items. Similar to Buffalo Exchange, some things are new and some things are old. I also sell them to my friends.

How many have I sold? I have sold 19, and the sales just keep coming in, which is really exciting.

Why this design? Although this design is not a completely original idea, I have added my own touch to it. The reason I started making these is because I love vintage tees. They are not only practical, but they are also effortless. I think that is what my style is moving towards, and I think that everyone can attain this effortlessly cool look through my t-shirts. I also wanted to make a t-shirt that was more affordable than the original ones, something that was more accessible and something that was more handpicked and crafted towards certain peoples’ interests and likes.

How would you describe the style? As far as the style goes, I’ve been really into thrifting lately and finding hidden gems. So, when I look for shirts every week at various thrift stores, I keep in mind what I would like and what some of my friends and idols would like as well. The best part about adding this lacing detail is that it takes an ordinary shirt and adds a bold touch to it. It doesn’t really have any limits to where you can wear it. I find myself wearing it while lounging around in the house, going out with friends to a party and even just going to class. It is very versatile, and it’s comfortable. That’s a main component to me. It is one of those shirts that you can throw on for any occasion, and it will lie perfectly on you. A part of me feels special wearing it too because I know that it was handmade and made with love and care.

What have you learned about fashion through making clothes? I have learned that fashion is very limitless; it allows you to do the strangest things to clothing items. It also is this beautiful thing through which you can create and just test new things and see if you like them. With every piece I make, it’s hard for me to sell them because I put so much time and investment in them that usually I want to keep them. But of course, I have a mini business where I have to sell them.

What do you want to make in the future? I’ve been coming up with new designs and testing new things, but for now, I think I want to stick to different vintage t-shirt designs. Although I’ve been really into distressing vintage Levi 501’s. so I might try and do something new and fun to jeans and shorts to add another layer to my little business.

Words and photos by Alie Williams

Chi Chi

Name: Chi Chi N.

Year: Graduate Student

Program: Couples and Family Therapy through the College of Education

Hometown: Oak Hill, West Virginia

Chi Chi rocks a yellow dress from Marshalls. Her headscarf was made from fabric a friend brought in Liberia. She also made a scarf and pants out of it.

 

Did you grow up in West Virginia? Yes I grew up in West Virginia, but I am half Nigerian. So I’ve had a lot of influence from my dad, and he actually lives in New York. So I spent summers up there.

How was it growing up there and dressing more expressively? It was interesting. When I was in high school, I was probably the only one that was dressing as expressively as I do. When I got to college and people were coming from all over, then it was still like, “You’re wearing that?” But then people didn’t assume I was from West Virginia. They said, “Oh you must be from D.C. or something.” No. I’m from West Virginia. It was interesting. People always think you’re doing something out of the box. I’m like, “No. People all over the world are doing this.”

Her ring, which can be flipped to show two different stones, was a gift from her mother. The bracelet was from a Middle Eastern shop in Seattle. 

Have you seen a difference in how people dress on the East and West Coast? There is a little bit more of “I don’t really care what I have on. I’m just going to wear it and be cool.” On the East Coast, there is a little bit more intention about dressing. When I first came here, I thought, “Oh I don’t really need to prepare anything to be cute because everything here is super relaxed.”

How did you become interested in therapy? I think it was just my desire to help out the family. I really want to do work with the African American community, and that’s really what has driven me to pursue therapy and become a therapist.

Do you think you have a personality that works well for therapy? For some reason, I tend to click well with people. They tend to want to be my friend, like “Oh you seem cool and laid back.” I kind of view myself as that kind of person, so I think that works well for me. It’s just having a very chill stance and vibe. Some people feel I’m approachable, but not all.

What is your dream job? My dream job is to do research and then use the research to inform my therapy.

How has your style changed over time? I think I’ve become a little bit more conservative since I joined a master’s program just because I feel I should cover up, but on nice days, I let that go and wear whatever I want to wear.

Her shiny blue clogs are from Gabriel Brothers, a store in West Virginia.

How would you describe your personal style? I kind of draw inspiration from going in the moment. I can plan an outfit the day before, but I like to wake up in the morning and think about what pops out at me or what shoes I want to wear and base my outfit off of that.

What was your inspiration for today? I had to do some homework this morning. So then I thought, “It’s sunny outside. I want to wear yellow.” But I also really wanted to wear these new shoes that I got and my school colors back at home are blue and yellow. I thought, “Perfect. I’m about to rep Mountaineers (West Virginia University) today.”

Who are some of your style inspirations? I’m half Nigerian, so I really get inspiration from African culture, my culture. It’s the reason I have on my headwrap today. And just African culture period. I get inspiration from that: What do I want to do today? Do I want to wear the big earrings or something wooden or a scarf?

Have you noticed the West African wax print fabrics becoming more popular? They have become a lot more popular just because Africa period is growing, and their style over there is growing, and that’s transferring over here. There is a lot of African fabric. A lot of African print being sewn into modern styles, what we call modern here.

How do you see yourself dressing in twenty years? I see myself being similar. I don’t see myself aging as in, “Oh I’m 40. Now I have to cover up.” No. I shaved the side of my head a couple of years ago and had  my hair on the top. My aunt who was 50, she was like, “I’m about to do it too.” She shaved hers, and we were rocking it together. I thought, “That’s going to be me when I get to that age.” When I get to that age, I’m still going to dress me. It’s not going to change.”

Are your family and the women in your life an inspiration? Oh yeah. Up to my grannie. My grannie is 87, and she has a room full of shoes. Even now, we’re like, “Grannie do you want to go out?” We’ll put her in the wheelchair, and we’re going to the shoe store to go shoe shopping with her. It just transfers down. All the women in my life are very eccentric.

What part of your personality comes through in your outfits? I don’t wear anything that I feel isn’t me. Matter of fact, my first name is Allie, and I don’t go by that because it doesn’t suit me. I go by my middle name, which is Chinyere. Chi Chi is short for that. I’m like, “Oh I have to dress for what feels me.” If I feel loud today, I’m going to go loud. If I feel African – well I feel African every day – but if I feel African, I’m going to put on a scarf.  I’m going to wear my earrings. I dress me, which is very eccentric, very unique. I like to think.

Her hair jewels are from a shop in Portland. She wanted to add some flair to her hair.

When did you make the name switch? I’ve always gone by Chi Chi because my dad wanted my first name to be Chinyere and not Allie, but my mom kind of got that. But I’ve always gone by Chi Chi. I’ve been wanting to switch to Chinyere lately, and then go short with Ray. But that’s hard because I’m in my 20s now.

How do you introduce a new name? It would be transition and location. So maybe when I move to do whatever I’m going to do, I may introduce myself as “Chi Chi” and for short, go “Ray” and see how that goes.

Are there any Nigerian celebrities who inspire you? I don’t think any Nigerian celebrities per say. I do love that Lupita Nyong’o is out there, but everyone knows her. I just enjoy the fact that she is a dark-skinned woman, and she is being very loud in her dressing and colors. I think sometimes that maybe when you’re darker or black, it’s assumed you shouldn’t do loud colors. No.

Words by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, @HSteinkopfFrank

Photos by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, @ElinormODell

 

 

Devyn

4rName: Devyn H.

Year: Junior

Major: Advertising

Hometown: Salem, Oregon

Website: www.devynholbrook.com

Devyn sports a comfortable spring look with an Urban Outfitters t-shirt and pants from Madewell (similar here). 

Why did you decide to study advertising? Because I kind of messed around with art, and I did a lot of business in high school, so I feel it’s kind of the perfect mix.

How did you get into the art aspect of advertising? Well, I want to be a creative director, so I want to come up with the ideas for the advertisements – not necessarily actually create them or come up with the base concept – but be on the grander scale.

Does what you study relate to how you dress? I would say so. In the ad school, you kind of have to dress to impress a lot, and I feel if you’re a stylish person, people respect you a little bit more especially in design and creativity and stuff like that. What you put out there is what people take in.

How would you describe your personal style? I would say it is laid back, classic, chic.

Her Sabona bracelet was thrifted and supposedly helps with arthritis. 

How has your style changed over time? I feel like I was super sporty in high school. I played a lot of sports. Then come college, I got into a lot more music and art, so I fell into the more creative, weirder styles. So, now I’m in this weird half. I really like city looks plus that laid back look.

Who are some of your style inspirations? I love performance art. One thing I feel is that your style is kind of like performance art. I like to pick up on things that have a deeper meaning to them in the way I dress. So a lot of times, it describes how I’m feeling. I wear a lot of black, not to be depressed, but with the weather and stuff like that, I feel like that’s a super big inspiration. I love to look at websites and then from that, get a lot of inspiration. I’m really into Madewell right now and Anthropologie. I really like that one because it’s weirder, but you can kind of dress it up or down for classic, kind of alternative wear.

Is your style shifting with the warmer weather? Definitely. I’m going from a lot of leggings because I’m religiously into leggings during the winter time, strictly black or dark grey. I do that with a colorful top. Now, I’m into super flowy pants, and I’m really into flowy shorts too. Anything flowy and light and not constricting, I feel that’s the perfect summer look.

Devyn rocks simple, playful jewelry including a ring from Madewell (similar here) and a lucky clover necklace from Dogeared (similar here).

Do you think there has been a shift from tight clothes like skinny jeans and bodycon dresses to looser garments? Definitely. I’m way into it too, because I feel like it is one of those things that you don’t have to feel as uncomfortable in. A lot of different body styles can fit into them and look the same, so it’s a great outfit choice.

What music are you digging right now? I’ve been really into classic ’90s. It’s really weird, because I feel it’s not normal to like that. But I’ve been really into it. My Pandora is all classic ’90s or early 2000s, which is kind of strange. But, I feel the the way I dress and the clothes and everything is super inspired by it right now. So, I think I’m fully diving into it.

Are there any artists in particular? I love Sublime. They are my favorite right now, especially with the warm weather. I think that’s the perfect ’90s sound. I actually just bought tickets to blink-182 because they are coming to Portland, and I’m super stoked about it, because I’m super into them right now – just the classic, poppy, vibey bands.

Her earrings are from Madewell (similar here). 

Why do you think the ’90s are coming back, both in music and fashion? I feel the ’70s have also been really popular lately. I think it is such a difference from the tight clothes that have been so popular, like tight crop tops and tight pants and all the fitted things. I think it is coming out of that into looser, groovier kinds of styles.

How are you inspired by the ’90s? Definitely the jogger pants. I’m super into those right now, and I feel that is definitely ’90s. I’m really into overalls. I’m loving overalls and the baseball cap. I feel that is classic. Boyfriend jeans, those are really in. Just really plain and baggy. Like plain white shirts and plain black shirts, I wear those all the time. That is my thing right now, any just plain tee I love. I think it makes an outfit because you can dress it up or dress it down. I think that’s perfect.

Are there any trends you want to try? I want to get into the high heeled sandals, but it’s hard in college because it is one of those things if people see you in high heels, they think, “Oh that’s kind of strange.” Like the platform sandal,  it’s something you have to commit to, but I’m not sure if I can dive in yet.

Her minimalist sandals are from DSW. 

Do you think there is a stereotype of dressing casual on the West Coast? Oh definitely, but I feel there is definitely the classic Oregon girl who wears the leggings with her Nikes and a long sleeved shirt and a vest with a baseball hat or something like an Oregon cap. So, it is pretty laid back in that way. But in the ad school and in a couple of different departments, I think it really is dependent on what major you are in as to what you wear and things like that. Because definitely in the ad department, people dress New York style and really dress up.

Why do you think you stand out from that Pacific Northwest style? Probably because I don’t see myself here in the future. I feel like I’m always from Oregon, so whereas a lot of people want to go to Portland and stick with that style, I think that I have greater views beyond just Oregon. I love Oregon, but I want to go farther than that. I think my style shows a larger culture.

Words and photos by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, @HSteinkopfFrank

Kris

Name: Kris R.

School: Lane Community College

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Website: http://www.obsidianbrat.tumblr.com

What are you studying right now? I’m getting my prereqs done at Lane Community College so that I can study nursing to become a midwife.

What about being a midwife is attractive to you? Well I love babies. I’ve been a nanny for six or seven years. I sat in on a couple of family members births, and it was really inspiring. I think it’s the only medical field I can do without getting too sad. I mean kids can be sad sometimes, but most of the time, they’re pretty uplifting.

How would you describe your style aesthetic? I’m really into Afro-futuristic and Afropunk. I’m really into punk music in general. So anything that’s kind of punky, kinda earthy.

What are some of your favorite bands? I love Bikini Kill. I also really enjoy Sister Nancy. She’s not really punk, but she’s just a woman who overtook the reggae scene by storm and made her mark. Also – Erykah Badu, Wildflower, Punch.

How is music a part of your life? Well, I was in a punk band at one point. I screamed my head off and stuff like that. It gave me a voice. I think that’s why I love punk a lot. It goes against the grain. I kind of feel like my existence has gone against the grain sometimes.

Kris style her curls into a variation of the double bun trend. She says, “I think embracing my hair was a huge deal for me. I used to straighten it and chemically straighten it. But it’s just too much work. So now I just do this and throw it up in pigtails that kind of look not like pigtails. It’s really fun though.”

What do you mean by that? Just being a black femme in the world and kind of struggling. I’m kind of like finding my flow and getting comfortable with myself and who I am. I think that’s what my style exudes – comfort to put on whatever I feel.

How would you describe Afropunk? So, Afropunk is for black folks who are more into alternative lifestyles like punk, goth and industrial music: Something that is more dominated by white folks in general. We’re kind of like the odd people out when we’re into stuff like that.

Does that make its way into your visual aesthetic? Oh yeah, definitely! I follow the Afropunk blog online. So I just look at how people are dressing themselves, and it gives me ideas on how I can mimic the same thing or hone my own style and do it my way. It’s a lot of spikes and black lipstick and things that contrast with dark skin. I think it’s pretty awesome.

Why did you get your tattoo? I got it last February after my grandmother passed away. It’s representative of mourning because she was such a huge influence in my life. I got it as giant as I could stand. It has daisies on it because they were the flowers in her yard that I would play with.

Are you on your way to Take Back the Night? Are you participating?  Yeah, I’m a performer. I’m performing at the speak out. It’s where everyone can tone it down from the rally and just speak their piece and their truth, either about being a survivor or survivors who they know… It’s just about giving people a voice.

Take Back the Night was a rally on the University of Oregon campus on April 28th in order to raise awareness for victims of sexual assault. 

It sounds like giving people a voice is a big part of your life. Where did that come from? I’d like to say my mom and my aunts. They are all really loud, outspoken, “take no shit” type of people. It influenced me to take my life the same way.

Words and photos by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, @ElinormODell

 

Dressed up Ducks takes Goodwill

Many of the students we interview on campus find their clothes at secondhand stores and vintage shops. The staff of Dressed up Ducks decided to take a trip to Goodwill to see what we could dig up.

The Goodwill Superstore on Green Acres Road is the largest in Eugene and a favorite for some of the Dressed up Ducks staff. Clothes are divided by type, size and then color.

As with most thrift stores, you can find some pretty unique things here.

Sometimes a little too unique.

The huge variety of clothes can make looking for your next great outfit at Goodwill a little overwhelming. The Dressed up Ducks staff has a few tips for you when you go thrifting:

1. Look in all sizes and categories. Clothes are often put back in wrong places, and there are often awesome pieces in unexpected sections. (Tip from @HSteinkopfFrank)
2. Try on everything! Thrift stores can be a great place to try out new trends or pieces that you would never expect to wear. You never know what colors or silhouettes might speak to you until you’re staring at yourself under bad lighting in a grey changing room. But seriously – if it looks good in those conditions, it will look great everywhere! (Tip from @ElinormODell)
3.  Pick a bin or rack and look through it all before moving on. The best pieces are often towards the bottom! (Tip from @katherinicole2 )
4. Look in the men’s section too. There are some pretty classy-chic sweaters and cardigans you can throw over a cute dress or romper! (Tip from @lindseyepifano)
5. Patience! Patience is so important when going into a thrift store because you never know what you might find. Also, go into it with an open mind because the fun of it is finding a conventional or often unconventional piece to make your own! (Tip from @mirandwa)

Thrifting is about having fun and spending some quality time with yourself or a group of friends finding treasures.

Here are a few things we found:

Hannah’s shirt is from Ann Taylor Loft, and her pants are from Daughters of the Liberation.

She scored this pair of Supergas that go for a retail price of $80. She go them for only $8!

Words by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, @ElinormODell

Photos by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, Taylor Griggs,@taylorjgriggs and Kendra Siebert, @kendraesiebert

Matthew

Name: Matthew H.

Year: Freshman

Major: Biology

Hometown: Ventura, California

Matthew’s off-white denim jacket is from AllSaints, and his pants are from Old Navy.

What sparked your interest in biology? I want to make a change in the world. I’m a scientific thinker, and I’m good at biology. There are a lot of environmental issues, so biology ties into my interest with ecology, too. Pretty early on in my life, my mom would tell me not to litter, so once I learned about pollution and everything, I kind of saw it as a form of littering.

What do you think about people who don’t believe in climate change? They’re either politicians or they haven’t done their research. If I have a certain conviction, it means that I have done a lot of research on the topic and have looked at arguments from opposing sides. They probably haven’t seen enough information.

Matthew’s draped shirt from Kenneth Cole is a popular street style fashion choice.

Yeezy for president or nah? I’d have to look into his stances on certain policies.

What have you learned from being in college? I know now that if I’m struggling with something, it’s better to reach out and get help instead of assuming that I’ll just get better at it. That’s how I learned a lot of calculus. Also, (I learned) that it’s fun to be around people that you don’t really know. I like to learn things about new people. I’m way more open to other experiences because the mentality that you have to have as a freshman is kind of saying, “Hey, what’s up” to every person that you see.

How do you hope to come across to people who are meeting you for the first time? Really smart and hot. Actually, my roommate told me that he had never gone from being so neutral about someone to really liking them, so that was cool, I guess? I’m not really sure if that’s a compliment or not. I don’t want to be “neutral.”

Where do you see yourself at the end of your time at the University? Married with three kids in a house that I payed for. Also, multiple sets of really good friends and a more clear idea of what I want to do career-wise.

His shoes are classic white Vans (Damn).

Do you consider yourself style-conscious? Yes, definitely. I think that you can tell everything about a person by how they dress. I hope to come across as a very high-effort person. If I see someone wearing basketball shorts and crew socks, I might make the generalization that they’re not very focused. I know I’m not the only person that feels that way.

How do you define your style? It’s kind of streetwear and high fashion at the same time. I want to look put together and current.

Which trends have you been into lately? I’ve been really into the layering look  with a lot of draping clothing to make a good silhouette. (I’m into) loose, thin fabric that has a lot of movement and length, too. It’s what I see a lot of big fashion houses pushing.

Is there a certain piece that you’ve had your eye on? One of my favorite designers, Jerry Lorenzo, has a bomber jacket that’s iconic. There’s a bunch of really interesting ways to use it, and I’ve seen it on a bunch of my favorite artists. The only problem is that it’s more than 1000 dollars.

His simple, but stylish backpack is from Everlane (similar here).

How do you feel about the stereotype that fashion is primarily for women? It really, really annoys me. It’s just not true. To hear that just because I’m a male, I don’t know as much about fashion is really infuriating.

Do you ever feel like you’re being judged as a fashionable guy? I think most guys appreciate that I dress cohesively, but to avoid feeling self-conscious, everything I own fits me the way that I want it to. Sometimes if I get a negative comment about what I’m wearing, I feel like I have to explain why I’m wearing it. For example, my friends used to tell me that I looked “homeless” whenever I wore my fishtail parka, but when I came to college, I got a bunch of compliments on it. That made me branch into different avenues of style.

What do you do to boost your confidence? Well, if I wear something I don’t feel comfortable in, I never have to wear it again. I shop so that my clothes fit exactly how I want them to. Comfort is key. Also, I know that putting effort into how you dress just amplifies and encourages effort into other aspects of your life, so dressing better makes you better.

Words and photos by Rachel Lauren, @rach3llaur3n

Mariel

Name: Mariel A.

Year: Senior

Major: Advertising

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Mariel pairs an Ann Taylor Loft sweater with Nordstrom pants.

What sort of design work do you do? Well right now, I’m going to work at the Emerald. I do illustrations for them and also layout design. I generally do graphics and illustrations.

What’s the weirdest thing you have done a graphic or design of? I did protestors smoking pot outside of the White House for a story at the Emerald. So that was pretty weird, but it was fun.

This H&M hat (similar here) is a staple in her wardrobe. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh there’s Mariel with her hat again,'” she said. “I feel like it’s easy if you have a bad hair day or if you just want to add something a little bit extra to your outfit.”

Who are your style inspirations? I don’t really have any specific style inspirations, but I do definitely look on Pinterest a lot and look at pins that are related to ones that I like. But in terms of specific people, I do follow a blog called Love Cloth, and I like her style a lot. But other than that, I don’t really subscribe to a specific person.

Is there a link between your design work and how you dress? Kind of. I would generally say I kind of have the same style throughout, sort of minimal and a lot of neutral colors with maybe sometimes a pop of blue or something because that’s my favorite color.

Do you think that minimalism is a trend? Oh absolutely. I think minimalism is definitely a trend. I don’t know if it is going to start going away because I think color is starting to come back in style. So, who knows if that will switch around a little bit. But I think before, it was all about big pieces and loud stuff, and now it’s definitely more about being more minimal.

Mariel said she is into the trend of small, golden jewelry, especially her Gemini astrological sign necklace. She bought her gold bracelet, which says, “Cheers” because “it was just a good reminder to be happy in life and celebrate things.”

What do you like about minimal style? I definitely like that it’s versatile because if you just have all colors that go together, you can really mix it up easily, and then everything matches with everything, which is really nice and easy. So that’s what I like about it.

Is there a dream piece you have been looking for recently? I really wanted a pair of clogs, and I just bought some over spring break, so that sort of was my dream piece that I just got.

Her booties are from DSW.

Has your style changed drastically at any point in your life? Yeah. In high school, I was all about bright colors. I had purple pants, yellow converse. I was all over the place. I thought I was a “skater kid,” which I wasn’t. Since then, I’ve sort of definitely gone over to more basic, neutral pieces, which I used to think were boring, but now I see the value of.

What is that value? Just the versatility and that you can wear the same shirt once a week, and people won’t even notice because you can just put different accessories with it. It’s not necessarily about that, but that it’s just a lot more versatile and easy.

Do you think that has been a personality shift as well? Yeah, I would say a little bit. I would say it’s also me having more of an awareness of the things that I own and buy because it’s a goal of mine to not own a whole bunch of excess stuff. I feel a lot of people have a hard time letting go of things just because of sentimentality and that sort of thing, but if I don’t wear it, I just get rid of it. I just sell it or give it away.

She bought most the pins on her Fjällräven backpack (similar here) in England.

How do you see yourself dressing 20 years from now? Hopefully still kind of in a similar vein. I never really want to let myself fall by the wayside and just wear what’s easy. Because I do like to stand out a little bit and look a little bit different. I just want to be classy, but a little bit elevated in terms of style. 

How do you want to stand out? For me, when I feel like I dress the same as everyone else, I feel like I just blend in. I just hate that. It feels like there is nothing different about me that anyone would wonder about. I think I would be really bummed if I couldn’t have my clothes speak to who I am as a person.

Words by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, @HSteinkopfFrank

Photos by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, @ElinormODell

Akilah

Name: Akilah S-D

School: Lane Community College

Year: Sophomore

Majors: Sociology and Environmental Science

Hometown: Portland

If you were in a cartoon, what would be your statement outfit? Something black and a bright statement piece. And black boots. 

Can you think of a book that captures the aesthetic you are trying to portray? Eco-Feminism by Greta Gaard. It’s about the liberation of oppressed groups and the environment, and I strive, with my outfits, to reduce my carbon footprint and my consumption. I don’t need new crap all the time; I can recycle it.

So this book really impacted the way you dress? As an environmental science major as well as a fellow citizen of the cosmos, I find that living in a way that leaves the least impact on the Earth flows into every aspect of my life. This ideology means consuming less, knowing where the materials I use come from and educating others on the connections between industrialization, environmental degradation and the exploitation of indigenous communities to attain our precious designer labels. I do not buy clothing firsthand directly from the mall or the company it originated from. I try to stay away from buying clothes as much as possible. The majority of my clothing has been liberated from free piles.

Is that where everything you’re wearing today is from? Yep: free pile, free pile, free pile, free pile! What I’m wearing now is from the free pile in my basement at the Lorax Manner cooperative house.

Akilah dons a bright blue shirt with pink detail cleverly layered under a black velvet dress. All of what she is wearing was picked up secondhand from a free pile.

Tell me more about that the co-op you live in. Our coop provides sustainable, affordable, communal housing where we buy local food as a house, cook dinner together, grow food in our garden, have events and are all in charge of running and owning a share of the house. We work together to reach consensus on issues as a community.

What is your favorite recent trend, and what is your least favorite? Mhm. I really like that scrunchies came back. I hate that top bun that everyone is doing. It’s just so forced, and everyone is doing it. [Under her breath] And a lot of people who do it are kind of rude. [Laughs]

Has being in Eugene changed the way you dress? Yeah. When I moved here, I started to feel free to be less glitzy and glammed up and more myself. I was less worried about other people. I’ll wear whatever makes me feel good, an eclectic mix: anything from minimalistic and classy to vintage hippy items that echo my personality. I like to be silly, in a way that opposes glamour, and remember to not take myself too seriously.

Words and photos by Taylor Griggs, @taylorjgriggs

Maxine

Name: Maxine D.

Year: Sophomore

Major: Political Science

Minor: Queer Studies

Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon

Maxine wears a green Columbia Mountain Hardwear jacket with mustard jeans from H&M and a J. Crew white button-down.

What are you out here doing today? I’m here with the Ducks Squad campaign, which is an organization of students committed to inclusivity, diversity and creating an equitable campus. I am running for Senate Seat 5, which is EMU Board.

Why did you decide to run? I had been approached by someone on the campaign, someone whose politics I really respect. I know a lot of activities and people who are really passionate and have great ideas who were started up by this organization. I said, “Yeah that sounds like a great way to get involved.”

Can you tell me about what you are doing tonight? So tonight in Lillis 282 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. we are doing a send off-show for the UO Poetry Slam team, which I am a part of. And then a few hours later, at midnight, we will leave Eugene, and then head to the Portland airport and hop onto a plane to get to Texas for the College Union Poetry Slam Invitation, aka CUPSI.

What are you most excited about for CUPSI? I’m going to eat such good burgers. But on a serious note, yes I’m excited for the food, but also, it’s the biggest poetry event I will have ever attended. There are going to be a lot of really cool people sharing some incredible work, and I’m excited to see that work.

What is your CUPSI fashion style? People yelled at me for how often I brought up clothes, and I was like, “Y’all this is really important.” Like what if you end up on Button? What if you look bad on Button? I bought shorts on Saturday, even though I am not a shorts person. But we will be in Texas, so I don’t want to get heatstroke. I probably will for the first time in my life. I’m going for “frat bro” style. I’m going very Ivy League prep. I have navy shorts and khaki shorts and button front shirts because I also always try to wear a collared shirt when I am performing.

She likes that her dark wash Levi’s denim jacket is beginning to develop its own unique wear. Her sunglasses are Clubmaster Ray-Bans . 

Why collared shirts? It’s a signal to myself that I’m taking what I’m doing seriously and also to the people around me. I’ll iron a shirt beforehand or something. It’s honoring the work that I’m trying to present to people.

Is it important for you to dress simply while performing so the audience can focus on the poem? Yes. I try not to wear anything distracting. I’m wearing a white shirt right now. Th last time we had a show, I wore a light shirt. I try to go solid or pretty understated, so it’s not super distracting. Like nice, but clean.

Is there a connection between your poet style and student politician style? It’s generally all me, but like I said, poetry is a little bit cleaner. I will wear louder things when I’m not doing something. Political style is also cleaner, but I want my personality to get across more so with the clothes.

Her shoes and socks are both from Nike, though her shoes were thrifted.

Is this the first time you have been involved with campus politics? This is the first time I’m running for ASUO, but I have been involved with other political things here and there. I am a volunteer with UO for the Oregon Student Association, and I have been helping people register to vote, but that’s nonpartisan, so it’s a little different.

With ASUO elections and CUPSI, how are you getting through this week? What sort of self-care are you doing? I’ve been trying still to recognize what my limits are. I’ve been making lists, checking in with people who care about my health and having them say, “No. What you should do is do your laundry and do this.” Trying to stay grounded is really important.

In preparation for CUPSI, Maxine had her hair cut and dyed by local hairdresser, poet and activist Foxy Roxy. “She gave me a nice pep talk. We almost cried. I laughed,” said Maxine.

If you win your position, which students will you be giving a voice to? So, I’m paying for college myself, which means that I’m poor, and I could easily speak towards tuition affordability, issues like that. I’m a Pathways student, which is another financial thing. I’m a student of color. I try to stay conscious of what conversations people are having, and what seems like a need on this campus…

Words by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, @HSteinkopfFrank

Photos by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, @ElinormODell

 

Alex

Name: Alex H.

Year: Transfer student

Major: Looking into both visual and theater arts

Hometown: Puyallup, Washington

Alex combines her acid wash skirt with bright yellow accents. 

What is the link between visual and theater arts? I’m looking into applying my skills with visual arts and taking it to the tech side of theater. I hope that will lead to more set painting and design.

Where there any theater pieces that inspired you growing up? My mom was a librarian. So she is a huge advocate for education and all that stuff. Growing up, she took us to things constantly. There’s the Seattle Children’s Theater. I’ve been going forever, and I’ve been in plays and shows. I’ve just been really lucky having a lot of people advocate the arts, which seems to be dwindling in some places.

Does being involved in theater affect how you dress? I think it does because we care about color and coordination. It’s fun. Power colors are a thing, and they exit, and they make you feel awesome.

What is a power color? To me, it’s either the emotion you want to emote that day or you are hoping to inspire yourself with. Today, I wore yellow because it’s my birthday. I’m excited. It’s going to rain. Cute raincoat aesthetic potentially? I just think it’s stuff that goes along with how you want to feel or how you are feeling.

Alex’s collar gives her look a vintage twist.

How would you describe your style? A conglomerate of whatever emotion I’m feeling. Because I have stuff that’s casual – like more gothic, lazy style. Then there’s stuff for when I want to look really vintage preppy. It’s kind of just the odds and ends pieces that I really like. I’m usually into more clashing, but coordinating patterns. That’s my favorite.

Do you have to have confidence to dress like you do? Just do it. I wouldn’t know. Not for me personally because it’s how I feel. When I’m booking it to school, and I’m exhausted and tired or once again being yelled at at work, I might as well wear something nice.

She adds a bit of personality to her outfit, literally peaking out from her purse.

What is the weirdest place you’ve drawn inspiration from fashion-wise? I don’t know if it’s weird necessarily, but children’s clothes. Because I walk by the children’s sections, and I’m like, “But I want that. I want that on me.” You know like the really bright, fun stuff or those really weird, quirky things you only get for a child. I’m like, “No I would like that.” There’s some stuff where I’m like, “I want to be fun.”

How did you dress growing up? Like a gremlin. It’s terrible. Don’t even ask me. I know I was such a brat, and said “I don’t care about people. I like learning, and I like arts, and I’m going to wear whatever colors I want.” Because you know all those weird jock people or preppy people, and you’re trying to not be like them.

Do you think your personality has caused your style to change or vice versa? I would say personality just because it affects how I feel when I go out for the day. I think it affects what I wear, and there are so many different looks. It’s hard to pin it down to one. You can be interchangeable, which I think is the funnest thing. I think that’s why I have an issue with closet size.

A lot of us have converse in our wardrobes, but do we have yellow converse in our wardrobes?

Have you always had the side haircut? I got it last year. My hair was mermaid status, and I was like, “I’m going to do it.” I did it, and it was so great. I actually used to work in a pool with kids, and the chlorine was ruining my hair. I had an excuse for all the really conservative people I know. They were like, “Why would you shave your head.” I said, “Oh it’s for work.” When really, it was for me.

What’s the weirdest reaction you’ve gotten from it? My favorite is I had this little girl – she was three – and she was sitting next to me, and she was talking. She was just talking about her day, and then she goes up to me, and she’s still talking, and she’s just like poking my head and running her fingers through the short side as she’s still talking to me about her day. She’s like three. And then she’s like, “You have a good head,” and that was it. So that was my favorite.

Do you feel your inner child is still part of who you are? Yes. If you don’t, why? Don’t give that away.

Do you think it’s hard to keep? Of course. Especially when you’re forced to be more rigid and professional. I think it’s trying to barge in in new ways, which I think is important because you don’t want to be worried and miserable.

Do you think you’ll always dress the same way you do? My hope is that I’m going to transform into a crazy art teacher later with shawls and really cool necklaces, but also Ms. Frizzle. That’s the goal, eventually.

Words by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, @HSTEINKOPFFRANK

Photos by Elinor Manoogian-O’Dell, @ElinormODell