The lovely Julia Ringo

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I'm constantly reminded by how lucky I am to get to meet the people that I showcase in this little project, especially when I do a photoshoot with someone as kind as Julia. She was enthusiastic, sweet, and an overall joy to work with despite my not knowing what I'm doing.

Julia says her style draws inspiration from the 50s and 60s - the days of Mad Men-esque classiness and charm. Her dress evokes a silhouette reminiscent of a time when the model American family dominated suburbia, but with a far bolder pattern than typical of that time. The way she presents herself is definitely unconventional in the sense that no one else on campus dresses the same way. But she does so by utilizing shapes and patterns that are a bit different but still quite lovely, not through pure shock value or anything of the sort.

And with that, I conclude the first semester of this project. Now I'm off to finals and all that fun stuff. I truly appreciate the support and kind words said to me over these past few months, and I'll be back first thing next Spring with some more stylish people.

If you really can't live without my updating for the next month or so, feel free to check out my other photoblog.

Cheers.

Becky Yoda and her lovely smile.

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Let me start off by saying that I absolutely adore Becky's hat.

Glad that's out of the way.

Now, I can honestly say that I am lucky to be in Becky's class. That way, I can always see what sort of interesting outfit she decided to put on for the day. Her lovely dresses, jackets, coats, and the like are a nice contrast to the otherwise dreariness of 8 AM Organic Chemistry. What I find incredibly curious about Becky compared to some of the other people that I've showcased so far is that her style is surprisingly unstudied.

I feel as if many well-dressed individuals are incredibly conscious of their projected image and the like (not that there's anything wrong with that). But from what I can tell, Becky simply wears what makes her happy at a fairly instinctual level, and the results are fantastic. Her style has noticeable touches of nostalgia evoking the clothes of decades past, with lots of lace and frills that create a sense of delicate whimsy. The way she wears her wonderful hat gives some sense of a playful personality, further evidenced by the fact that she was smiling wide during the entirety of the shoot.

Oh, and did I mention that I like her hat?

Say hello to Adam Tiouririne

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I saw Adam in a dining hall the other night and was instantly curious as to who he was. This guy was rocking a polka dot bow tie and windowpane-plaid navy suit to a dinner at CMC, after all. Turns out that he's actually a student at NYU and is here visiting a friend, but he's here at the 5Cs so I suppose it's appropriate to put him in this blog anyways.

Now, Mr. Tiouririne here has a well-developed sense of style unlike many of the other stylish people on campus. His propensity towards well-tailored suits, monkstraps, and crisp shirts would seem much more at home on the streets of a bustling metropolis such as NYC rather than sleepy little Claremont. And so it was something of a visual treat to see business apparel executed in such a youthful way. While his job and education may place him in corporate offices and other stodgy environments, he still manages to play within the confines of the suit by playing with the details - colorful socks, silk knots in his lapel, and slim fit clothing that I assume most older businessmen wouldn't dare be seen in.

He does very well in projecting a sense of sophistication and professionalism without seeming forcibly "grown up" or anything as ridiculous as that. He seems very intent on maintaining his little style quirks no matter what, as if they're parts of his very being. How? Adam says he'd be in a pickle if a boss ever told him to tone down his colorful sock collection. That's something I can appreciate.

The Golden Hour with Emily Miner

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Emily Miner draws inspiration for her style from several sources, such as style blogs and old films. Her outfit has a touch of French style, and the feminine sophistication of early cinema clearly shows through in her appearance. Her outfit's clean lines that are made all the more prominent by the absence of color. And even while she's wearing black from the waist down, she employs the use of textures to prevent a look of a jumpsuit. I particularly like how the long vertical line of her necklace breaks up the horizontal stripes of her shirt, so that my eyes don't get trapped following them from left to right, over and over.

With a semester abroad on the horizon, Emily has become painfully aware of the fact that the real world is just around the corner. While she doesn't necessarily know how her style will develop in the coming years, she is determined to inject her personal touches into her appearance no matter where she ends up. As college students, I think it's something that we may want to keep in mind ourselves. In Emily's case, I have no doubt that she will look great regardless of where she ends up.

Dylan Howell - LeBus Court

Dylan's style differs from many of the people that I've showcased in that it's incredibly unfussy - no jewelry, adornments, or the like. This immediately draws my attention to the overall fit of his outfit, such as the slight break of his pant legs and the slim-but-not-tight sweater. This particular outfit combined with the way he wears is visibly influenced by his time spent in Italy throughout high school.

Dylan sports a combinations of classics that may be seen on many men the world over, but he manages to set himself apart by impeccable execution. A combination of fit, little touches like a bit of shirt cuff showing past his pulled-up sweater sleeves, and the desert boots keep this outfit from becoming visually uninteresting.

He can wear something that many people may wear, but makes it his own. That, my friends, is style.

An explanation

I apologize for not having put anything up in a while. My camera's been incredibly touchy lately and is in need of repairs. Hopefully I can get things back in order so I can take more pictures of incredibly stylish people.

The purpose of style with Chris Fiorello

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Chris can be said to wear things with character - a moth-eaten cardigan from his grandpa, bracelets from his mother, Allen Edmond lace-ups from his father, and some of his own pieces thrown in for good measure. Something old, something new. He has a strong sense of what he thinks it means to be the best-dressed man in a room. Enough to warrant a second look, but never to the point where people stare and wonder, a clear indicator of "trying too hard."

It's hard to miss the excited hand gestures and intense look in his eyes as he talks about style as a means of communication, the importance of clothing that accentuate one's assets, and his time researching in Vietnam. He is truly excited about these topics, which I find great to see. His responses to my questions are deliberate and thoughtful, making me reevaluate my own answers to those questions. All the while, I can't help but notice the details of his outfit - how he rolls over the sleeves of his cardigan to show a bit of shirt cuff, places his tie inside his shirt, and helps bring the entire ensemble together with pink ankle socks. This guy really knows how to get it right.

And best of all, his sense of style extends to more than just the clothes he wears around campus. Just check this out from last year's CCBDC Concert.

Bad. Ass.

Transience with Christian Lopez

I wish I had a picture of Christian from last year, just to show the changes that his style has undergone since I first met him my freshman year. Christian undergoes major shifts in which he discards much of the clothing of his past, keeps a few choice items, and starts anew. In this way, I see it as a distillation of his personal style. He slowly rids himself of that which he finds unnecessary, gradually building up the few things here and there that survive through his various phases.

His style has gone in such a direction that much of what he wears is either his dad's, or at least something his dad might wear. However, while the shirt may be his father's, the execution of it is completely his own. He takes something as classic as a gray blazer and adds a bit of the unexpected by downplaying it with skinny jeans and a pair of old archeologist boots. Pretty cool.

Nick Clute-Reinig - Suit Up

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My good friend Nick is no stranger to the term "dressing up." He pulls out his three-piece pinstripe suit whenever he feels like it, whether for a special occasion or not. And it's something that I really respect about him - that he always puts his best foot forward and projects his strength of character through clothing as sharp as he is.

Now, the suit's background is fairly amusing. Nick does a great job of picking up great numbers at thrift stores, this suit included. Very high quality construction, little sign of wear, and all from a suit made in Hong Kong for some fellow named R. F. Miller back in '82. Whoever the man was, I'm sure he'd be glad to know that his suit fell into good hands.

Style Showcase: Bethany Okada

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I sometimes feel as if the non-hard science majors are having all the fun. The majority of the people that I've seen that dress "well" have been creative types - artists, musicians, writers, and the like. However, Bethany is a chem major at Harvey Mudd and still manages to exhibit a strong sense of style and a taste for fashion.

Her style revolves around dresses through and through, punctuated by some wonderful jewelry and worn leather items. Her rings are particularly interesting in that she gravitates towards ones made from whole things such as shells or stones.

And while she says she looks forward to the colder months to bring out her felt hats and coats, I couldn't help but admire the way her dress flowed in the warm California breeze.

Skateboards and Selvage - Emily Radler

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I couldn't help but notice Emily's style when I saw her on campus a while back. Her entire outfit was very cleanly executed - the crisp cuff on her Petite Standards, the selvage handkerchief, and everything fitting impeccably.

What I found particularly interesting about her style, though, was that this was a recent development - a drastic turn from her more feminine way of dressing in the past. And so while some may have slowly grown into their style, Emily's was rapid and deliberate. Because of this, she seems to have been able to carefully curate her wardrobe and start over from scratch. While daunting, this seems like a refreshing and liberating thing to be able to do. It's how she dresses now that she is able to look at a mirror and be happy with herself, which is a pretty great thing to be able to say.

Playing with a theme - Ari Mygatt

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What I love about this particular outfit is how Ari plays with shades and tones - sticking with a certain color and moving within its limits to create a sense of cohesiveness. It creates so much more different of a feel than color coordination. Everything from her scarf to her jewelry stays monochrome, but the tonal range prevents it from being visually uninteresting.

But more about the individual: she has a great smile and was fun to work with. She also has a lot to say about music (I mean, she's a DJ for KSPC after all) which I feel somehow reflects itself in her awesome sense of style.

What a cool person.

Blake Gilmore, Sunset on the Quad

Blake always has on her rings - one from her mother, others from New York, and even more from who-knows-where. Each seems to be a small anecdote of her past, portable and constant. Her pants are her grandma's, somehow managing to flow around her despite the heaviness of the hot air.

Breezy fabrics, crazy patterns, a bit of vintage here and there, and a sense of liveliness that was nice to see in this deadening heat have. Blake's style interests me particularly in that it developed in small town Missouri, away from classic Hollywood and the glamorous runways that seem to have influenced her style.

Leena Kozupa, Malott Commons

Sometime's I'll have something to say, sometimes I won't.

For now, just enjoy the photo.

Style Showcase: Sam Cheney

Sam shows a strong sense of personal style, evidenced by the fact that you can find pictures of him in his high school years wearing much of the same clothing. This isn't someone that is swayed by trends or whatever "fashion experts" have to say about the latest items. This is someone that projects his individuality and character through the way he dresses.

His grandmother's ring. Beaten cap-toe oxfords that are worn through the soles. A shot of color seen in his purple socks. Everything somehow manages to be just right. And if you've ever met Sam, you know that his personality matches the undeniable cool of his style.