The End with Hannah Hudson

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When I first started this project, I had two people immediately came to mind. Sam Cheney was one, and the first person to be featured on this blog. Hannah was the other. And with her finally being featured, I think that it's appropriate that I bring this project to a close.

Hannah is one of the people on campus that I find consistently visually interesting. Occasionally I'll see someone wearing an outfit that catches my eye here and there, but I am almost guaranteed to see Hannah in something that I find worth taking a second glance. And that's a most curious thing about one's clothing in relation to others - whereas in musical performances you are given an alloted time that an audience is expected to give you their attention, with clothing you receive a passing glance at best. And so purely by this nature, clothing is best as a personal gesture towards oneself. You can dress up all you want, but most people simply won't care all that much. Hannah's style embodies this sentiment in that her style is far too eclectic to cater to any one individual. Rather, it's a mix of seemingly random elements that ultimately create a cohesive style that becomes undeniably hers.

I can tell you all about her style - how she wears her grandfather's watch to tie her to her past, or how her skirt and ring are from her high school years at an all girls' school. But I feel that the wealth of Hannah's style is how she articulates the way she feels about her clothing and the reasons why she dresses the way that she does.

Sure, clothing is important in many ways. Being naked will probably draw unwanted attention, and wearing clothes allows you to abide by some social contract that allows others not to have to see you naked. But Hannah speaks of fashion as a form of art that is often discounted here at the 5Cs as opposed to music, for instance. The aesthetic pleasures of a well-proportioned garment, or an interesting mix of pattern and color, combined with the sensory pleasure of a buttery-soft cashmere or crisp cotton dress shirt seem to be somewhat overlooked. To each their own, I suppose. But I'm going to have to side with Hannah on this one.

And with that, I conclude this wonderful journey that is this style blog. Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. I greatly appreciate all of the support for this project both on the interwebs and in real life. I hope that you have somehow gained something from all of these posts, or at least been entertained. And with that, I can truly say that it's been a pleasure.

Cheers,

Andrew

Jessie Yu is adorable.

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If you don't know Jessie Yu, I would venture to say that you probably should. She has an infectious sense of excitement that is hard to escape, and makes it incredibly difficult to be bored around her. And I feel that this attitude extends into the way the dresses. I often see her in such vibrant clothing (a perfect counterpoint to the dreariness outside my window as I write this) that reminds me a bit of summer and warmer times to come.

As we spoke about her style, it was interesting to hear Jessie make connections between the way she dresses and her awareness of the world at large. Her decision to wear more vintage clothing comes from a desire to leave less of an impact through consumerism, but also has the added benefit of allowing her to end up with some interestingly unique pieces. As Jessie learns more about the world around her and develops a stronger sense of the repercussions of buying large quantities of clothing, she has lowered the amount of clothes that she buys. In the process, I believe that this has helped her to refine her style by looking at her clothing choices through a critical lens, putting more intent behind what she wears.

It's a curious phenomenon that I'm curious to see develop over time.

John Wick

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It's been a while since I've photographed anyone as sharply dressed as John Wick. The styles that I see around the 5Cs run a wide gamut, but it's not very often that I see someone who clothes themselves in more traditional menswear. It may be because it can be seen as stodgy, too professional, or goes against an overall trend towards a more casual So Cal vibe. However, John manages to incorporate well-tailored elements into his wardrobe without seeming too overdressed. And as my own style somewhat falls into a similar category, I can really appreciate what he's doing with his clothing.

In this particular outfit, there's a nice play between the clean lines of his structured jacket and the unassuming v-neck shirt underneath. Top it off with a crisp pocket square, and the entire outfit falls into place. His interwebs-approved double monks don't hurt one bit, either.

What's most impressive is how John manages to dress so well despite the sartorial difficulties associated with being incredibly tall. He manages to accentuate his height with the slim cut and long lines of his clothings without making himself appear lanky. It's the combination of physical stature and impressive clothing that seem to make his confidence so very fitting.

Kate Yzurdiaga

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I have lived with Kate this year and, similar to Natalie, have had the pleasure of watching her style develop over the school year. While there are definitely those stylistic stand-outs that catch my eye in an instant, there is something to be said about style that takes time to observe and understand in all of its nuances. I feel as if style in isolation can be pretty and pleasant to look at, but understanding its context and being able to see how one's personality has affected their clothing and lifestyle choices is something that I find incredibly fascinating.

And yet, the fact that I only met Kate in college leaves a void in my perception of her. For all I know, the way she dressed when I first met her last fall. I have not seen her style throughout the entirety of college and beyond, so I am left in this strange position where I wonder how she dressed in high school - has she always been as well-dressed as she is now, or did she adopt the familiar uniform of sweats and hoodies like the rest of us? I am stuck without context and can only guess.

But regardless of this fact, I have grown to appreciate Kate's style more and more - the incarnation of it that is right in front of me. I'm slowly learning why she chooses to wear high-wasted bottoms, why she is moving towards more vintage items such as her wonderfully patterned blazer, and how her flowing hair adds such a sense of vivacity to her everyday appearance. Her style is still developing, like all of ours are. Now that it is a part of my own little slice of reality, I look forward to seeing where it ends up in the future.

Natalie Orenstein's awesome.

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There are so many great things to say about Natalie Orenstein. While many of the people that I have featured in the past were previously strangers to me, I lived next to Natalie last year and still spend a good deal of time with her. So to finally be able to hear her speak about the sense of style that has caught my eye for all this time is quite exciting for me. I have seen how her style has changed since coming to college and have had the privilege of seeing her outfits day by day. It has always been another one of those little joys that one is able to look forward to.

Natalie's style is very much influenced by her having grown up in Berkeley and exploring the rest of the Bay. She was able to pick and choose small stylistic elements from the countless number of interestingly dressed people in her city; the simple act of people watching helped her to create a vast visual encyclopedia to draw from, incorporating her favorite elements into her own personal style. But I wouldn't call her style "urban" or anything nearly that generalizing. Even now, as far away from home as she is, she keeps a bit of her beloved city - and not just any city - with her in the form of a bracelet from Brazil Cafe (which serves one of the most delicious tri-tip sandwiches I've had in a long time).

But as Natalie now resides in sleepy little Claremont, away from the quirkiness of Berkeley, her ability to people watch has become a bit restricted. So instead of picking up random things from strangers as she goes about her day, she has the opportunity to become more in tune with the styles of others - to get to know the ins and outs of the way people dress, so that she can better understand the elements that she then goes on to experiment with, eventually making some form of that element her own.

It keeps her style shifting this way and that, which makes it all the more fun to see what she's wearing for the day.

Erica Reiss

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Early on in our conversation, Erica tells me that she just likes to "go with the flow." We've all heard that phrase time and time again, but it isn't until I spend time with someone like Erica that the saying really hits home. She's all smiles and laughter as I snap away with my camera, and I can easily say that she is one of the most photogenic people I have worked with. Her movements are so filled with life that it's hard not to capture something interesting with the click of the shutter.

It's this sense of vivacity that I find absolutely thrilling, and what I think shows through in her clothing. A top from her grandma's closet, Vans slip-ons that are stained from sculpting materials, and mismatched socks that work oddly well with the black and white of her shoes. Her style isn't necessarily what you may find in some editorial shoot, but it offers a peek into her personality that some incredibly well-constructed blazer ever could.

Tim McKee - Clean and simple.

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I greatly respect Tim for the simple yet well-executed outfit that he's wearing in these pictures. He shows a welcome lack of fussiness, instead wearing the kind of outfit that I think would make a flattering uniform for anyone: fitted plaid shirt, well-cut khakis, and a solid pair of desert boots. I get a sense of casual, lived-in confidence as opposed to dressing up in some sort of costume to capture the attention of others.

And yet, he manages to keep things interesting with the details - upturned pant cuffs, a few extra undone buttons on the shirt, rugby-stripe socks, and a nice assortment of things on his wrists. One idea that I found particularly noteworthy was using a broken leather boot lace as a bracelet. Curious.

I can also appreciate his consciousness of buying domestically produced clothing, or at least ethically produced. For all of the talk of eating local, being socially responsible, and all that jazz that floats around campus, I definitely feel that there's a lack of awareness of clothing in that respect. While it's closely linked to wealth and socioeconomic status, I still think it's worth noting, especially since Tim tries to do his part in that regard.

In any case, I think Tim's a great example of the strength of well-fitted basics that flatter one's body type and that dressing well isn't necessarily about wearing the latest and greatest thing out there. Well done, sir.

A Touch of Romance with LM Ellzey

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A girl walks through a forest, slowly making her away across a soft bed of leaves that covers the floor. Streaks of light dance through the trees above, eventually making their way down below to illuminate her dress as it flows in the cool breeze.

I can't help but find it incredibly interesting that this single bit of imagery has been the foundation of one person's entire sense of style. From early on, LM Ellzey, a sophomore at Scripps, found herself being drawn to this idea of wandering alone through forests (I, too, could go for some tranquil thickets and cool streams right about now). This idea took a hold of and stayed with her as she discovered how she wanted to project herself onto the rest of the world. Having a single moment or image to be able to trace one's style to is still a foreign concept to me, as I feel that most people have an accumulating libraries of influences that eventually manifest themselves through one's aesthetic sense. Quite interesting.

And while these forest strolls may have initially sparked this sense of whimsical vivacity, LM's style has gone on to become what she describes as "romantic."

She makes a clear distinction between dressing "romantic" and "girly." To her, both incorporate a sense of feminine allure, but the latter involves things like bright colors and loud prints. Meanwhile, her sense of dress follows more along the lines of blacks and whites, understated dramaticism - the stuff of old Hollywood. It's all about developing a sense of elegance, she explained, that is reminiscent of women in paintings - not necessarily lusted after, but appreciated for their beauty and timelessness.

Leena Kozupa - By Frary Fountain

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Leena's clothing and accessories are a mix of trinkets and more impactful pieces from all over - a necklace from Greece, a bracelet from Kenya, a jacket from Poland, and her mother's old shirt. And it wasn't until she removed her jacket that I noticed her success at layering. A slightly loose shirt with a tiny collar, with a few buttons casually undone, underneath a flowing cardigan. And yet the carefree nature of both would never have been known to me with her fitted jacket on top. Playing with fit, keeping the layers interesting in relation to each other. And to top it off: a colorful floral-print scarf to counter the monochromatic jacket.

When I had a class with Leena last semester, I couldn't help but think "dang. She seems really cool." After speaking with her, I'm pretty sure that I was right. Leena speaks of her style in such an offhanded manner - so incredibly casual about her way of dress, as if it's just another little thing in her life. No big deal, I suppose. She gives hints into her confidence and self-assurance, but it's not so blatant as to be overbearing. Simply put, she's cool.

Aerienne Russell has a cool bike. And cool socks.

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When I happen to see Aerienne in passing, I am instantly intrigued by the way she dresses, and moreover the way she carries herself. Much to my delight, when I finally got to speak with Aerienne, her thoughts on style and appearance were similarly interesting.

Aerienne dresses "ten year forward, ten year behind" to create a unique aesthetic that combines elements from the past, mostly thrifted, and anticipates the resurgence of certain trends in the future. It creates a sort of visual puzzle that forces one to think whether something is actually fashionable, or if she's just pulling a fast one on the rest of us and having fun all the while. I feel like she knows something we don't.

She favors old clothing for several reasons, such as the accumulation of character as clothing passes from one owner to the other. Or thrifted clothing as a means of dressing sustainability, cutting down on discarded articles and reusing that which is perfectly usable but often disregarded. And from what I can tell, Aerienne's developed quite a knack for thrifting.

I'm not even going to try to pretend that I know what "look" Aerienne goes for. I find it decidedly unclassifiable - a reflection of her personal tastes that go far into her past, away from "fashion" or whatever. It's fun, incredibly curious, and always something fun to look out for around campus.

Tyriek White - Straight out of Brooklyn

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I'm always curious to see how one's environment plays out in the development of personal style. Tyriek White, a sophomore at Pitzer College, is a great example of the potential of this sort of influence - distinctly urban stylistic choices that are heavy with the personality of his Brooklyn roots. But while he definitely has a city vibe, he's refined the fit of his clothing as well as the pieces themselves to create a wonderful tension between the raw energy of Brooklyn with the more modern sensibilities of Williamsburg. A curious take on a classic varsity jacket, skinny jeans, some good ol' plaid, and some trinkets from Africa. Urban with a twist.

There isn't much of a cohesiveness to the clothing that Tyriek owns, a reflection of his own position in life - everywhere, trying everything. This mix also alludes to his creative side filled with writing and music. And as Tyriek says, he owes it to himself to dress the way he does. It all started as a means of cutting out the negatives aspects of his life; the elevation of his appearance went hand-in-hand with the improvement of his personal life. And now his way of dressing sets him apart, making him a visual standout along with his artistic pursuits.

Speaking of which, check out Tyriek's new mixtape and try it on for size.