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.