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.