Lola Sekon
Contributing Writer
I feel like this has to be said, even if it may ruffle some feathers. Hear me out: College is just a fashion show. Now, you may be thinking — she’s out of her mind — but humor me just this once.
When I say college is a fashion show, I mean it, because it’s partly true. Think about that person in your class or someone you see around campus who always looks effortlessly cool. They always manage to look like the most interesting person in the world. You want to approach them and beg them for their style tips and wardrobe finds. Seeing them walk into a room feels like watching a model walk down a runway in a designer’s latest creation.
I know I am not alone in trying to discern who has the best outfits both on- and off-campus. Each morning that I go into CAJÉ for my non-negotiable latte, I can’t help but scan the room, noticing each and every person’s outfit. Who is the coolest-looking person here?
Is it the girl with the crochet top and denim cutoffs that is the literal embodiment of “surfer girl”? Or the one girl who looks like she just went on a shopping spree at Free People? Maybe it’s someone else entirely. Is it the guy who looks like he just stepped out of a time machine from the ‘70s? Or is it the guy in the thrifted tee and cargo pants who is somehow combining chaos and sophistication together?
Since arriving at UC Santa Barbara, I’ve been exposed to a variety of different styles. Almost everyone I see here is well-dressed, which was a bit of a culture shock for me. At my high school, very few people dressed in a way that expressed their individualism, adhering to athleisure, sweaters, and jeans. So you can imagine my surprise when suddenly everyone I see looks like the coolest person on planet Earth.
People stroll by with their cowboy boots, well-loved shoulder bags, and cool graphic tees. I constantly have to suppress the urge to go up to people and beg for the details of their entire wardrobe. There is a girl in my class who, I swear, might be the most stylish person alive. Each class period, I find myself waiting for her to arrive, wondering what surprisingly perfect new outfit I am going to see.
I must admit, I am writing this out of pure jealousy: I am rarely the best-dressed person in the room. I don’t think I’m worthy of the title “fashionista,” yet I do have a deep love and admiration for fashion.
I dress in relatively simple fashion. My wardrobe consists of a basic, timeless color palette. I am not experimental with my looks. I like to stick to a formula: jeans, sneakers, basic tops, and sweaters. The most interesting element of my outfit is my leather jacket that I never leave the house without. And perhaps my vintage jewelry. But I am not one of those people you see walking down the street who forces you to do a double-take.
Still, I try. Every day, I make the effort to put together an outfit that I truly love, because I am a firm believer in the idea that if you look good, you feel good. For me, fashion is a way to express myself. My style helps me feel grounded as well as boosts my confidence and self esteem.
When I look at old pictures of myself and compare them to now, I can see the changes reflected in my clothes that show how I’ve become an older, more confident person who is only continuing to evolve.
Each day as I step out into the world, I look forward to encountering stylish people and watching how they manage to turn heads everywhere they go. I may never be a fashionista, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to wear something that makes me feel as confident as those fashionable folks walking down the street.