Tulane serves as a melting pot for fashion inspiration, seamlessly blending East and West Coast styles with the unique charm of New Orleans. As distinctive as Tulane's fashion culture is, exploring trends from colleges nationwide provides fresh perspectives. Northeastern, with its contrasting climate and fashion ethos, takes a unique approach to everyday attire, as described by one of our editors', Zoe's, childhood best friend, Natalie Moore. Natalie characterizes the Huskies' style as "minimalist street style mixed with thrift fashion items," featuring classy upscaled pieces and contemporary modern silhouettes. Recognizable brands like Levi, Aritzia, Marc Jacobs, and the iconic Goyard tote dominate the cityscape, complementing the East Coast aesthetic in Boston. Cold weather prompts students to incorporate cute puffer jackets or down coats into their daily looks, emphasizing practicality in the face of a city commute. Having simple staple pieces along with layers adds to the functionality of the work. The colder weather influences streetwear, allowing layers to play a huge role in the looks: sweaters, jackets, leather, and accessories contribute as a nuanced touch. Tulane, along with many college campuses, has embraced the thrifting trend, letting fashion crumble as sustainable and quality pieces for cheaper prices have overtaken the streets.
While Zoe observed the prevalence of thrifting at other college campuses, Carly, another team editor, explored a different trend elsewhere. Carly had the opportunity to interview her sister, Taylor Chaiken, currently the Managing Editor for University Girl Magazine at Syracuse University.
During Carly's conversation with Taylor, they delved into the significance of trends on campus. Microtrends, in particular, play a prevalent role in students' wardrobes as they strive to keep up with the latest social media-driven fashion trends. Unlike the trend of thrifting, Taylor noted a strong focus on brands and labels among students, with many sporting the newest ultra-mini Ugg and Goyard purses as backpacks, highlighting a prevalent obsession with labels at SU. Taylor's journey within the club began three summers ago as an Editorial Intern, progressing to the role of Pop Culture Editor for two years. Now, she holds a position on the Executive Board, overseeing all digital and print articles for the Syracuse Fashion Club, also known as "UGirl." Their primary focus is producing two print magazine issues each year—one in spring and the other in fall. Observing a pattern among students, Taylor noted that those affiliated with Greek life tend to share a similar sense of style, extending to her own sorority where many sisters sport a uniform of leggings and branded sweatshirts.
Meanwhile, another team writer, Camille, explores the unique fashion landscape at SEC schools. Caris Blake, a Sophomore at Auburn University, describes game days at Auburn as a time for girls to showcase diverse styles, from jerseys and jeans to maxi dresses with heels. In contrast, men typically wear jeans, khakis, suits, or Auburn merchandise. Caris notes an unspoken dress code for class attire, with girls in athletic wear, business casual, loungewear, or sorority letters. Identifying prominent trends on campus, Caris mentions a "preppy girl aesthetic”, whereas, guys exhibit more uniformity, often wearing a more casual-cool outfit to class. Although Auburn lacks a fashion club, it hosts an annual fashion event cosponsored by the College of Human Sciences Department of Consumer and Design Sciences and the Auburn Apparel Merchandising and Design Association. The event features a fashion showcase highlighting "unconventional feats of fashion and fresh apparel design," as stated on their website.
In the final segment of college interviews, Kim engaged with Madelyn Pozzi, a Sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Minor in Fashion at USC. Madelyn shed light on the unique activities of USC's Fashion Club, highlighting the incorporation of thrift vendors setting up tents a few times each semester and culminating in captivating fashion shows at the term's end. Madelyn reflected on the diverse fashion landscape at USC, noting distinctive styles within different groups, such as artsy girls embracing mismatched patterns, engineering students leaning towards more perceived "normal" outfits, and sorority girls exhibiting a uniform flair with branded accessories. She emphasized the influence of USC's fashion culture on her personal style, inspiring her to strive for uniqueness and experiment with unconventional combinations in her wardrobe. Madelyn also discussed the notable shift in male fashion during the first semester, moving from casual to a grungier and alternative aesthetic, echoing the overarching theme that while there's a collective desire to stand out, it often results in a convergence towards a similar style. The prevalence of Adidas Samabs emerged as a common denominator in the diverse fashion choices on campus, reinforcing the idea that, despite efforts to be distinct, there is a palpable pressure to conform to certain trends at USC. The interview illuminated the quantifiable influence of fashion on self-expression during the initial year on campus, underscoring its enduring impact throughout a student's college experience.
