How Students Express Themselves
Jordan Premmer
The start of classes brought Dons and their style back to the Hilltop on Jan. 21. The Foghorn hunted down a few students to share their outfits and insights on personal fashion.
The Foghorn caught junior psychology major Alieza Chua walking into the Market Cafe. Chua sported a grey toned waxed denim jacket, wide legged black jeans, chunky statement scarf and an army green messenger bag. She said, “My favorite part of my outfit is probably my jacket. It’s wax, which is really cool.” The jacket was purchased from a small Los Angeles brand, K2 Studios. ”The color of it is really unique because of the dye. So every single jacket was made differently,” she said.
Chua found her love for fashion through her father, a photographer for fashion editorials. Now, she uses style as an outward expression. “I’m someone that is very androgynous looking, I like to be able to wear whatever I want,” she said. “Some days I feel more feminine. Some days I feel more masculine, and I can express that with my clothes rather than my gender.”
Junior psychology major Luke McShane was spotted in a structured and autumnal colored vintage sweater, ultra wide legged jeans, a beanie, sunglasses and an array of accessories basking in the San Francisco sun on Welch Field. McShane, who works in the Fillmore at Crossroads Trading Post, appreciates garments and accessories for the stories they tell. “Each kind of thing I own has a story with it,” he said. He told the Foghorn a story about the reddish brown moccasin loafers on his feet. “I work at a thrift store, and they gave me money on my account to buy. When these came in, my new coworker said, ‘You should get these,’ and they fit me exactly.’ And I got them for free,” he said. “That’s probably my favorite story.”
McShane showed off his jewelry, explaining the story behind each piece. “The rings are gifts from people because I’m a huge ring guy,” he said.
Welch Field was a hotspot for fashion lovers on Jan. 24. Laying in the grass surrounded by a group of friends was Salma Albawani. Albawani brought back the 2000’s, wearing oversized denim shorts with patchwork detailing paired with a pink and white striped top, brown motorcycle boots, a woven belt and a tan messenger bag decorated with giraffes and elephants.
Albawani was enthusiastic about her new motorcycle boots. “I got them for Christmas, and I’ve been wanting these for a long time. They’re my favorite piece right now,” she said.
Albawani’s stacks of necklaces and bracelets clinked and clanked as she moved.
“Some of my jewelry is from my mom. I have a huge skull ring my best friend got me from Paris. I have a couple rings from Yemen that my Dad got me. I have a free Palestine bracelet, because free Palestine. My necklaces are all my mom’s and thrifted,” she said. “I love secondhand jewelry and whatever is colorful and has character.”
Albawani points to her surroundings as fashion inspiration. “If I walk around the city and I see a [cool] outfit, I have to find my own way to recreate it.”
In front of Kalmanovitz Hall, the Foghorn chased down junior psychology major Sana Malik. Malik, dressed in a brown plaid jacket which she sourced from an estate sale, a fair isle knit sweater, dark blue bootcut jeans, a tote bag embroidered with flowers and a pair of Dr. Martens. Malik told the Foghorn she is going for an “Autumn mom, Christian girl in England” look.
Malik says she gains style inspiration from British comedy drama, Fleabag. She describes her sense of fashion as, “All over the place with earth tones.” She listed the components she looks for in a good outfit, “Comfortable, jacket, shirt, pant. That’s the combination.”
The Foghorn approached sophomore advertising major Anton Maghirang in the undercaf as he waited for a coffee. Maghirang popped out in a maroon pleated long sleeve top from Zara, baggy black dress pants, a pair of black loafers, a black oval bag and a camouflage printed hat as the cherry on top. “I’m pretty simple,” said Maghirang. “I like just random clothing, whatever looks clean or super structured.”
A silver necklace with a letter “A” charm on it dangled from Maghirang’s neck. “It was a gift from my aunt,” he said. “I usually wear silver jewelry but I can never find good pendants. I got this one for Christmas and I really love it. It’s so cute.”
Fashion helps Maghirang to be more social with others on campus and step out of his comfort zone. “When I’m wearing a good outfit I feel like I want to talk to people more,”said Maghirang.
“Everyone has cool, different ways of expressing themselves. You’ll see that in every single person’s outfits, just look around,” said Chua.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
