Finding fashion is an elusive quest, at least for me.
I mean, it’s easy to tell the difference between someone who dresses well and someone who doesn’t, but I can’t, hard as I try, apply this distinction to myself. On any given day my getup is an assortment of T-shirts and hoodies purchased from noise-metal bands, jeans that kinda, sorta fit, Vans shoes and various other wearables whose providence is uncertain.
Basically, I’m clueless. And in an effort to educate myself, I grabbed my camera, put on my ratty sweater and harassed people who look a lot better than me.
Here’s what I learned:
1) It’s kind of awkward to approach people and compliment them on their clothing. It just seems like you’re hitting on them.
2) When tasked with identifying fashionable males, I tend to select people with ties and hats. I don’t wear ties and I don’t wear hats. I guess this means I’m self-loathing.
3) PSU students are poor. Everyone I talked with shopped at thrift stores and/or discount clothiers.
4) Pretty much everyone said that clothing should express something about your personality. What does my clothing express about me? I don’t know. This might be part of my problem.
5) There’re some snazzy dressing people here at PSU, and most of them do it on the cheap. New goal: get a hat.
Joey Triska, 17High school student, takes Solid-State Physics at PSUWhere do you shop?: “Goodwill, mainly.”What is fashion?: “Fashion is anything anybody does that other people find interesting.”What “look” are you going for?: “Frank Sinatra.”Is PSU a fashionable place?: “I think it’s above average.”
Grayce Bentley, 22Liberal studies (focus in black studies)Where do you shop?: “Nordstrom Rack, Buffalo Exchange.”What is your fashion sense?: “I like a mix of free shit … and expensive, nice things. I really just throw it together.”Are PSU students fashionable?: “They are, but sometimes it’s really forced. The hipster movement has taken hold here. They really try too hard; it’s not New York.”
Milo Hayden, 23Film majorWhat is fashion?: “Whenever someone embraces the visual aspect of their personality.”What is your fashion ethos?: “Probably expressing my personality, that’s my biggest goal. Loud. Fun. Trippy. I want eye-catching clothes, not necessarily for attention, I just want them to fit who I am.”Where do you shop?: “The Bins, Goodwill, Decades Vintage, Avalon Clothing.”Are PSU students fashionable?: “I think their primary goal is comfort. But when you look at any place with a desire for creativity, like the art department or film department, that extends to their own personal fashion.”
Hadley Johns, 20Drawing and paintingWhat is fashion?: “Decorating yourself, I guess. I don’t think it should be taken seriously.”Where do you shop?: “Buffalo Exchange. Kind of a mix. Even American Apparel, sometimes. I really like Sea Plane, but I can’t afford their clothing.”Are PSU students fashionable?: “In Food For Thought, they are. Everyone is dressing for rain lately. Spring is when the exciting fashion comes out.”
*Epic as in I walked around for 45 minutes