Quad Style: Katherine Maschka Hitchcock

Oct 28

Oct 28 Quad Style: Katherine Maschka Hitchcock

I’m Katherine Maschka Hitchcock and I’m a second year History major from Pasadena, CA. I love cats, goat cheese, and vintage shopping and on campus I write for the MODA blog and try to stay healthy and sane. When I’m not in class I’m usually in Harper drinking green tea or procrastinating in Bartlett.

How would you describe your personal style?

I don’t think I can accurately describe it. I buy what I like which tends to be 50s and 60s dresses, beachy tops and jeans, and colorful but classic menswear. I gravitate towards classic silhouettes in weird patterns and colors. This year I decided to bring only a capsule wardrobe to school based on the idea of easy tailored menswear so I have a lot of blazers, pants, and button downs mixed with oversize cardigans and simple tshirts this quarter.

I’m wearing a vintage blouse from Playclothes in Burbank, a pair of vintage men’s Levis from Crossroads, a Ralph Lauren belt, Coach boots from TheRealReal, secondhand Chloe sunglasses, a suede jacket from a vintage shop in Florence, an opal ring, and my great grandma’s earrings, watch, and necklace.

Where do you find style inspiration?

I subscribe to 4 magazines and I read ManRepeller and Vogue.com daily. I screenshot or cut out anything that speaks to me and then create collages based on the themes I find. I also read a lot of fashion history and watch too many period dramas. At home I have a large shelf dedicated to my fashion library.

Where do you like to shop?

I shop and buy pretty much exclusively secondhand. I have a few special items from TheRealReal but most of my clothes are thrifted or from vintage stores and flea markets. When I buy new I usually buy from Everlane. My mom and I are completely obsessed; I’m pretty sure half her closet is their stuff. The Rose Bowl Flea Market is my absolute favorite though. I live within walking distance of it and would go every month when I lived back at home. Unfortunately, last year I could only go once in the summer. I have a few favorite vintage stores in LA, a few on Magnolia in Burbank and also a consignment shop in Pasadena called Clothes Heaven. That’s where I got the black dress I’m wearing in the shoot. I would go to browse and play dress up at least once a week because the store is a block away from the coffee shop where I’d do my homework in high school. I ended up making friends with the women who own the shop and whenever I’d get frustrated with calculus I’d go in and they’d dress me up in vintage Prada and Chanel and have a wonderful time.

“ I think the only thing I regret is holding onto items that didn’t make me feel good about myself.”

Do you have any fashion regrets?

There are quite a few entirely questionable choices in my past, but none that I regret per say. I think the only thing I regret is holding onto items that didn’t make me feel good about myself.

Do you have any fond memories with Fashion?

Every Halloween I consider a fond memory with fashion. Costumes were the first avenue in which I was exposed to fashion and I got more and more into costumes, especially historical costumes, as a way to gain confidence through clothing. My favorite costume I’ve ever had was Elizabeth the First. I had a replica of her coronation dress made through Etsy and I threw a huge costume party for my 16th birthday. It is a super impressive dress and I felt so powerful wearing it, even though I had a severely sprained ankle at the time!

I’m wearing a Calypso dress I got from Clothes Heaven consignment shop in Pasadena, a thrifted shirt, earmuffs from TheRealReal, my dad’s ski beanie from the 80s, another pair of Madova gloves from Florence, cotton socks from Etsy, and Doc Marten Le… — I’m wearing a Calypso dress I got from Clothes Heaven consignment shop in Pasadena, a thrifted shirt, earmuffs from TheRealReal, my dad’s ski beanie from the 80s, another pair of Madova gloves from Florence, cotton socks from Etsy, and Doc Marten Leona boots

“ Costumes were the first avenue in which I was exposed to fashion and I got more and more into costumes, especially historical costumes, as a way to gain confidence through clothing”

I’m wearing a vintage skirt from a shop in Boystown, an Isaac Misrahi button down from the new Target revival, cotton knee high socks from Etsy, a beanie from my summer camp on Catalina Island, Madova gloves from Florence, a vintage Italian Coca-Col… — I’m wearing a vintage skirt from a shop in Boystown, an Isaac Misrahi button down from the new Target revival, cotton knee high socks from Etsy, a beanie from my summer camp on Catalina Island, Madova gloves from Florence, a vintage Italian Coca-Cola purse I purchased for too much money at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, and vintage cowboy boots from the Flea Market as well.

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

Fashion is my costume and my armor. In middle school my clothing was both what made me miserable and what made me feel the most powerful. I am nearly 6 feet tall and my school had a really strict dress code that allowed the administration and therefore the other students to single me out and comment on my clothes and my body. I developed an eating disorder during that time and clothing was the only way to help me feel confident about myself and how I looked, but I couldn’t wear anything above my knee because I would be subject to commentary and public humiliation if I did. It was an extremely difficult time, but that experience is what solidified the intensely personal relationship I have to fashion. Fashion gives me the confidence and power to get through the hard days. It is my barrier against self-loathing and it is an extension of myself.