What your freshman year hum class says about your aesthetic

If there is one thing that every UChicago student can relate to, it’s their freshman year hum (humanities core) class. Whether you loved it or not, it certainly was a part of your life, and no one will ever take that away. So, embrace it while we tell you what your first ever UChicago class says about your aesthetic.

Philper:

Via

This class self-selects in a pretty obvious way. You probably tried to go for a dark academia look and wear a sweater vest over a white button up to class at least one time, but it certainly didn’t help make your points any more intelligible.

Greece & Rome:

Via

Maybe you read some ancient Greek plays in a high school English class, maybe you took Latin for several years to beef up your college app, maybe you just think you’re better than everyone. How does it feel walking through campus in your plain black Canada Goose jacket?

World Lit:

Via

This might not have been your first-choice class, but you eventually came to terms with having to discuss two passages from The Epic of Gilgamesh for 3 weeks. This class has probably forced you to content yourself with mediocrity, and your fashion choices reflect that mentality.

HBC:

Via

With your workload from this class, do you even have time to pick out an outfit in the morning? You’re probably too busy sparknoting Nichomachean Ethics as you awkwardly speedwalk across campus.

Media Aesthetics:

Via

There are two possibilities: you either spend wayyy too much time picking out an outfit in the morning, or absolutely no time whatsoever. Half of this class is House of Sunny dupes and the other half is UChicago hoodies and grey sweats.

Reading Cultures:

Via

Is there any actual theme tying any of your readings together, or did the professors just search up “famous literature” and press a randomize button? You probably can’t commit to any aesthetic, even with your assortment of heavily curated Pinterest boards.

Language and the Human:

Via

You’re so quirky and different for taking this class! You probably tell people random facts you learned from this class at parties and they definitely do not care. Good thing your style is impeccably curated from your local expensive second-hand/vintage store, so you have that going for you in lieu of your offbeat personality.

Poetry:

Via

You either genuinely love poetry or you have not read a book for pleasure in the last 5 years. Regardless, you probably consider yourself to be exceptionally sensitive and compassionate, and you most likely dress for comfort over style.

2019 Designer Profiles: Hannah Ni

Every year, the MODA Fashion Show wraps up winter quarter with the perfect homage to student talent, hard work and creativity. In anticipation of the show, we have been interviewing some of the designers involved in this year’s show. Meet Hannah Ni, a 4th year Economics and Statistics major.

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Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?

I've never done fashion design work before, let alone even touched a needle! To be completely honest, I was scared of even using a sewing machine at first because it did everything so fast! Because I started to learn from literally nothing, I think the most rewarding aspect of the process has been looking back to just a few weeks ago and seeing my progress in such a short period of time.

For example, when I first started to use the sewing machine, it took me so long to get my machine set up correctly and make sure I did all the steps (thread the needle, wind the bobbin, change machine settings, etc.). Now, it would probably take me a few minutes at most.

“I’m coming away [from this experience] with a greater appreciation for fashion and clothing in general. Just like cooking a meal, there are so many steps involved in the process that most people are not aware of.”

Another rewarding aspect of the process is coming away with a greater appreciation for fashion and clothing in general. Just like cooking a meal, there are so many steps involved in the process that most people are not aware of–for design, you're spending most of your time tracing and drafting your patterns, cutting your fabric, and making modifications/alterations. That last point is actually very time consuming because getting clothing to fit on my models is not a walk in the park! I'm definitely a lot more appreciative of being able to pull on a pair of jeans that fit perfectly now.

What are you looking forward to most about the show? 

I always tell people the MODA show is one of my favorite events at UChicago because it's one of the few times where students showcase work that they're extremely proud of outside of a classroom or academic setting.

This time around, I'm looking forward to being one of those students and seeing all those hours in the costume shop come to life on the runway. I know every designer will say that, but I really mean it because I almost didn't do this. As a fourth year, I thought it would be too late to pursue something new; I've never been a part of MODA, I'd never taken an art class before this year, and I don't really follow fashion news or designers. I'm so glad I took the chance because the opportunity to do something like this doesn't come often. So in that sense, I'm looking forward most to the personal fulfillment of achieving something I did not think was possible.

Who do you have in mind when you're designing?

When I'm designing, I think first about my models, and then about myself (sounds narcissistic but I promise it's not!). Clothing is not made to live on its own–its made to be worn, and when it's worn, the person becomes a part of the look. As such, it's very hard to separate a model from the outfit. Whenever I'm envisioning my pieces, I always envision them on my models and think about my models' body type, hair, mannerisms, body language, etc. That way, when I'm making artistic decisions along the way (Do I want to add a contrasting color here? Which shade of fabric should I buy?), I know who's going to bring the piece to life.

“Clothing is not made to live on its own–its made to be worn...”

To the second point, I think about myself as well because I want my pieces to be wearable. I think a lot of people (myself included) don't feel like they would have the confidence to wear pieces that are spunkier than the average outfit, but I want to design my clothing such that it's classic enough with slight twists that make people think "hey, maybe I would wear that."

If you could give yourself any advice on the design process, what would you say to your younger self?

Well, I would definitely say I still am my younger self and have a lot to learn! But besides that, I would say to slow down and take things step-by-step. Designing is a never-ending process–there's always more you can do and fix, and as a perfectionist that's not always a good thing. Sometimes I find myself overwhelmed by all the little things I could do and it helps to just think about what my plan of attack is. That way, I also don't rush into things that always come back to bite me down the line when I end up having to undo a million stitches.

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All images courtesy of Hannah Ni.

2019 Designer Profiles: Kira Leadholm

Every year, the MODA Fashion Show wraps up winter quarter with the perfect homage to student talent, hard work and creativity. In anticipation of the show, we have been interviewing some of the designers involved in this year’s show. Meet Kira Leadholm, a 4th year and the director of our Designer Boot Camp program.

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What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?

I’ve been very influenced by streetwear and pop art for this collection. Two of my looks incorporate pop art-like imagery, but not in the traditional sense. I use an image—red lips—that is commonly associated with women as sex objects. By incorporating this into my collection, I hope to reclaim this image, and with it, the notion that women can be sexually appealing and empowered at the same time. The street-wear aspect of my collection comes from my fabric choices. I’m using a lot of denim, fleece, jersey, and velvet.

“I think there is a conception among designers—albeit a changing one—that models are like blank canvases, solely present to exhibit art pieces. That’s what mannequins are for, not people.”

Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?

I’ve been designing since I was old enough to hold a pencil, and I’ve sewn for the MODA show for three years now. The most challenging aspect is definitely unexpected difficulties—seams that don’t line up, garments that don’t fit your models, or finding you don’t have enough fabric. These snags seem like the end of the world, and you need to be innovative to figure out how to work around them. The most rewarding part of the process is the show. Seeing so many people in the UChicago community come to support the designers’ work is humbling and indescribable.

Kira’s first look.

What are you looking forward to most about the show? 

This will be my last MODA show, and my parents are going to attend. My mom came to my first show, but my dad has never seen my work on the runway. I’m looking forward to sharing this experience with them.

Who do you have in mind when you’re designing? 

Myself and my models. I always aim to stay true to my design instinct, even when the process doesn’t go as planned. And when I’m sewing, I consider whether the piece will complement my models. I think there is a conception among designers—albeit a changing one—that models are like blank canvases, solely present to exhibit art pieces. That’s what mannequins are for, not people. Of course I want my designs to speak for themselves, but the objectification of models is too dangerous to acquiesce to. Instead, I try to integrate the models into my collection. That’s why I keep them in mind when I’m making my garments, so that model and garment can unite in harmony.

Kira’s second and third looks in her collection.

If you could give yourself any advice on the design process, what would you say to your younger self?

Patience and diligence. Going slow and sewing something once is so much better than starting over multiple times.

What’s your favorite aspect of the design process? 

The realization of my pieces. I enjoy every step of the way, but the best part is when everything comes together, and my 2D designs manifest as 3D creations.

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 Feature image courtesy of Aisha Rubio.

Prof Style: Jia Kong

Note from the Editor: Welcome to MODA Blog's latest series, Prof Style! An expansion of our popular Quad Style series, Prof Style investigates the sartorial preferences and personalities that define our multifaceted graduate student and professor population at UChicago.

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Meet Jia (Hana) Kong, a third-year math graduate student from Zhejiang, China. During her free time, she enjoys playing video games on her PS4, attending operas and concerts in Chicago, and drawing! 

How would you describe your personal style?

I prefer wearing skirts or dresses instead of pants. The combinations I like most are jumper skirts and blouses or tops (T-shirts or sweaters or hoodies) and skirts. My friends often tell me I’m hard-core because I wear tights through the duration of the Chicago winters!

As for colors, I think grey is the safest color so I buy a lot of that. But all-grey can be a little bit dull. Light colors for spring and summer, warm colors for autumn, and dark colors for winter. Since Chicago winters are very very long, I have a lot of dark colored clothes in my closet. Most of them are wine/crimson/Chicago maroon. And wine goes well with navy, my favorite color combo.

Where do you find style inspiration?

I like clothes and accessories which have prints about cats and other animals. I also like to buy (not necessarily wear) clothes and accessories whose themes are stories, like Alice in Wonderland (I like the book very much, and the author was a mathematician too!). I also get my inspiration from manga and illustrations. There are also some brands who have collaborations and I love to buy these because of their lovely prints (I’m looking forward to this year’s Uniqlo X Sanrio collaboration, I love Cinnamoroll and Gudetama so much too!).

Where do you like to shop?

I got most of my clothes from Japanese & Chinese brands because of a suitable size, plus they can be a little more out of the ordinary.

Do you have any fashion regrets?

“Life is too short to wear boring clothes.”

What I wore during my first year in my undergraduate life was over-the-top. At that time I had a lot of accessories on me, like braiding my hair with ribbons and then adding hair bows and clips on it. And to make my dress a good shape, I sometimes even wore an underskirt inside. Looking back, I think it was a little too much for daily outfits and inconvenient in crowded places (and expensive, since I kept losing the accessories and buying new ones!). It’s not really a fashion regret. I still wear underskirts and do ribbon braid sometimes, for example for a photo shoot, but I do not do that in daily outfits anymore.

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

Fashion is one of my interests. I like to think about fashion, discuss fashion with friends and read fashion magazines during my spare time. I also make money out of it. I did a part-time job as a model for an individual owned brand. I also tried to design dresses and sell them during my college, though it failed halfway.

What does fashion mean to you?

I don’t know who said this, but I have read something that said, “Life is too short to wear boring clothes”. Thinking about how to dress myself is one of my interests, and it makes me happy.

What is your favorite current trend?

I’m now very into oversized clothes. It suits me and the clothes are easy to purchase and, if needed, easy to resell. I also like Japanese street fashion. It is too much for an everyday look but I like to put something with a Japanese street flavor into a casual outfit (like loose socks, lace-trimmed blouse, brooches etc).

What is the most important part of any look?

When I dress myself, I care a lot about the accessories and some other details. By accessories I don't only mean earrings or necklaces, but also shoes, berets, hats, bags or even umbrellas. I like to wear them accordingly to make the outfit a real outfit.

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All images courtesy of Ashely Mao. 

Quad Style: Cecília Resende Santos

Meet Cecília Resende Santos, a fourth-year Art History major focusing on 20th century architecture and urbanism. On campus, she's a part of Kitchen Sink. 

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“Fashion is a daily, non-consequential way of experimenting with aesthetic preferences and, if you will, projected versions of oneself.”

For this look, I am wearing a Worthington wool coat (thrifted), a Zara Basic ribbed mock neck long-sleeve shirt, a black lace top passed down from my mom (probably custom-made) and Uniqlo wool cropped wide-leg trousers.

How would you describe your personal style?

I came to think of my style as prioritizing shape–the geometry of the clothes and its relationship to the body–wearing often mono- or dichromatic outfits and primary colors. I almost never wear patterns. However, I have recently started thinking about texture, which can be very rich and appealing combined with form, for example, the pairing of a ribbed shirt with ribbed trousers, the embroidery-like texture of the top I inherited from my mom, or just the thickness of a fabric. Eventually, I want to find a way to reincorporate more color and patterns. And I tend to dress more put-together than I actually am.

Where do you find style inspiration? 

I gather fashion inspiration in a variety of ways, none of which are particularly intentional or conscious. I like looking at people on the street, observing people I know, and artists and professionals I admire, as well as occasionally going through Instagram and labels I know. The latter two often have very specific, well-defined and self-aware style, and it is interesting to observe them as statements and micro-verses from which to abstract principles and take inspiration. Ads in fashion and art magazines are also a source.

These earrings were maed by my stepmother’s mother, São Paulo-based jewelry designer Lia Barrella. 

Where do you like to shop?

Recently, I have mostly been shopping in thrift stores. Some of my favorite items come from thrift shops in Chicago and other cities. I tend to shop when I am traveling, as I walk in the city and perhaps to take something from a place (the black flowy trousers, for example, are from a thrift store in Brussels). Other favorites come from my mom or were made by my great-aunts–they are singular items made with great craft. But I have shopped for basics at Uniqlo, Everlane, sometimes Zara, and places with petite sizes.

I'm black ribbed flowy wide-leg trousers (thrifted), a Uniqlo white mock neck short-sleeve shirt and Miu Miu shoes (thrifted).

Do you have any fashion regrets? 

I wouldn’t wear much of the stuff I wore as recently as my first year of college, but I don’t really have regrets. I understand that my relationship to fashion, my taste and my self-perception have changed, and fashion choices reflect that.

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

My relationship to fashion has changed dramatically over time. Until I was maybe 14, I didn’t care at all about fashion–almost to the point of condemning it. Most schools in Brazil require uniforms, so this wasn’t a big part of the day-to-day in any case. After that, in high school, as uniforms were no longer required, my attitude to fashion began to change. I became mostly concerned with wearing something composed, but neutral, making no statements. It was only in the end of high school and in college, when I moved out of my parent’s house in early 2014, that I started experimenting with outfits and developing some sense of personal style.

In the past two years my style has stabilized somewhat to its current version, but what is interesting and entertaining about fashion is the possibility of experimenting, making new combinations with the items I already own, and rediscovering preferences (or challenging them) when looking through magazines or thrift-shopping.

Why is fashion important to you?

Fashion is a daily, non-consequential way of experimenting with aesthetic preferences and, if you will, projected versions of oneself. For me, the considered thoughtlessness of it is part of a healthy diet of creativity, intellectuality, and amusement. And it has a real relationship with one’s self-confidence and perception of one’s own image – which I think can be harmful at times, but at other times can be very useful.

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All images courtesy of Angela Fung. Check out more of her photography here.

Quad Style: Keira Li

Meet Keira, a 4th year Art History major from China. She plans to study architecture after college, and her dream is to design a palace complex for dogs!

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How would you describe your personal style?

Mostly streetwear/vintage. I wear a lot of black, and I don’t like clothes that are too colorful or extremely feminine. Usually when I run out of ideas for outfits I put on my favorite combination— black turtleneck sweater and jeans (aka the Steve Jobs look).

I'm wearing a white t-shirt from JNBY, Leather jacket from Genuine People, velvet pants from Genuine People, boots from Unif.

Where do you find style inspiration? 

’90s Hong Kong movies, my mom’s closet and Instagram!

Where do you like to shop?

I’m a fan of Vetements and Acne Studios. However, they are way too expensive for me to actually afford anything from them. In reality, most of my favorite pieces are from Unif, Opening Ceremony and Genuine People (those are still not cheap, but occasionally affordable). For bags and accessories, Building Block has a great collection of minimalist designs.

Do you have any fashion regrets?

Yes. I once bought a black hoodie from Anti Social Social Club. The first time I wore it I came across two random people wearing the exact same hoodie. Absolutely didn’t like that!

I'm wearing a sweatshirt from Sandro, skirt from Aritzia, boots from Unif.

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

I think that ultimately, our relationship to what we wear boils down to our relationship to our body. There was a time when I believed that the only way I could look fashionable was by wearing size 00/XXS clothes. I’ve always been naturally skinny, but during that time I somehow got super obsessed with getting the body shape of a runway model. Now when I look back it seemed ridiculous and I honestly didn’t look great because I lacked confidence in myself. Instead of changing ourselves to conform to a certain type of beauty standard or fashion style, it is more important to appreciate our individuality and choose clothing that best suits that. To look nice and confident we have to first accept and become comfortable in our own bodies.

Why is fashion important to you?

Because I care about how I look and I have to wear clothes!

“I think that ultimately, our relationship to what we wear boils down to our relationship to our body... To look nice and confident we have to first accept and become comfortable in our own bodies.”

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All images courtesy of Julia Attie. To view more of her photography, click here.

Quad Style: Sam Royall

Meet Sam, a third year Computer Science and Philosophy double major. He spends most of his time on campus doing things related to music, fashion, and technology.

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For this shoot, I’m wearing a Ralph Lauren Double-R L Western Jacket, a Steven Alan trench, an AMI wool sweater and a pair of AMI wool trousers, a Fred Perry polo, a Martine Rose tee, a pair of Maison Margiela sneakers, and a pair of Air Force 1s.

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

I started getting into fashion when I was younger through watching movies. I wanted to look like the characters I liked in film, and because of that I was initially much more into traditional menswear. This got me into the big designers in men’s formalwear, but I’ve definitely moved away from that. As I became more interested in fashion, I learned about brands like CDG, Acne, JW Anderson, Needles, Maison Margiela, Thom Browne, Gucci, etc., and started following them closely. However, I’ve recently developed a new-found love for brands I’ve always worn but never really thought of as very “fashionable.”

“I think people can get caught up in fashion and feel like they always need to wear ‘fashionable’ brands, but there’s really nothing cooler than the classics.”

I think people can get caught up in fashion and feel like they always need to wear “fashionable” brands, but there’s really nothing cooler than the classics. Brands like Carhartt WIP, and ubiquitous brands like Nike, Levis, The North Face, and Patagonia, are staples in their own rights, but I like to think of them as just as important, although in different sense, to my style as the brands I listed earlier. Because of this, I like to throw together clothes that represent each of these periods in my life and really enjoy wearing things that might not generally be seen as going together.

Where do you like to shop?

I love going to stores around Chicago, like Notre and random places in Wicker Park, but I tend to buy must of my stuff from online retailers or specific brands’ e-stores. It’s just too easy to find stuff on sale to justify spending money at actual clothing stores. I tend to just look around when I go shopping around the city. I love seeing and trying on clothes even if I’m not planning on buying.

Where do you find style inspiration?

I mainly just keep up to date with brands and their look-books. It’s always cool to see the editorials released by stores I like, and browse Instagram sometimes to see what kind of stuff people I follow are wearing. Also, looking around when I walk Downtown or around campus is big. Seeing how people decide to dress (even if not consciously) is a big inspiration for me.

“Seeing how people decide to dress (even if not consciously) is a big inspiration for me.”

Why is fashion important to you?

This might be an idealistic view, but I think that just by how you dress, you can tell people a lot about yourself. The way people are perceived has a lot to do with how they present themselves. I think fashion is a really big part of that. I’m not worried about being judged. On the contrary, I like that people, just by seeing me walk around, can learn something about me – my interests, what I think looks good, and maybe even something about my personality. In that sense, I think the way you dress is really important, and I think it is a lot of fun to feel like you’re expressing yourself through the way you choose to dress.

How would you describe your personal style?

I like to throw together random pieces of clothing, which might be seen as coming from different “styles.” I might wear pants and shoes that would tend to go with more formal outfits with a graphic tee or hoodie that might be considered more on the streetwear side of things. I like putting things like a colorful Patagonia puffer or North Face jacket with something that is more traditionally seen as fashionable. I think this shows that I like “clothes” as a blanket term rather than fashion itself, which might imply that I want to stick only to brands that are considered fashionable.

At the end of the day, I just like to make outfits out of things I like that look good together. (I always try to throw some color in, even if it is overcast and freezing outside, like it generally is.)

Do you have any fashion regrets?

Everyone has worn a wack outfit before. But I tend to think that style is a gradual process that can’t be reached unless a certain amount of experimentation has been done. That being said, you’re going to mess up if you’re doing it right. So I don’t really regret any of the fashion choices I’ve made.

“I tend to think that style is a gradual process that can’t be reached unless a certain amount of experimentation has been done.”

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All images courtesy of Kyle Lee. To view more of his photography, check out his Instagram account @jooksingkyle.

Music Mondays: Temisan Osowa (r_ckl_ss)

For this week's iteration of Music Mondays, we wanted to bring things closer to home and feature one of UChicago's very own alumnus, performing artist Temisan Osowa! 

So Temi, why don’t you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, Iʼm Temisan, Temi for short. I graduated from UChicago last Spring as a Psychology Major, PreMed. Iʼm a musician; while I enjoy playing the saxophone and used to play piano, my current passion is being a singer/songwriter. My artist name is currently r_ckl_ss, which comes from a nickname my best/first friend from UChicago gave to me before school started. The underscores/lack of vowels come from some of my favorite artists like dvsn and spzrkt. I thought it looked cool and mysterious and artistic haha, and I wanted a cool name.

“...then I delved deep into the world of Hip-Hop, and became enamored. The way that so many stories are told, so many soundscapes explored, the entire culture and movement surrounding Hip-Hop, narratives and perspectives shared and lived, as well as the raw and passionate nature of the music genre drew me in.”

How did you begin your interest in music?
In high school, my best friend named Josh started introducing me to all sorts of music. At the time, I had only really listed to a small amount of Punk Rock, as well as a heavy dose of R&B (my first love). But then I delved deep into the world of Hip-Hop, and became enamored. The way that so many stories are told, so many soundscapes explored, the entire culture and movement surrounding Hip-Hop (whether that be fashion aspects, dance, social, historical, etc.), narratives and perspectives shared and lived, as well as the raw and passionate nature of the music genre drew me in. It, and music in general, is such a powerful and unique tool and way of communication. Then as a student here, I naturally tried my hand at music for fun, especially with friends like TR!C, Chief Wicked, and KSwiz doing such incredible things. I didnʼt take myself seriously as an artist until this summer/ fall when Atrician (TR!C) pushed me to do a few freestyles and verses, and realize that I had a talent beyond being a music consumer/curator.

How would you describe your music or personal signature?
My music signature is hip-hop inspired R&B, or alt R&B. While I listen to a decent number of genres of music, those two to three genres are the modes I find myself most comfortable and connected. While I like to Rap, I am not necessarily a thoroughbred singer, and I am always trying to improve and focus on flows and lyricism, most likely due to my musical background. Simple but effective songwriting as well as melody are the most important aspects of music to me, and that shows in the type of music I am making.

Who and what are your music inspirations? Do you have a favorite genre?
As I said earlier, R&B was my first love in music (Trey Songz and Chris Brown were always on repeat). The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, as well as PND (PARTYNEXTDOOR) were some of my earliest influences/favorite artists, and I naturally aspire(d) to make music like them. As of late though, I have found that my artistic and musical voice has started to sound like some other, relatively more low-key artists like Travis Scott, NAV, Amir Obe, Blackbear, and Eli Sostre. They are some incredible artists and song-writers who have a great aesthetic aspect to their music that suits me.

What’s your current favorite song or album?
My current favorite songs are Chanel by Frank Ocean, Love Galore by SZA and Travis Scott, Let You Go by Eli Sostre, Pull Up With Ah Stick by SahBabii, Teenage Fever by Drake, and Every Kind of Way by H.E.R. My favorite albums from this year is probably More Life by Drake, DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar, and blkswn by Smino.

How has or has not UChicago impacted your journey as an artist?
UChicago is a place where I feel like almost every single student and individual is forced to do a significant amount of personal reflection and growth. All of those life experiences Iʼve had over the past four years, as well as the setting of living in Hyde Park, Chicago has given me so much to write about. Chicago, UChicago, Hyde Park, are all such inspiring environments. Itʼs a dream for an artist to be quite honest… in my humble opinion.

“Music is an escape, it is a cathartic experience. Listening or making music feels like everything that is pent up within me finally gets a real, true release.”

To sum up this interview, how would you describe your relationship with music, now and in the future?
Music is one of the most important things in the world to me. Music has played a significant role in my identity, my interaction with culture, connections with people, and has become the best way for me to express my thoughts and emotions… originally through other peopleʼs music, and now through making my own. Dropping my first song on New Years was one of the best decisions of my life, pursuing passions is a must! Music is an escape, it is a cathartic experience. Listening or making music feels like everything that is pent up within me finally gets a real, true release. The opportunity to make and consume art just makes me so happy, is so exciting, and give me a sense of fulfillment. While I will now be working and positioning myself to attend medical school in the near future, music will always play an important role in my life. I will continue to make and heavily consume music, continue to grow, and continue to expand my horizons.

All images via Temisan Osowa

Quad Style: Sabrina Iddir

My name is Sabrina Iddir, I'm a second-year Statistics major on a pre-med track. I'm involved with ArtShould and MEDLIFE, I play violin in the University Symphony, and I work in a genomics lab on campus. I thoroughly enjoy art of all forms, with one of my biggest hobbies being oil painting mixed media portraits.

For this outfit, I'm wearing a mockneck from TJmaxx, a denim skirt from Forever 21, and a denim jacket from Goodwill. 

How would you describe your personal style?

I would call my personal style something along the lines of neutral minimalism, given that my outfits tend to include blacks, whites, and neutral colors, usually involving some sort of denim and/or boot (during any season). Walking into a store, I find myself most attracted to the basics -- I think I (unapologetically) own more staple white t-shirts than the average college student.

The off-the-shoulder top in this outfit is also from Forever21.

Where do you find style inspiration?

For style inspiration, I usually will come across some neatly-edited photo on Instagram or Pinterest that draws me in. Pop culture also plays a role in my style - I religiously watch the Kardashians (sorry), so I tend to catch on to their more mundane trends. I also adore the styles of Lauren Elizabeth and Orion Carloto, who I think most accurately depict the image I like to go for.

These shoes are from DSW.

Where do you like to shop?

The sale section is a home to me. I cannot walk past a Zara without going in, with my other go-to places being Urban Outfitters, H&M, and Topshop. Thrifting is also a gem worth exploring, and a good portion of my clothing has come from thrift stores like Goodwill.

Do you have any fashion regrets?

I regret wearing shoes that I knew were too cheap for my own good - last quarter I had to walk about 8 blocks barefoot because my shoes broke after teaching with ArtShould at an elementary school. Other regrets may include anything I wore before my junior year of high school. For clarity purposes, socks and Birkenstocks are most definitely not a regret of mine.

“Being a student comes with plenty of obligations and stresses, but if I enjoy what I’m wearing that day the stress feels diminished. ”

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

I think fashion is an important part of me, and I find that if I don't feel 100% confident in what I step out wearing, my mood will instantly drop. That being said, I don't tend to wear elaborate outfits often, so a majority of the time I'll feel most comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans. I used to not care about fashion as much as I do now, which I think developed as I started to find my personal style during high school.

Why is fashion important to you?

Fashion is important to me because it allows me to outwardly express how I'm feeling at the moment. It also gives me one less thing to worry about. Being a student comes with plenty of obligations and stresses, but if I enjoy what I'm wearing that day the stress feels diminished. Sometimes a mock-neck or a matte lip is enough to keep me from losing it over a midterm.

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All images courtesy of Yamini Nambimadom. Check out her portfolio on Instagram

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Quad Style: Eric Gu

Today's Quad Style focuses on fourth year, Eric Gu. Eric is an Economics major and Comp Sci minor. On campus, Eric is involved with campusCATALYST, Alpha Kappa Psi, and Water Polo.

What or who is your style inspiration?
I decide a lot of my wardrobe based on people and things I see around me. For example, my roommate Grant bought two pairs of the exact same shoes so now I have two copies of every single item in my wardrobe. My other roommate Chris really likes the music festival Ultra so sometimes I’ll just wear a gigantic Ultra flag and nothing else. The baggy sweater I’m wearing in the set of pictures is actually inspired by the spirit jerseys that a lot of sororities have. I bought an XXL sweater from Old Navy and just trimmed it shorter, and it’s one of my most comfy sweaters.

“I don’t think I’m particularly inventive in what I wear, since I mostly get inspired by what I’ve seen other people already wearing. However, I think a good word to describe it would be personalized. ”

How would you describe your style?
I don’t think I’m particularly inventive in what I wear, since I mostly get inspired by what I’ve seen other people already wearing. However, I think a good word to describe it would be personalized. I made the patch sweater after going into a store and seeing a similar looking sweater for $200+. I went out and bought a different colored sweater, as well as chose a bunch of patches that had to do with food. Similarly, I really liked the trend of paint splattered sneakers that were cool like 3 or 4 years ago. Instead of using minimal low-top leather sneakers, I decided to use some flashier canvas sneakers, as well as limited the color palette of paint. In the end, I made things that were similar to expensive or designer items, but personalized them enough so that they’re unique. More than that though, it was fun making something by myself, and I always feel more cheerful when I’m wearing them.

What is your relationship with fashion?
I think it’s a good way to seem interesting to make up for my utter lack of personality otherwise.

What’s your favorite current trend?
I like the trend away from slim and skinny pants towards flowy and almost baggy pants. I assume the natural conclusion of this trend is when everyone is wearing amorphous blobs for pants and no can tell what other people’s bottom halves look like. Ideally, a random person on the street could be a mermaid and no one would be able to tell. My least favorite trend is average global temperatures in the last 10 years.

Favorite store or website?
As a copout answer, I really like thrift shopping and looking for goofy sweaters. Besides thrift shops, I’d say my second favorite store is Bonobos. Their clothes fit pretty well, and their stores are great because it’s more of a place to try on clothes and get advice from their employees. They’ll also serve you beverages and even beer, so sometimes I go and pretend to try on clothes but really, I’m just there for the drinks.

Your house is on fire. What item are you going to save?
I wake up. I sniff the air. I first think that someone’s been making toast. I pause – that’s not toast – that’s the stench of a three-alarm fire! I quickly tumble out of bed and look for the most important item I’m going to save. Is it my wallet? Is it my computer? Is it the glossy poster of my roommate Grant I’ve lovingly hung over my bed? Not feeling satisfied with any of these, I dash into the hallway, at first slipping because socks are slippery on hardwood flooring and I sleep with my socks on. As I cough, I fumble around for the light switch so I can make my selection easier. I notice that smoke is pouring out of the living room corner. I investigate. Atop a fluorescent green yoga matt are the charred and flaming remains of my roommate Chris. So this is the source of the fire. Looks like he’s been practicing his Zumba dance moves a little too much and literally set his impromptu dance floor on fire. I begin to panic. It’s 180 words in and I still haven’t chosen my most important item. I glance around frantically before inspiration strikes! The jade gleam catches my eye from the kitchen corner. I dash over before clutching desperately for our potted plant. With treasure in hand, I dash out of my apartment amid the anguished screams of the other apartment residents as they realize that their lives are burning down around them. I feel sorry for them, but at least I’ve saved my potted plant.

What’s your go-to outfit?
I really like black jeans with anything. It looks kind of put together when I’m lazy, but it also lets me wear something brighter or standoutish without looking too out of place. Even if it’s a really ugly shirt, it still looks a bit more presentable with black jeans.

What’s your favorite fashion faux-pas (aka your guilty pleasure)?
I have a glittery black long sleeve t-shirt that I got on a middle school field trip to Washington DC. It has a large print of Obama’s face over the chest, and his family looking wholesome in the background. It’s framed with a glittery cursive phrase that says “Mister President” while fireworks go off above the Obamas.

“A ton of people are into fashion to give off a certain vibe, so knowing whether or not your outfit fits the impression is huge. ”

Most important part of any look?
Definitely your understanding of how it makes you look. A ton of people are into fashion to give off a certain vibe, so knowing whether or not your outfit fits the impression is huge. For example, nautical stripes are pretty popular, especially in lighter or subdued shades. But if they’re too bold and have too much contrast, you might look like someone who rows a gondola.

What are your biggest fashion/style regrets?
In elementary school, we had a uniform that required white collared shirts or polos. I wish I had had the foresight to pop my collar.

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All photos are courtesy of Rebecca Cho