The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Column: Fashion and the City

By Ruthanne Tarantino, News Correspondent

    I am an East Coast girl. I grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey, came to college in Boston. Now I am on co-op on in New York City. Although my moves have not been drastic, my views of style have been shaped by the different places I have lived. I would not consider myself fashion-forward; I don’t have the clothes to be considered a trendsetter. I would consider myself more of a fashion observer. I have taught myself through magazines, blogs and plain attention to others what works and what does not. I recognize clothing pieces from Miu Miu’s Spring 2010 collection (okay, that’s an easy one) but you never find my freakishly wide feet in heels, ever.

    Growing up in New Jersey, my fashion world opened up when I discovered thrift stores. Once I could find clothes that other people didn’t have, I was on my way to being cool for sure. Give me a rack of children’s shirts adorned with Power Rangers and summer camp logos, and I was set. Unfortunately, I also found a thrill in starting a collection of ugly dresses. A turquoise dress with yellow and brown butterflies? It’s mine. A plum floral nightgown? Add a belt, and it could be pulled off as a peasant dress. I now cringe thinking about a picture of myself wearing a black and white skirt with a geometric pattern paired with a bright green baseball jersey. I don’t know what I was thinking. Thankfully, I am far enough removed from the situation where I can simply blame my choices on being in high school.

    Deemed unfit for fashion school, I came to Northeastern. I feel proud to have avoided the two worst decisions a girl can make in college: Northface jackets and Ugg boots. Seriously, your creativity called. It would like to hear from you soon. This uniform, adorned by too many girls, reflects the overall attitude I have discovered in the city. Bostonians can be daring, but not too daring. When in doubt, play it safe and dress like everybody else. It is a town founded by Puritans, after all.

    I would say my biggest fashion inspiration in Boston has come from my friend Natalie, who hails from Hawaii. Although this girl never had to worry about coats or close-toed shoes growing up, she knows how to rock the cold weather clothes. Given the opportunity to wear hats and boots for the first time, she looked chic in every blizzard, ice storm and wind tunnel. We may not have the same style, but she has thankfully kept me on my fashion toes for the past four years.  In her hip boots, slim jeans, over sized gray sweaters and black beanie, few would guess this girl grew up on a tropical island. Think of an exotic, actual human sized Mary-Kate Olsen. Because of her, I abandoned my flares when I saw her wear skinny jeans freshman year. 

    Before I even arrived in New York City for co-op, I knew I did not stand a chance fashion wise. I am not Anne Hathaway in some fashion-focused movie awaiting a makeover. My co-op is working in television promos, behind the scenes– I wear jeans and a nice shirt to work every day. There is not some magic closest somewhere in my building to make me New York designer-chic. But living here has made me want to throw out all of my clothes and start over with a new, hip wardrobe. I felt like all of my clothes that worked in Boston are suddenly passé. But until I get a steady job after college with the help of my co-op experiences, all I can do is dream. Observing people’s style on the streets made me realize that fashion bloggers like the Sartorialist actually have an easy job–these fashionable people are everywhere.

    However, there is a certain group of people in New York intimidate me fashion-wise the most. It’s not the countless aspiring designers, the models who strut the streets, or the ever-present celebrities. Very simply– it’s the kids. When you see seven-year-olds dressed better than you on a daily basis, your style goals come into perspective. One day, I was walking through the West Village. There were three little kids selling lemonade and offering to draw passers-by portraits. One of the little boys was wearing a gray beanie, a leather motorcycle jacket, red skinny jeans, black Converse, and had a chain hanging from his pants. Not only did this kid own every lemonade stand I had as a child, he dressed cooler than I ever will. One day I hope to dress as well as a 7-year-old New Yorker.

    Perhaps the most drastic fashion change for me will be this upcoming fall when I study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. I have never been abroad, so I am unsure what to expect. I have been told not to wear shorts unless I want to be mistaken for a prostitute. My mother has told me I need to get a pair of European walking shoes so I will not stand out as an American. I have also been warned that I will need to rid my habit of wearing large bags around because thieves can cut them off from my shoulder. Come September, will I become a long skirt-wearing, penny loafer-stepping girl who wears a bulging money belt, or Miss International Fashionista? Only time will tell.

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