By Jamie Ducharme, News Staff

Throughout high school I waited impatiently for Vogue, my fashion bible, to arrive in my mailbox every month. Each photo shoot and glossy spread heightened my style aspirations more – until I remembered New Hampshire, my home state, is not exactly the fashion capital of the US.

There certainly are people in New Hampshire who dress well. More often than not, though, they are eclipsed by crowds of people clad in enormous winter jackets, flannel, athletic wear or denim-on-denim.

Part of the New Hampshire uniform is purely practical. When there’s a full-fledged Nor’easter raging or the temperature dips below zero, a parka and Sorel boots become pretty darn appealing. But the fact is, there isn’t much of a fashion scene in the Granite State regardless of season; it just isn’t a priority for most people. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s undeniable.

Though I still wore my high-waisted skirts, colorful tights and blazers with pride, I grew accustomed to being asked why I was so dressed up or why I bothered. My love of fashion never floundered, but it was hard not to feel a little out of place at times.

I managed to suppress my clothing insecurities most of the time, but something was still missing. Anyone who has ever read the Sartorialist, the hugely popular street style blog, knows a big part of fashion hinges on being inspired by one’s surroundings, and I wasn’t getting much of that at home. When I decided to attend Northeastern last spring, I was excited by the prospect of adopting city style and being around people who care about fashion as much as I do.

Now that I’ve lived in the city for almost two semesters, I can say my expectations were only half on point. I was right in my belief that fashion would be more prevalent in Boston. Both on and off campus, I am constantly admiring looks and taking note of trends to try. It feels more natural to put effort into my appearance here, and by simple virtue of constantly having throngs of people around, I am exposed to a far more diverse set of personal styles than I was in New Hampshire. Boston may not be known as a fashion hub, but its style scene is alive and well.

I have been surprised to find city living hasn’t significantly changed my style. I thought as soon as I hit the metropolitan streets, my aesthetic would immediately become edgier, more urban. So far, that hasn’t been the case. Just as at home, my tastes veer toward preppy. I still can’t seem to get my hands on enough dresses, and I consistently want to buy the entire stock at Madewell. All in all, I haven’t bought anything here that would make my friends from home do a double take.

The most important thing that has changed is my willingness to wear whatever makes me happy, regardless of what others are wearing or where I’m going. The city has made me just a bit bolder, a bit less hesitant to stand out. Dressing nicely doesn’t have to be a risk here – it can just be fun.