By Rebecca Sirull, inside editor

Students looking to become more fashion-savvy or discover the latest in cross-campus trends, look no further. The international style website CollegeFashionista released a lookbook this past Monday, showcasing the 75 most fashionable freshmen in the country and it features nine of Northeastern’s very own first-years.

Founded by Amy Levin in 2009, the website brings the latest in college style to students across the country and internationally. While the site mainly focuses on fashion, it also covers topics ranging from beauty to lifestyle, featuring tips from real college students.

CollegeFashionista has posted a number of lookbooks in the past, but this is the first time it has created a book using only first-year students. The Northeastern freshmen included in the list are Ackim Mpofu, Alesia Garrett, Bobby Viens, Daniel Norris, Emily Nonoo, Hmoud Al-Qbandi, Katie Dilorenzo, Malcolm Khaldi and Manuela Hegglin.

“I thought it would be so cool to document freshmen,” Levin said. “They just got to campus, they’re kind of learning the lay of the land and obviously their fashion choices are experimenting.”

For Bobby Viens, an international business major, this tendency to experiment translates into a desire to set himself apart through his wardrobe.

“I like to find stuff that no one else is really wearing,” he said. “I go to thrift stores and stuff like that, because I enjoy finding things that I really like, not what I’m told to like.”

As the photographers traveled around the country seeking out fashionable students, they noticed distinct trends that were popular in different regions.

“Fashion definitely varies from campus to campus,” Levin said. “Especially since now we’re at over 500 schools and we have an international presence, so obviously what a student is wearing in Boston isn’t necessarily what a student is wearing in China or Canada.”

However, there are some universal styles that all fashion-savvy individuals seem to follow.

“There are trends that you’ve seen on the runway that have kind of been trickled down to college campuses, and there’s variations of them that happen across the board,” Levin said. “But there are some outfits that are completely different. A lot of it has to do with weather and the type of students that attend that university.”

She commented specifically on the layered look that has become popular in Boston and other eastern schools. As the weather gets colder, students look to bundle up while still staying in vogue with chunky sweaters and scarves. She also noticed a rising use of leather in Bostonians’ wardrobes – from belts to jackets and even leggings.

Viens addressed the difference between styles that are popular at smaller schools as opposed to larger schools and the role of an urban environment on students’ clothing choices.

“In the city it’s more geared toward the fashion world,” he said. “Urban campuses have a better sense of style because we’re exposed to more culture in a way.”

The correlation between campus locations and style is evident in the book, which focuses more on images than descriptions. By keeping the article simple, Levin hopes to appeal to a younger audience.

“Millennials learn through images and we wanted to put this together in a really high, glossy manner, where people could zoom through and see what’s happening on campuses, with their peers who are also freshmen and what inspiration they could take from it for their own personal wardrobes,” Levin said.

Ackim Mpofu, an undeclared major, enjoyed the variations in style that were showcased in the photos.

“I think it’s cool,” Mpofu said. “I was going through it and I like the different categories, the different styles. I think it shows the personality that somebody has. I love looking at pictures myself, and criticizing and stuff like that, so I guess that was the coolest thing about the book.”

Levin was pleased with the outcome of the book and hopes to come back next year to find the same students who were photographed for this edition to see how their style has progressed. She expects to see an increase in maturity and sophistication, but she also knows that style is unpredictable and its evolution is reflective of the immeasurable possibilities for personal growth and change.

Visit collegefashionista.com to view the lookbook and see some of Northeastern’s best-dressed freshmen in action.

Photo courtesy CollegeFashionista