By Piper Sartison
Elm Staff Writer
According to NPR, second-hand shopping is one of the fastest growing methods of shopping amongst Gen Z consumers. Maria Karavasilis, a sophomore and international student from Georgia, is no exception, using hand-me-downs and thrifted items to assemble outfits.
She describes her style as “comfortable,” wearing staples in her closet like vintage Levi jeans from her mother, a motorcycle jacket from her father, cowboy boots, and polo shirts. Additionally, she likes to mix her outfits with pieces that she describes as “classy, formal, and chic.”
To find pieces that suit her vintage style, she shops second-hand, finding pieces in thrift stores and the closets of her relatives. Additionally, she shops at stores like Zara and Polo.
Despite her unique sense of fashion, Karavasilis revealed that she does not enjoy putting labels on her personal style.
“I never actually pay too much attention to it,” Karavasilis said. “Throughout the years my style has fluctuated a lot. In high school, I was a huge tomboy. My ideal way of dressing would be leather pants or a leather jacket, but now I feel like I have developed a more feminine style.”
Karavasilis is half Greek and attended an Italian school. Her fashion inspiration stems from European influences, which include baggy jeans, simple colors, and sophisticated statement pieces.
Additionally, she enjoys vintage supermodel fashion. Pioneered by icons like Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford, the style involves simple, casual pieces like leather jackets, white t-shirts, and jeans.
She is not a fan of the hyper-trendy looks that are promoted through fast fashion.
“Not everything that looks good on other people will look good on you,” Karavasilis said. “Because all of us are so distinct and have different personalities, different bodies and different vibes, I feel like not everything goes well on everyone. We all don’t have to follow the same trend.”
Karavasilis encourages others to cater their outfits to their own personality, exploring what looks best on them.
When organizing her closet, Karavasilis says that she doesn’t “try to go out of her way” by getting up early and planning a specific outfit. “It’s more like okay, instead of sweats and a hoodie I’m going to put on jeans and a blue shirt, or jeans and a tank top…. I feel like it’s just more effortless to throw on two items.”
“I want to emphasize that it’s not that I don’t like to wear sweats,” Karavasilis said. “When I wake up, I just think what am I going to wear today?”
Karavasilis, who is mostly influenced by her family and home country, encourages others to be confident with their style, as she believes that others do not need to follow one specific trend to be accepted in the fashion community.
Photo courtesy of Maria Karavasilis.
Photo Caption: Sophomore Maria Karavasilis takes inspiration from beachy European fashion, pairing a simple sundress with a bright bag for a summery look.