By Ella Kozlowski
Features Editor
Whether at the dining hall or walking around the Cater Walk, everyone has noticed a person who has a unique style. Full of retro and punk rock, this person’s look features a wide variety of her famous pieces, including a hoodie covered in safety pins and a homemade green sweater. This person is sophomore Willa Risgin, and while she has an iconic look every day, she claims if you are trying out a fresh style to try seeing what you already have.
“A lot of fashion is reforming what you have and it’s about wearing things in ways you wouldn’t normally do it,” Risgin said.
Looking at items to add to your closet touches on a large part of fashion, which is assuming that to be fashionable you must go out and find or buy things, which oftentimes is not very sustainable on the bank or for the environment.
Trying a new style can be worrying, but if you are using articles of clothing that are already in the closet, trying new looks can be less scary. If unable or unwilling to change any previously owned clothes, the other large part of creating a style is thrifting, which has an unlimited number of options and genres of clothing.
According to The Spartan Shield, “One of the concerns of thrifting is it scrutinizes some stores in raising the prices of products, making cheaper essentials less accessible for those in need.”
While a valid criticism, thrifting still makes fashion much more accessible for everyone and the many options adds more chances for specific customizations.
Risgin also spoke in length about the importance of finding your style and to not just going with what is popular. While not necessarily bad, fashion is an outward expression of self which, if the trends do not speak to you, can feel suffocating.
“In freshmen year of high school, I had an identity crisis because I realized I don’t actually know who I am,” Risgin said.
College is the perfect opportunity to do something on your own with an unfamiliar environment and new people constantly flowing in and out. Many times, it is difficult to branch out and explore fashion since it is so connected to personality but that is exactly why it is so important, because it represents you.
According to creativebrief, “Clothes are the immediate shelter, a signifier of how you want to appear, how you wish to project to the world.”
While the world of fashion is intimidating, remember that the clothes already in your wardrobe can always have new combinations or embroidered to add a little pizzazz. Risgin discussed the possibility of starting a fashion club, which would have events such as field trips to larger thrift stores and sessions on embroidery and sewing.
Customizing is also possible to make clothes represent mood or mental state.
“I try to dress according to my emotions or what kind of music I am listening to, so it changes daily,” Risgin said.
No matter where you are in your fashion journey, the adventure can begin at any minute and does not require big spending. So next time you feel as if your wardrobe needs an update, try thinking of new ways to wear the same thing and you will get infinite combinations.
Photo by Ella Humphreys.
Photo Caption: Willa Risgin loves doing experiments with her style and letting it display who she is