Campus Style-Off: UPenn, UArts, and Drexel

In the beginning of the year, I asked students what they thought of when I said “fashion on campus.”  I ended up getting such a variety of answers that I wasn’t sure where to go with it.  For instance, Claudine Jacob said, “Now, a lot of people on campus are wearing sweatpants and hoodies but, other than that I’ve noticed people trying to bring back 90’s styles.”  Justin Sheppard said he thought that everyone had a pretty unique style and, “Hoodies with pea-coats” was pretty common for guys at the moment.  Finally LaMont Douglas told me what he thought students should be wearing,”I think, as college students, we should have a professional look when it comes to fashion.”  Which means, for guys “a button-up shirt and tie with khaki pants or a polo” for girls,” a blouse with a nice skirt or black pants.”

After spending the entire semester working on this blog, it has become clearer to me why I received such a wide variety of answers.  Fashion, like art, is subjective.  We all have our differing opinions on it, and frankly, some of us have no opinion of it at all.  Which is why it is so important to stress the fact that there are no rights and wrongs.  All that matters is what is important to you, what you like, and what looks best through your eyes.  Although you have the option to choose your favorites, keep in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Rowan University is not home to the only campus where fashionable students are present.  Photos of stylish students from all over the world are available on websites such as StreetPeeper.com, Facehunter.com, and more.  Inspiration is available to us in many forms, and I personally feel that the best inspiration comes from the observation of others.  There is only so much that we can take from advertising.  Because the goal of advertisers is to get you to buy the clothes, they want them to look good.  However fashion is not always about simply looking good.  It is a form of self-expression that communicates a great deal about the wearer to the outside world.  The best way to observe it is through the examination of reality.  Today, not only do we have the ability to ask and answer, “What are people wearing on campus?” without having to leave our computers, we also have the ability to learn what are people wearing in Russia, Amsterdam, or New Zealand.  I encourage you to take advantage of the tools that are currently available to gain inspiration and connect yourself the world outside of your campus, your hometown, and even your country.

To bring a more expanded look at what students in other universities in the area are wearing, I traveled to the University of Pennsylvania, The University of the Arts, and Drexel University (all located in Philadelphia, PA).  Below I have provided the photos of students.  It is up to you to decide.  Which university do you think is home to the most stylish students? (Remember there is no right or wrong!)

Pictured: 1)Adrian Brown 2)Jasmein Dowe 3)Michael Olivo 4) Kelly Peterson 5) Chrisianne Clymer 6) Adam Hrenko 7)Lan Mguyen 8)Rachel Crum