As autumn slowly descends upon Lewis & Clark, the change in season has significantly affected fashion choices as people begin shifting into warmer fall aesthetics.
According to Carmen Silver ’25, the trends are not hard to pin down.
“So many Dr. Martens,” Silver said.
Denim, ’90s- and 2000s-inspired styles also seem to be quite common, along with fashion that is, according to freshman Zoë Dobbs ’25, “visibly queer.”
These items and aesthetics appear to be staples despite the many distinctive styles at LC. If you are having trouble finding your personal style, consider researching looks on Pinterest, or snagging one of the trendy pieces at Buffalo Exchange or Goodwill. Silver said she attains clothes through “thrifting, Depop, eBay or random stuff my friends give me.”
Dobbs used to not care for fashion, but that changed when she started using it to express her identity.
“When I started actually putting effort into my appearance and figuring out what clothes I liked and what I didn’t like, it really helped me find my identity,” Dobbs said. “I thought it was really cool how I could change (my style) and be whoever I wanted to be, and be perceived however I wanted to … based on the way I made myself look.”
Thrifting is one of the main methods students use to acquire affordable clothes when shopping, which is a result of Portland’s thriving recycling culture.
To stay stylish in the fall season while adjusting to colder weather, Julia Einaudi ’25 recommends layering. Einaudi described her own personal style as “goth hooker.” Layering is a technique used to withstand cold weather that involves wearing multiple garments of clothing over each other.
Einaudi has a number of useful recommendations for looking your best while layering.
“Tights are good … if you can get insulated tights, you can be warm in your legs (and) still wear a skirt or shorts over them,” Einaudi said.
Plain turtlenecks can be a versatile underlayer, Einaudi said, worn under a graphic t-shirt, jacket or raincoat. She also recommends Dr. Martens, scarves and hats.
As an Oregonian of 18 years, I personally recommend practical items such as rain boots, hiking boots and a raincoat for the coming mud, rain and wind, especially at an “outdoorsy” campus like LC. Despite what some may think, these kinds of pieces can be styled well. Colors like dark green, dark blue and black are best because they easily match any wardrobe, and are widely available at any Target, REI or Eddie Bauer.
While some may lose their stylish aspirations in the midst of autumn’s restrictive climate, fashion remains an integral part of many students’ lives.
“Fashion does mean a lot to me,” Einaudi said. “Because I feel like (it) is how you communicate to the world who you are as a person.”
What you wear is an important part of self-expression and being yourself. But fashion is not only about looks, it is also about well-being.
“It kind of means the world to me sometimes,” Silver said.
Equipped with these messages on fall fashion, remember to stay happy, healthy and stylish this fall.
Photograph by Elizabeth Grieve
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