Returning to campus means preparing for a new wave of first-year students, and that’s how I ran into Rasha.
I met her during our training to become orientation leaders for Barnard and I instantly fell in love with her long, white overalls. I’ve been on the hunt for a pair for myself for quite some time.
Her outfit is a great transitional look as we ease out of summer and into fall.
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Rasha 101
Name: Rasha
School: Barnard College at Columbia University
Year: Sophomore
Major: Pre-Med
Let’s Talk Fashion
Who or what inspires your style? “My style is inspired by so many different people and places. Living in New York makes it easy to get inspired by the street style or by a beautiful cafe, so sometimes it can be difficult to separate my own authentic style from what I’d envision someone I look up to would wear. Anything aesthetically pleasing – like amazing photography or a beautiful painting – can inspire an outfit based on color and texture combinations.”
Where do you like to shop? “My favorite stores are Madewell, Anthropologie, and Aritzia. Those can be a little pricey though when there isn’t a sale, so I’ll either wait for a sale, thrift for similar versions of the piece online, or I’ll search in other stores or thrift shops for pieces that give off vibes from the three stores mentioned.”
How would you describe your sense of style? “Simple, with small concentrations of intricate details. So like a simple pair of overalls but with a very detailed scarf.”
Why did you choose this particular outfit? “I chose this outfit because I love overalls, and I love white denim during summer, and the necktie just ‘tied’ the entire outfit together.”
What fashion advice would you give to other students looking to improve their style? “I would tell them to go for quality instead of quantity, to follow blogs that inspire them, and to try to imagine an outfit before buying a piece of clothing so it’s not a waste.”
What are your favorite trends right now? “My favorite trends are large, beautiful earrings. I also like the whole loafer/mule trend but I have yet to get a pair of my own.”
Do you have any favorite fashion designers? “The most inspiring high-end designer brand to me is Chloe.”
What do you do for fun – do you have any unique hobbies or interests? “Fashion is usually what I do in my downtime. Whether it’s coming up with new outfits [or] getting inspired, it [is] what I like to do. I’m not an artist (though I wish I could paint or draw) and I can’t photograph. So fashion to me is how I express my appreciation for art.”
If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be, and why? “That’s a really tough question. I think off the top of my head I would choose Chriselle Lim. Her style is so elegant yet effortless.”
Elements of Rasha’s Style
1. White Overalls
Rasha’s overalls stood out to me most because of the white denim, an obvious choice for spring and summer but one that would look equally striking as a winter whites look.
2. Neck Scarf
Rasha’s outfit is centered around neutral colors which is what makes her outfit flow together so seamlessly. The navy and white print perfectly complements the navy shirt layered under her white overalls.
Her jewelry, which was hidden from sight when I first saw her, consists of nice statement pieces that do not overwhelm her look. Rasha told me that her gold pendant necklace was a gift from her mother.
3. Accessories
Rasha purchased her ring from a street vendor near Barnard’s campus. Street vendors and small local businesses can be some of the best places to pick up unique jewelry pieces that no one else will have. She pairs her ring with a vintage-inspired digital watch from Casio. There’s nothing more classic than a simple gold watch and Rasha’s outfit wouldn’t be complete without it.
Now tell us what you think!
How do you feel about long overalls? Do you like statement scarves? Do you prefer to shop local when it comes to finding unique pieces and accessories? Comment below and share your thoughts!