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by Kaia Carioli '22, Serena Chan '23, and Zoe Taylor '23
Zlass is in session. Cameras on or off, remote fashion has taken us on a turn.
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CELIS LEE
Q: Which ‘first week of school outfit’ did you like better?
CL: I liked wearing the "normal" outfit better because it seemed a lot more visually interesting with the different colors. When I go to in-person classes, I tend to accessorize and spend more time on different components of the outfit. I love shoes, and will often build an outfit from the shoes up. In-person classes let me do that! For the Zoom class, I took the opportunity to wear a fancy-ish dress, but didn't put in as much effort accessorizing.
Q: Where do you get your style inspo without campus ‘street style’ and your peers as a source?
CL: Lately, I've been really into Elizabeth Tamkin's style. She was an editor at Repeller, and I think she really marries comfort with style. I especially love the way she incorporates shorts into her outfits, which I don't see a lot of professional twenty-somethings do. Since I live in Southern California where I can wear shorts pretty much year round, her style inspo is ultra valuable to me.
Q: Do you notice what other people are wearing in Zoom class? How has complimenting/commenting on other peoples’ outfits/style changed for you?
CL: I honestly don't notice what other people are wearing in Zoom class. Since we only really interact with each other shoulders-up, it's pretty limiting. I think being away from other people has actually allowed me to focus on my own style. Especially in high school, I found myself taking a little too much inspiration from others, so I'm taking this opportunity to develop my style in a personal vacuum.
What constitutes an occasion you “dress up” for nowadays?
Definitely grocery shopping. It's really all I'll leave the house for, so I always dress to the nines going to Trader Joe's! I also put more effort into what I wear when I work out outside. I definitely try to experiment more with colors on jogs, since it's another one of few opportunities to get outside.
Q: What does your go-to/uniform outfit for school look like now? What are your favorite pieces for Zoom dressing?
CL: It really depends. Some days, I'll show up in pajamas, but matching pajamas so I don't feel like I'm just wearing sweats and a t-shirt. I think I stay more focused when I look good ("look good, feel good!”), so I try to wear "real" pants at the very least. Other days, I'll wear my favorite jeans from Mother Denim and a knit sweater (that's what I would wear pretty much every day in the fall back at boarding school in NH).
ZOE TAYLOR
Q: What does your go-to/uniform outfit for school look like now? What are your favorite pieces for Zoom dressing?
ZT: I think I lean towards finding fun and vibrant tops more than anything. Because Zoom only gets your chest up, I rarely care what bottom I wear since no one will notice it. Whereas, when we were doing in person classes, I would actually pay attention to my entire fit and every element down to a t.
Q: What constitutes an occasion you “dress up” for nowadays?
ZT: Any minor outing outside of my apartment for me is a reason to dress up. Even a trip to the pharmacy or walking my dog is an occasion for "going out." I will put on a set or piece I just got that I've been dying to wear so I can get some good flicks for the gram as well as showcase my style to the rest of the socially distanced world.
Q: Do you still feel the need to look a certain way for school? Do you still get something out of getting dressed for school?
ZT: When I was at Wellesley, I noticed that when I wore sweatpants or a cozy fit, I was not paying as much attention in class. I was constantly tired and just too relaxed to contribute to class. Though, when I was wearing fitted pants and a tight shirt, I was able to fix my posture and be fully present in class. Especially when I'm completely in my element, it's so important to take that extra step to make sure I'm ready for class -- and dressing up for class makes remote learning less dull.
Q: Which ‘first week of school outfit’ did you like better?
ZT: I liked this year’s back to school fit more because I had a lot of fun styling the boots. They are such a staple piece for any good look so to dress it down with sweats and a cropped tee was so great. I also have been dying to get that yellow jacket out of my closet for some fresh air, so it was a win-win in all article departments.
BERNICE SUN
Q: Have you noticed a change in your style since you started dressing for COVID times?
BS: Since quarantine started, I’ve noticed that I started wearing clothes that are much more comfortable and realistic for wearing around the house all day. One of the styles that I've started gravitating towards during COVID is streetwear, since it incorporates athleisure and is more laidback. I haven't totally switched my style simply because of the limits of my wardrobe, but COVID has made me think more outside of my previous style.
Q: What constitutes an occasion you “dress up” for nowadays?
BS: There have been a lack of fancy occasions recently, and at the end of the summer I suddenly realized how little I "dressed up" for the past few months. This realization sort of made me want to try dressing up a bit more, so now I dress up anytime I feel like it. Even just going to class is enough for me to want to dress up.
Q: Which ‘first week of school outfit’ did you like better?
BS: If I had to choose, I'd say that I like my normal first day of school outfit more. One of my favorite aspects of that outfit is the multitude of blue prints that somehow worked together. While I was choosing outfits, I happened to put the shirt and pants next to each other and although it's quite an aggressively printed outfit, they actually complement each other quite well. I muted down the prints a bit by overlaying a white sweater on top of the button up, and I feel like the extra layering really pulled the outfit together. I love both of these outfits though! In both outfits, I used one piece of clothing (the striped button up shirt) to base my outfits around. My normal outfit is a bit more out there and eye catching while my COVID outfit is more relaxed and classic.
YUJI CHAN
Q: Do you still feel the need to look a certain way for school? Do you still get something out of getting dressed for school?
YC: I loved getting dressed for school when we were on campus. Wellesley fashion is fun to check out on the paths and I like to look good for myself. These days, I basically roll out of bed from my nap because the time difference means late-night classes that last into the morning. Honestly, my Zoom outfits are my loungewear and on especially difficult nights, I resort to my pajamas…
Q: Do you notice what other people are wearing in Zoom class? How has complimenting/commenting on other people’s style changed for you?
YC: I feel like the best way to express your style on Zoom is through accessorizing! Although I do get lazy, a statement earring can go a long way for spicing up an otherwise boring frame. One of the things that I miss most about campus is seeing everyone's outfits on the paths between class. These days outfit complimenting is all on social media which makes me sad.
Q: Which ‘first week of school outfit’ did you like better?
YC: I always feel most confident when I’m comfortable. Both of my “First Week of School” outfits I could wear to a Zoom meeting since they are comfortable and casual, but I find you can really get away with wearing just about anything on Zoom. I do love bright colors and they give me energy when I’m brain-fried and sleep-deprived, so I like the flowery dress and color-block cardigan.
Q: Where do you get your style inspo now that you don’t have ‘campus street style’ and your peers as a source?
YC:Since I’m currently in Seoul and I live in a pretty popping shopping neighborhood, I get inspired by the twenty-somethings around me and the boutique shop owners. I see a lot of baggy clothes and US trends in Korean street style —cowboy boots, oversized button-downs under sweater vests and the same hair accessory trends.
Q: What constitutes an occasion you “dress up” for nowadays?
YC: For Zoom, the only time I get dressed up is for birthday Zoom calls. Besides that, I occasionally put a little makeup on and get dressed up for myself.
Q: What does your go-to/uniform outfit for school look like now? What are your favorite pieces for Zoom dressing?
YC: Loungewear! Sweatpants, sweatshirts and sneakers. I got a crimson matching set from Lou & Grey with the softest fabrics and I can spend a full week living like that. At least for when I’m home, that is the majority of it. When I’m out and about running errands, I love my blue flared jeans, a sweater cardigan and comfortable sneaks with a platform to boost my petite-ness.
VICTORIA HO
Q: How did your first day of school outfit in a pandemic-free environment differ from your actual first day of school outfit?
VH: For my first day of school outfit this year, I wanted to feel really put-together, and so I tried to reflect that in my outfit by going with a more “serious” look that was partially inspired by the “dark academia” trend. I also tried to coordinate my mask with my outfit since I have in-person classes! When I tried to imagine what I would wear in a pandemic-free environment, I felt like I would wear something that was perhaps a bit more bold and fun. This second outfit definitely felt more exciting as compared to the more subdued outfit I actually wore.
Q: Do you still feel the need to look a certain way for school? Do you still get something out of getting dressed for school?
VH: What I wear affects my mood, and so even on days when I only have classes on Zoom, I still make an effort to dress up. It helps to get me into the right mindset to focus on school and attend classes. Although I definitely don’t need to dress up for school anymore, wearing a cute outfit really helps to boost my mood and start my day on a good note!
Q: Have you noticed any changes in 'campus street style'? Are you feeling as inspired?
VH: Since this is my first year at Wellesley, I can’t really compare this year’s campus street style to previous years. That being said, I have definitely been inspired by some really cool outfits and pieces that I’ve seen on campus, ranging from a denim corset to a leather mini bag. Also, as someone who watches a lot of fashion videos on Tik Tok, it’s been really cool to see people on campus wearing outfits that are super trendy on Tik Tok right now.
Q: What constitutes an occasion you “dress up” for nowadays?
VH: Honestly, because of the past few months of quarantine, I will literally dress up for any occasion. Whether that be for my in-person classes or to meet up with friends to grab a meal, I’m always looking for an excuse to “dress up.” I especially make an effort for in-person social events, like watching the sunset from Lake Waban or meeting up with my book club, since those events are so rare nowadays. I also love just dressing up for myself, like when I spend a day by myself to explore campus or work at one of my favourite study spots.
Q: What does your go-to/uniform outfit for school look like now? What are your favorite pieces for Zoom dressing?
VH: Currently, my go-to outfit is an all-black look, which is typically a mock neck paired with loose pants and loafers. Comfort has definitely become an essential part of all my go-to outfits, and as a result, I’ve started loving oversized and loose pieces. Some of my favourite pieces to style now are a baggy beige graphic tee, and a bright Dries Van Noten cardigan, which I managed to get at a crazy-low price! The cardigan also goes with everything which makes it super easy to style.
