bowdoin style

65, Linda

2011-12-17T18:55:00.001-08:00

Patterns are not always the easiest to work with, and patterns with colors are even tougher. And paisley is as tough as it gets. It's hard to rock it even just as a cherry-on-top tie with a white shirt. But here Linda matched up two paisleys, and they look as comfortable as she is in the relaxed fit.

SartorialSounds

2011-03-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Another great feature from the wonderfully creative and sartorially fresh souls at Street Etiquette:

Street Etiquette-Sartorial Sounds from LightUp Film on Vimeo.

64, Alexa

2011-02-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

63, Katy

2011-02-20T18:21:00.001-08:00

After raiding her mother's closet, Katy surfaced with this gem of a coat from the '80s. Katy also lamented the fact that this will probably mark the end of dressing up for the winter now that she's training for lacrosse. Maybe she'll end up on this blog!

62, Alaska to Maine

2011-02-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

I think the belt gets the gold prize.

61, Karoline

2011-02-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

60, Linda

2011-01-25T17:31:00.001-08:00

59, Lace and Timbs

2011-01-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

This is a great example of combining two unexpected things to bring variety (and a little ironic humor) to your wardrobe.

Since this will be my last semester working on Bowdoin Style, I hope to not fall off the ball like I usually do. I'm hoping to update four times a week! I expect you all to hold me to that promise. Welcome back---I hope everyone has a fantastic spring semester and finds creative ways to get dressed, despite the sub-zero temps.

58, Danny

2010-11-21T11:08:00.001-08:00

57, Sian

2010-11-11T09:53:00.001-08:00

56, Elyse

2010-11-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Seeing some of her visiting students off, Elyse already looks the part of a young educator. Keep it smart with a sharp trench coat.

55, Kelly

2010-10-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Kelly is easily one of the best dressed people on campus today. She lives, breathes, and knows her fashion, but more importantly, she has fun with her style. It's always refreshing to see another comrade unafraid to challenge the Bowdoin norm while having fun with their clothing.

The day I shot this photo, Kelly had just written a post on "how to do comfy chic." Needless to say, she seems to be practicing what she is preaching, wearing an ensemble that looks loose and comfortable enough for a day studying in the stacks. And if shoes are ever a concern, just think about taking them off when you sit down! Better circulation, better studying. Plus, you can play footsies with your carrel-mate. You gotta keep things exciting, right?

54, Rakiya

2010-10-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

53, Gracie

2010-10-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Back Zipper

2010-10-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

I am a sucker for any sort of embellished or exposed zipper action. Too bad the winter cold will plunge most of us into high-tech fleeces with (understandably) hidden and insulated zippers...

The Black Ivy

2010-09-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of hype surrounding T.Hayashida's Take Ivy, a photo essay that captured life in the elite and privileged halls of 1960s Ivy League institutions. I have excitedly bought the book and I look forward to writing a little blog post about the book and showing you some of its contents. PowerHouse Books is reissuing the text.

One of the most difficult things for me is being a black man who is very much into preppy style. This is why when I heard that the folks over at Street Etiquette worked with F.E. Castleberry of Unabashedly Prep on "The Black Ivy" project, I jumped for joy.

Check out the website and tell me what you think about the project in the comments. Personally, I think it is a fantastic re-creation of preppy styles on an all-black cast. The project directors even include some photos of historically black Howard University in the 1940s to demonstrate that preppy has never been strictly the domain of white elites. I love the moments when a lesson in history meets the creativity of fashion.

Here is some neat video from the project:

The Black Ivy from Street Etiquette on Vimeo.

52, Cameron

2010-09-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

Who says comfortable can't be stylish?

At the Lobster Bake

2010-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

I am sad to admit that I was a little too timid during the lobster bake. Or... maybe I just wanted to scarf down delicious crustacean goodness (avoiding the tomalley of course). Anyway, here are three shots from that day. I'm sad that it will be my last last laaast lobster bake, but it's been good while it lasted!

The thing I love about the lobster bake is that everyone puts on their finest Americana to enjoy a classic Maine meal. One could say it's my ideal day of what Bowdoin should look like.

51, Leticia

2010-09-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to school! The dog days of summer are coming to an end and the falls leaves will soon come down. Nice to see Leticia going for the win in an ikat-style romper. FTW!

50, Gayle

2010-05-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Gayle's dress has some kind of abstracted snake-skin pattern that was dyed all sorts of trippy colors. Sign me up!

Also: jellies seem like the greatest non-rainboot footwear to sport during the summer. I hope they aren't too difficult to clean if they get mucked up, but I'd imagine that wouldn't be something a quick rinse couldn't fix.

49, Mikel

2010-05-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Mikel told me that he made these cut-offs from an old pair of khakis. Whenever you want to do this make sure you wear your khakis and use a pencil to mark where you want to cut. Remember to stray away from drastic shorts surgery - you can always cut them shorter but you can never make them longer. So be weary!

Either way, this is an easy and cheap (a.k.a. free) way to get some mileage out of some old pants and update your summer wardrobe. Enjoy!

48, Allie

2010-05-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Allie is perennial chic. Always well-put together, effortless, summer style.

47, Fade to Black

2010-05-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

46, Carolyn

2010-05-04T14:08:00.002-07:00

Toggles. A hood! I'll miss these kinds of jackets when things start to get a lot warmer.

45, Elisa

2010-05-04T14:08:00.001-07:00

44, Bike Friendly

2010-05-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

I want this bike!

43, Lauren

2010-05-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

The way that the fedora, wayfarers, stripes, arm band, and studded belt are worked here makes for an interesting, yet coherent expression of summery style. Definitely a couple staple items that should be considered when planning a trip to one of this summer's big music festivals or just going for a walk downtown.

42, The Winner-ing Shirt

2010-05-02T13:46:00.001-07:00

Bowdoin students definitely make funny statements with their interesting t-shirt designs come Ivies. This is just one of the many hilarious permutations - among which "DTROTBOT" and "Funk is Drunk" dominated.

41, FannyPaks

2010-05-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Those things look so convenient.

40, Ivies Rat Pack

2010-05-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

39, Lisa

2010-04-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Chambray t-shirts and Tom's shoes are two things I'm obsessed with right now. I wish that I could update more but the weather lately has been pretty dreadful. Rain + camera = no fun!

38, Jason

2010-04-12T14:44:00.002-07:00

37, Sarah

2010-04-12T14:44:00.001-07:00

36, Brenna

2010-04-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

35, Professor Briefel

2010-04-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

Professors are sometimes stereotyped as people who are purely concerned with books while totally disinterested in the vapid and intellectually vacuous world of fashion. (OK, that was a mouthful.)

Professor Briefel defies such stereotypes - especially in this chic shift dress. The abstract pattern adds plenty of variety while retaining a simplicity that often gets lost in the cacophony of styles we see.

34, Lily, Dark Leopard, Knee-High Boots

2010-04-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

33, Coral Belt, Turquoise Bag

2010-04-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

This color combination is always a great choice and the dress is perfect as we transition to these warmer months! This weekend was great --- I loved seeing the diversity of styles blossom before my eyes.

32, Mary

2010-03-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

Dusk. Shades. Collegiate background. Sometimes what more can you ask for?

31, Nadja

2010-03-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

Nadja is always so well put together and she did a great job doing all-black this late in spring. The headband is just icing on the cake!

30, Isabelle

2010-03-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

I love Isabelle because she has so much fun with her clothes. Way to bring in the spring!

29, Fred

2010-03-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

Fred always has great style but every time I ran into him I would never have my camera on me. After I took this picture he prematurely proceeded to tell everyone on campus about the "achievement." You're too much Fred.

(And yes I know his name isn't really Fred, but a name change was in order.)

28, Planning for Spring Break

2010-03-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

I'm a little jealous of Caitlin's chic moleskine notebook. Just goes to show that you can be stylish and on top of your game at the same time!

27, Canada for the Win!

2010-02-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

26, Prepping for the Interview

2010-02-12T12:59:00.001-08:00

John cleans up nice.

25, Molly

2010-02-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

24, Issy

2010-01-30T00:25:00.001-08:00

Welcome to "spring" term!

23, Lizzy

2009-12-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

I'm always amazed when people can throw on something other than Patagonia, North Face, or LL Bean during these winter months in Maine. (I know I always come running to my trusty Patagonia jacket during these hours - or let's be honest and say months - of need.)

Lizzy has a great sense of humor and this is reflected in her outfit. Within a relatively subdued palette of colors, the splash of a vivid floral print really makes this interesting. The thick knit of her coat also looks really cool (and warm)!

Of course, she hasn't totally strayed off the Maine winter-wear track. She's keepin' it real with the Bean Boots. If you haven't bought yourself a pair yet, I resisted for two years and now that I finally have a pair I wonder why I even waited. So head over to LL Bean on a 2AM run and slip a pair on, you won't regret it.

Ruthie Davis Comes to Bowdoin

2009-12-10T20:32:00.001-08:00

Ruthie '84 and Kelly '11

Ruthie Davis '84 delivered a great talk on women entering the fashion business entitled "Girl Power," tonight. Of course, Ruthie stressed that even guys can find something productive in the mantra - about setting goals and achieving them no matter what anyone says. When she told the crowd that if someone is complaining you that you are doing "too," much of something, then you probably have something really good going.

Davis has built a thriving luxury women's footwear brand and she is currently expanding her business to markets outside of America. Her footwear, inspired by high-technology, sportswear, modernist architecture, and edgy design have increasingly donned the feet of superstars like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and many other celebrities.

It was great having her come to Bowdoin to speak and encourage people who are considering entering fashion that there is a market out there. All you need is a unique idea and the energy to make it happen! Find a void in the market, do the research, organize your approach, and make it happen. It's easy to write, but Ruthie stressed that if you are willing to deal with the nitty-gritty hard work, it all pays off in the end.

It was also nice having dinner with Ruthie. She was truly down to earth, dishing out advice on everything from launching job searches to the virtues of "blending in," when you travel abroad. (Sometimes it's good not to attract too much attention.)

22, Julia

2009-12-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I've been MIA for nearly half a month! Unfortunately, when Bowdoin swamps you with work, you tend to let fun things in your life fall by the wayside.

This will probably be the last photo that looks like this in a long time! Blizzaaaaard!!!

21, Coco

2009-11-19T20:55:00.000-08:00

Haha Coco was laughing at the whole idea of me taking her photo and then she started to get ridiculous. So I picked my favorite shot. (Oh, and I love that her collar is pleated.)

EDIT: My friend Paul, who is majoring in fashion design at Parsons, told me that the collar is actually tucked not pleated. Forgive me!

20, Cool Bangles, Cool Boots

2009-11-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

BCN does Bowdoin Style!

2009-11-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

Jordan Payne '12 did an interview with me last week. Probably my most productive day taking photos! Check it out:

Bowdoin Style Story

19, Molly

2009-11-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

18, Gia

2009-11-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

Such a cool scarf...

17, Shannon

2009-11-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

I usually don't take photos indoors because I miss the glow that outside sun gives to any outfit, but I couldn't resist trying to minimize the inconvenience to Shannon (who was studying) and still capture what she was wearing.

Aren't those the coolest boots? I like the idea of having gold studs on the sides like that.

This necklace was the perfect addition to a very tasteful, sophisticated, and refined look. This is how you can do a cool and dark fall outfit and still keep it fun with some light elements. Those baubles are really cool and the gold chain subtly matches up with the gold buttons on Shannon's boots.

16, Mark

2009-11-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

I don't think Mark would have any problem at all fitting in with the preppy guys at Bowdoin in the '50s. This is clean, classic, and simple New England collegiate style.

The great thing about this look are the fitted khakis. So many guys wear khakis that are way too baggy and really make a look like this sloppy instead of sophisticated and refined. Similarly, the shirt is also properly fitted. When it comes to guys, one of the biggest fashion mistakes are too-baggy oxford shirts. Whenever you go shopping always try an oxford shirt a size smaller than you think you would normally wear it and then work your way up. If the next size is too baggy then the size you tried on before is probably your true and proper size. Basically: if there is a lot of extra, unnecessary fabric when you tuck your shirt in, don't buy the shirt!

And of course, always pair your outfit with a well-worn book for the final touch.

15, Elizabeth

2009-11-11T07:22:00.000-08:00

Everyone should have a navy blazer!

14, Willy

2009-11-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

I ran into Willy while walking around with Jordan Payne '12 who is doing a BCN story on this blog. I felt a little remiss about it all considering I haven't uploaded anything new in almost a week! (Now that problem is solved since I snapped tons of people's pictures while trying to show Jordan that what I do is somewhat premeditated and 'thought out' and not, in reality, completely spontaneous and random.)

I've also heard that there are a dearth of guys on this blog. Well, Willy is one of those guys on campus who has fun with what he is wearing. And clearly, his personality shows it. (Thanks for the salute!)

I personally think it's hard to pull off the blazer and kicks look - but a nice pair of jeans helps make that happen.

This is an amazing scarf that Willy happened to get from a drunk guy in Dublin. Apparently this guy approached him and said "This scarf belongs to you." Totally out of the blue. And well, Willy now has a new fashion accessory. This close-up shows the awesome subtly of tweed fabric. There are so many colors in that blazer that are reflected in the fall leaves in the background, but you wouldn't notice it from afar! Awesome sartorial style.

Bowdoin Style in the Press!

2009-11-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

It's barely been two weeks and Bowdoin Style is already getting a shout-out in the press and blogosphere. The first is from a Bowdoin Orient piece published last week:

Just this week, a new fashion blog specifically devoted to Bowdoin fashion hit the Web. The brainchild of George Aumoithe '11, Bowdoin Style features photos of fashionable Bowdoin students, often followed by text describing the chosen outfit and why it's a success. It is modeled after the popular fashion blog, The Sartorialist.

"I feel like there are two types of Bowdoin students," said Aumoithe. "There are the ones who sort of dress up, not necessarily in expensive clothes, but actually think about what they are wearing. Then there are those who just wear sweatpants. I call it sweatpants culture...I wanted to do the blog to encourage people at least once a week to dress up and have fun with it."

Aumoithe makes sure he always has a camera on him as he walks around campus. If he comes across someone with an interesting outfit, he asks to take their photo. He wants the encounters to be random so that each outfit is an honest representation of the person's style.

"I want it to be all sorts of Bowdoin students, all sorts of styles. I try to keep an open mind because what I like might not be what others like, so I try to think outside of the box and try to look at quirky manifestations of other people's styles so it's not a cookie-cutter look," said Aumoithe.

Aumoithe plans to update the blog every day and hopes to gain a large following inside and outside of Bowdoin. (source)

The second comes from a blog called "Disaffected Prep," written by Dan Varley '05. Varley heard about Bowdoin Style via the Orient article and juxtaposed my photos with some really cool pictures of old Bowdoin in past issues of Life. The pictures are incredible and as I was flipping through them I was continually astonished at how little Bowdoin has changed over the years (and of course how much it has!). Be sure to check that out. Thanks Dan!

13, Liza

2009-11-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the slow updates! Subscribe to the blog via your RSS feed so that you don't have to keep checking the website. I promise to upload more frequently... maybe I should get off my longboard and walk around so that I can approach people more easily.

12, Coat On, Coat Off

2009-10-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

I took photos of Angela in an earlier version of this blog for curia (which you can see in the alphabetized posts). She always looks so great and she really encapsulates what it means to dress differently every single day.

It's that time of year when everyone is running around with a cup of coffee or tea. But I'm going to miss being able to just wear a cardigan or hoodie very soon! Sub zero temperatures come January anyone? I'm starting to think about the dilemma that snow will present... I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there!

PS - Catch Angela this weekend at "Drums in the Night," in Memorial Hall/Pickard Theater 8PM - 10PM tonight.

11, Maxime

2009-10-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

What a great knit-skirt!

Since it's parent's weekend, I hope I can catch some stylish parent-student pairings. Wear your best tomorrow!

10, Audrey

2009-10-28T10:30:00.001-07:00

9, Carmen

2009-10-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

8, Joanna

2009-10-24T11:42:00.001-07:00

7, The Admissions Counselor

2009-10-23T14:52:00.002-07:00

I think the folks over at admissions always have such great style. I suppose you have to put a good face (and suit) on when it comes to playing the admissions game. Elmer happens to be particularly adept at dressing to the nines pretty much everyday and when it comes to pulling off a suit and not making it look too fussy, he's got the style down pat.

I happen to love herringbone patterned fabric, even though I don't think I could ever pull it off. It's a nice subtle touch that brings life to any suit when you get up close. The tab on the suit's lapels are also pretty old-school prep and adds the perfect touch of personality. And of course, don't forget the bow-tie. Very few people can pull that off nowadays!

Somewhere I heard hats were making a comeback?

6, Awa

2009-10-23T14:52:00.001-07:00

5, Lily and the Zipper Dress!

2009-10-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

I think zipper dresses are so cool. Lily and I talked about how pretty much all of what she is wearing was bought from a thrift or affordable vintage store. I definitely shared her sentiment that fashion should be accessible and democratic and not just in Karl Lagerfeld's rarefied world of haute couture. (As much of a genius as he is.)

I'm also glad I got another chance to photograph this bag. If you remember, Lily wore it in the very first official post on this blog. It's got so much old-school character that I almost want to call it her sidekick.

Lily said that the ruffling on her sleeve is just "bunched up elastic," but I think it produces a really cool effect here! Nice detail on a relatively understated dress. Perfect style for a rainy Bowdoin day.

(A quick note to new readers... which would probably be all of you. Feel free to comment on these posts and let me know what you think! Of course, please keep everything fair and relatively nice, if only for my ego's sake. Let me know if the photos are a good size or if they should be smaller, whether I should write more or less, etc. I hope to be taking photos of a lot more Bowdoin students in the future!)

4, Kate

2009-10-21T19:51:00.001-07:00

3, Zoë

2009-10-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

When I asked Zoë if I could take her picture, she abashedly said that she wasn't "dressed to the nines today." I laughed it off and explained that her style encapsulated exactly how you could not look fussy while still avoiding what I like to call "sweatpants culture," at Bowdoin.

I love the distressed details on this whole outfit. It's relaxed and non-fussy, yet colorful. This outfit definitely represents the beautiful autumnal array that surrounds us around this time of year. Fall represents a season when things really go into a relaxed state - Zoë definitely reflects this mood.

2, Light Coat, Black Boots

2009-10-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

I'm really liking this combination of light beige coat and black boots. A nice way to bend that "after Labor Day," rule...

1, Lily

2009-10-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

Lily has great style and I love how she picks soft and buttery leather pieces to accent her city-inspired look.

And of course... the bag has lots of character.

c

2009-10-18T06:39:00.001-07:00

b

2009-10-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

a

2009-10-18T06:29:00.001-07:00

An older post. Angela on election day.

0

2009-09-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Let the games begin.