The leaves are starting to glow their autumnal hues and vibrant colors, and Seton Hall students are, too. The Setonian interviewed six students on fashion trends for this season and what to look out for. Here are their top picks:
Neutral tops and sweaters, mule shoes To accommodate the significant temperature changes that have been happening, Ailish Irwin, a junior public relations major, shared her suggestions of a few pieces to wear during the season transition. Irwin said she recommends neutral-colored tops and sweaters, preferably whites and beiges. “I love when they’re a little cropped, because it lends them to be worn with high waisted pants, shorts, or skirts,” Irwin said. She also said she favors “dressier, trouser-looking” shorts this season, as they transition nicely from summer to fall. One of her favorite shoes are the $50 white mule shoes inspired by the Gucci Princeton Mule on Amazon, she said. Irwin said she gets the majority of her clothes from Zara. “I think I personally keep Zara in business,” she said. “I get almost all my clothes from there. It’s definitely not the most sustainable retailer, and that’s something I’m trying to be better at, but it’s my one stop shop for inexpensive clothes, shoes, and accessories.” When she wants to “splurge,” she goes on ShopBop, an online retailer, which offers free two-day shipping for Amazon Prime members.
Plaid pants, Chelsea boots and denim jackets “The fall season is perfect for layering,” said Danny Guerra, a senior public relations major. “This is where I can mix a graphic T-shirt with a windbreaker or denim jacket.” His go-to is always nylon and denim, and he wears windbreakers to give a “throwback vibe” to bring out his most eye-catching sneakers. “The latter, denim, is one of the most versatile materials especially when it comes to a jacket,” he said. “If you have any nice summer tops that you do not want to put away yet, you can always wear that top and throw on a denim jacket.” Chinos and plaid pants are also in fashion, he said, and students should find out which cuts, styles and fits compliment their body type and highlight their best features. For shoes, he recommends Chelsea boots, high-top sneakers and eight-eye boots like Doc Martens. Guerra noted, “The first thing people tend to notice about you is surprisingly your shoes. That means people start from bottom to top. Low-top shoes are passable for the fall, but I recommend purchasing no-show socks or pairs of standard socks that do not tarnish the outfit. The shoes you wear show personality.”
Midi skirts, graphic tees and denim jackets Emily High, a junior public relations major, appeared in a black denim jacket, graphic tee and leopard print midi skirt. “I love this look because it has the elegance of the skirt with the sporty and playful look of a graphic tee,” High said. “Sometimes, I like to throw in a neck scarf with the look because I love the vintage vibe it adds to the look.” She said her go-to look for fall is a sweater, denim and boot combo. “If I am not wearing a midi skirt or jumpsuit in the fall, you will most likely see my with an oversized sweater, vintage Calvin Klein jean jacket, black jeans and my Doc Martens,” she said. High said her favorite brands this season are Just Black Denim for jackets and jeans and J. Crew Factory for printed dresses and skirts. She noted that one brand she loved is Good hYOUman, which “incredibly comfortable pieces that always spread a message of hope and kindness, whether it is through the phrase on the shirt or the charity it donates to.” High added that she recommends shopping locally, especially at Sadie’s in South Orange, which “offers trendy, sustainable fashion for a mid-price range, and Seton Hall students get 10% off.”
Wool coats, windbreakers and chukka boots For guys looking to wear business casual, Joseph Murante, a senior economics and finance major, recommends wearing topcoats like long rain jackets, peacoats or long coats for when it gets cold. “I try to stick to wool material because it is more durable and warm, but most jackets have some type of cotton polyester blend,” Murante said. For shoes, he said you can never go wrong with black or khaki Chelsea boots, chukkas or duck boots for rainy days. Timberlands can be expensive, he said, but are the best look especially for the east coast. Murante said his fashion sense is a “functional business casual” and likes to wear a lot of slacks and chinos in darker colors, “mostly because you never know who you could run into, especially as a college student.” He also throws on a solid color button-up shirt or a solid color T-shirt or polo. “I’m looking for a classy, timeless look when I dress,” he said. “If you wear it now or when you’re 40, people will always find it fashionable.” The stores he shops at most are H&M, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, Cotton On, Zara and sometimes, PacSun. Higher-end brands he wears are Ted Baker, Mango, J Crew, Banana Republic and Brooks Brothers. Murante added, “Never forget the watch. Its a simple accessory, but the flex is everything.”
Leather jackets and heeled booties Kassidy Kelly, a junior public relations major, said her favorite outerwear this season are statement leather jackets, denim jackets and fuzzy Sherpa coats. For shoes, Kelly said she highly recommends leather booties, as they will “take you straight into winter” and are an easy way to elevate any outfit. She also suggests a pair of all-white tennis sneakers with casual outfits. For scarves, she said to pick neutral colors, as they will always match with any outfit. Kelly said her go-to store is Zara, “because they have pieces that are super trendy, but also carry timeless, go-to clothes that can be worn any time and any season.” Her favorite piece this season is a blush-rose faux leather jacket from the store. “Leather jackets are timeless and easy, so they can be worn with almost anything, making it the perfect jacket for virtually any occasion,” Kelly said. “They’re so great because they can dress up a simple T-shirt and jeans, but also dress down a skirt and heeled booties.”
Liam Oakes can be reached at liam.oakes@student.shu.edu. Find him on Twitter @lm_oakes.
Photographs taken by Kiera Alexander, Photography Editor. Graphics created by Clara Capone, Graphics Editor.