Keeping up with college fashion

College is scary – new buildings, new classes, new people.

It’s daunting for incoming students to process all of that in addition to worrying about being fully clothed on a day-to-day basis. How does a new Bruin even begin to try to fit every single piece of clothing he or she owns while packing a single car or avoiding fees on checked baggage as he or she moves in at the start of the school year? Not to mention if that new Bruin is attempting to transition his or her wardrobe from that of merely another high school student to a UCLA fashionista.

Here’s the secret: It’s not as hard as it seems, no matter if you’re from across the ocean, across the country or even across town.

Courtney Welbon, a third-year communication studies student, came to UCLA from Miami and, after attempting to bring everything she owned, found her own fashion transition relatively painless. In describing the move from coast-to-coast, Welbon said she thinks Los Angeles proved to be a lot more relaxed and accepting of all different looks and styles.

“There’s a focus on comfort (here), which is great for a college scene because it’s nice to not really have to worry about what you’re wearing when you’re worried about your classes,” Welbon said.

Her advice to incoming students: Keep it simple. She said that the typically “trendy” items go in and out of fashion so quickly that Welbon’s found herself relying on putting together outfits from basics and pairing everything with her go-to item: a pair of trusted Birkenstocks.

Other than wardrobe adjustments for a sunny California and a purge of winter clothing, Kit Kilroy, a second-year English and French student from Denver said one of the main things UCLA has made her appreciate clothing-wise is the value of comfortable shoes, thanks to trekking around campus. Because of her busy schedule, she said she actually found herself less preoccupied with her outfit choices once in college.

Alan Golombek, a third-year communication studies student, traveled even farther to UCLA from Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he had attended a preparatory school with mandated uniforms to boot. Coming to UCLA, Golombek said his fashion evolution coincided with the culture shock of being an international student.

Like Welbon, Golombek said he found L.A. style to be a lot more relaxed than the environment he had come from. His progression into an attire of colored shorts and boat shoes accompanied his progression into becoming a Southern California college student and member of a fraternity. However, Golombek said that incoming students should not feel overwhelmed by the concept of trends – as they are ever-changing – and should continue to try out new styles until they are comfortable.

“College is a time to figure out who you are,” Golombek said. “Clothes are (part of that) impression.”

For Golombek, this impression begins and ends with his Ray-Ban sunglasses.

While some students say they come to UCLA to figure out who they are and who they want to be, they also come with a mix of backgrounds, whether traveling from 40 miles away or thousands. After moving from Australia to Southern California to Switzerland and then back to California, third-year biology student Jonathan Christie said at UCLA, he became more aware of current trends and looking his best, all while wearing moccasins.

Despite the various style niches and trends one may see around campus, Christie said that incoming students should wear what they want to wear, as college is all about growing into oneself.

“Don’t let trends dictate you,” Christie said. “(You) dictate trends.”