We asked the Fashion Society’s editorial committee to give their best fashion advice. Here’s what they had to say!

Chloé Neveux, Barnard College ’27, Economics on the Political Track and Music 

My best piece of fashion advice would be to wear colors that resonate with you and reflect your current mood. Everyone has colors that make them feel uniquely special or look their best, and the right color can boost both your outfit and confidence. Discover a palette you love, can never get tired of, and experiment with it – try its different shades, mix your favorite color with more neutral tones, and, most importantly, have fun with it! For example, my go-to color is green – any shade of it. Even on tough days when I struggle to get out of bed or decide what to wear, I make sure to include a touch of green. It never fails to strongly lift my mood and pull my outfit together. Hope this can help, and remember to have a colorful day!

Raja Ahmed Saeed, Columbia College ’27, English and History

My best piece of fashion advice is to not be afraid to incorporate your culture into your dressing. Speaking as someone who is South Asian and goes to school in the West, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and forced to adopt an aesthetic that is far from what you desire. However, I see the purest form of fashion in expressing yourself in a way that is true to your identity. Wear those Jhumka earrings with your crop tops, pair your saris with your sneakers, don’t let the soul crushing cycle of capitalist trends define what fashion means to you!

Jordan Millar, Columbia College ‘28, English and Music

My best piece of fashion advice would simply be authenticity! While you can recommend clothes to wear, brands to purchase from, or styles to try, I ultimately think that the best way you can guide someone when it comes to fashion is to encourage them to wear what makes them feel confident and comfortable. When I’m out shopping looking for new pieces to add to my wardrobe or putting an outfit together, I always try to go with what I know I like to wear and fits my overall vibe, so I think others can do the same. Fashion is a powerful medium that allows for people to express themselves and their individuality, so stay true to yourself and have fun with it!

Reeno Hashimoto, Columbia Journalism School ’25

I believe that even as we leave our teens, enter our twenties and navigate the decades beyond, we are, at our core, children, so dress to impress your 6-year-old self, the you who was free of pressure to be, look or dress any which way. Life is too short to chase trends and clothe yourself in a way that’s inauthentic. You can certainly take inspiration from influencers, magazines and storefront mannequins, but listen to your stylistic instinct, otherwise you’ll start to resemble every other 20-something in SoHo. For me, this looks like avoiding pants, instead opting for skirts and dresses. I sometimes wear head-to-toe pink, which has always been my favorite color, but does that mean I resemble a “girly girl” 365 days a year? Of course not! I love to throw on a minimalist LBD and black kitten heels. We needn’t subscribe to certain aesthetics, from “cottage core” to “mob wife,” and stick to them for the rest of our days, just as we needn’t follow these internet style trends if they don’t resonate to begin with. Everything becomes a core or an aesthetic in 2024, and it’s quite frankly exhausting. We don’t need fashion playbooks that stipulate what we can and cannot wear to fit a specific stylistic mood. So what if I’m dressed to the nines one day and running around in sambas the next? Dress for the person you want to be that day, knowing that you might change by the next. As for some practical fashion advice, wear what you love and what loves you back in terms of colors and silhouette: we all have tones and shapes that complement and fit us better than others. Figuring out what makes you feel the most confident and thus look the best might take some trial and error, but that’s part of the fun. 

Eden Stranahan, Barnard ’27, English and Political Science

My biggest piece of fashion advice is to buy things you can picture yourself wearing 5 years down the line. I have my biggest fashion regrets when I lean into trends that I like on other people for short periods of time and then end up wasting my money and effort on! This year I am trying my best to remain true to my personal style and envision purchases as investments rather than one time wears.

Michael Shavelle, Columbia College ’27, English

When in doubt, Jcrew. I feel like we as a society don’t fully recognize how amazing Jcrew is. My advice? Pop into a Jcrew store. No matter the season, you’ll find the perfect quality piece to complete your wardrobe, that is definitely worth the investment. I’m currently sporting their new wool-blend fleece jacket and the red Camdon loafers. And, they almost always have online sales (in fact, there’s one right now). This isn’t a sponsored endorsement, but Jcrew, if you happen to see this, know how much I love you. 

Sophia Schack, Columbia GS/JTS ’28, History and Jewish History

When putting together an outfit, I always try to balance out the clothes that I wear. If I’m wearing a larger or looser top, I will wear tighter pants or a skirt. Similarly, if I wear a cropped top, I tend to go towards longer bottoms, evening out the outfit. A mini skirt would go best with a full-length top. While you can pull off any combination of clothing, I find this method of dressing foolproof in composing a well-balanced and well-rounded outfit.

Hillary Lee, Columbia College ’27, Art History and English 

Curating your wardrobe is such an important part of developing your personal style! Your clothing is an extension of you, so you should be especially particular about the pieces you bring into your closet. Invest in clothing that will last you for years to come, and shop second-hand for unique pieces! You’ll feel accomplished knowing that you put thought into every part of your wardrobe. 

Ashley Hudson, Barnard ’27, Economics and Music

If I’d have to give fashion advice that’s applicable to everyone, it’d be to try to stop following micro-trends you seen online! Not only can it be incredibly damaging to one’s sense of self-identity and individuality, it negatively impacts the environment as well. Companies ramp up production to keep pace with micro-trends, often by buying cheap fabrics that take long to decompose after everyone is done with the trend. Social media is a wonderful tool for inspiration, but be careful of your consumption. 

Nerea Wolfenzon, Columbia College ‘28,  Economics and History 

Bring your feelings to the forefront when it is time to get dressed. Fashion is, at the end of the day, a form of expression — and it is one of the few forms we all have access to, every single day! How do you want to feel after you get ready, and how do you want the world to see you? Do you want to feel… welcoming? Curious? Comfortable? Rebellious? Hot? Masculine? Feminine? Neither? Your clothes can help you get there. Ultimately, the difference between a good outfit and a bad outfit is how you feel in it. So as long as it’s intentional, and it’s you, there’s no wrong way to get dressed. 

Angelina O’Connor, Barnard College ’26, Dance and Sociology 

My advice to anyone trying to find their personal style or refine their tastes is to be open to everything! If you’re in a thrift store and you see something that catches your eye but is usually not something you’d pick up to try on, PICK. IT. UP!  Don’t think that you can’t “pull it off”. You are never reserved to just one mode of expression with fashion. That’s the beauty of it! When you find pieces you like, regardless of what is trending, just roll with it, and put your own twist to it. Also. Mix metals! Just sayin!