Miguel Manalo, Sophomore
Major: Interactive Multimedia
What are you wearing?
A white Oxford shirt from the Gap, a gray and green striped cardigan from Urban Outfitters, black acid wash skinny jeans also from Urban Outfitters and black argyle slip-on Vans.
How would you label your style?
Not to sound pretentious, but I can see why the way I dress would be called subversive. I like to wear things that are out of the ordinary. I like the irony of wearing a tie with jeans and sneakers. I guess my style is somewhat like that of a hipster. At the end of the day, I wear what I like and what I'm comfortable in.
What do you think of the hipster style in general?
The hipster style is a move toward simplicity, not so much labels. It's about the mentality. If I'm in a social scene, I think I should look good. Hipsters are people who give a shit about how they present themselves to others.
What does your style say about you?
I'm a person with a big mouth and a lot to say, and I think my style says that. Loud style goes with a loud mouth. My "peers in fashion," as I like to call them, would be the ones to lean toward the turquoise skinny jeans. That means they've got something to say. A quiet kid doesn't wear clothes like that. The kid who rolls out of bed and throws on a sweatshirt is saying, "Just don't bother me."
Do you ever accessorize with loud colors?
I tend to stick to muted tones, like blues, blacks and grays, but I'm attracted to bright colors and I want to add more brightness to my wardrobe. I wore a red shirt the other day, and people were like, "Wow, I didn't even realize that was you, Miguel."
When did you start getting into fashion?
I went to Catholic school before coming to the College, so I always had to wear a uniform and fashion never even entered my mind. Coming here, I'd wake up and there was no uniform for me to wear, and I'd have to think about my clothes. I became more self-involved coming to College.
Why do you like fashion?
I like fashion because how we present ourselves is very important. It says a lot about how we think of ourselves and what we want others to think about us.
What would you say to those who don't care about fashion?
To the kids who wake up in the morning and don't care how they look, if you really like yourself, you should put some thought into what you wear. Wear what you think makes you look good. Maybe your day will be a little bit better.
