For many students juggling academics, exercise, extracurriculars and more, fashion isn’t top of mind. But for others, campus is a runway, beckoning students to say what they want through style.
Nethumi Ratnayake was eager to start expressing herself the second she no longer had to wear a uniform after elementary school.
Her school outfit on Nov. 20 consisted of cowboy boots and micro shorts borrowed from her friends, a thrifted T-shirt and arm-length assortments of bracelets thrifted from Flashbacks Recycled Fashions, which she wears every day.
Ratnayake, a 21-year-old UF advertising junior, describes her style as girly, maximalist and outside-of-the-box. Her closet is full of eccentric items thrifted from local shops like Grove Galleria and pieces borrowed from her friends.
Though she draws outfit inspiration from Pinterest and TikTok, her style is specific, and the most important factor when curating her wardrobe is how pieces fit. Ratnayake spends a lot of time out shopping, getting a feel for what cuts and patterns best suit her.
She doesn’t care what others think of her style but enjoys standing out and being noticed by fellow fashionistas.
“It's a good way to make conversation with people,” she said. “It's like, ‘Oh, you really like fashion? That's something I'm really interested in.’”
Price also makes a difference to Ratnayake when clothes shopping. Her rule of thumb is buying shirts for no more than $15 and dresses for $20 or less.
Like Ratnayake, Victoria Hickox wore a uniform at her private school. Despite now having more freedom in terms of fashion, she still understands the importance of looking proffesional.
Hickox, a 19-year-old UF mechanical engineering sophomore, has maintained a visible presence throughout her academic career via her many leadership positions. Her mom always instilled in her to look presentable.
“People will take you more seriously if you put more effort into what you're wearing,” Hickox said. “Opportunities are walking around you 24/7. You never know who might approach you.”
Having visited France recently, Hickox noticed many French students wear slacks and button-down shirts to class.
Style isn’t as significant to Tyler Diaz, an 18-year-old UF public health freshman. Still, social media influenced him to hop on one of the latest trends in menswear: the quarter-zip sweater. His friend Andrew Heise argued the popular knit sweaters that only zip a quarter of the way down are the latest display of “performative male-ness.” Polo shirts are another item they’ve noticed are popular among fraternity brothers and a staple of “guy culture.”
But Heise, an 18-year-old UF business management freshman, isn’t too concerned about fashion himself.
“I care less about what other people think I'm wearing,” he said. “Don't sweat style too much.”
Fashion is of more importance to Lexi Ernce and Xena Machin, however.
Ernce, a 21-year-old UF astrophysics, physics and mathematics junior, started developing her fashion sense during the pandemic. She styles her outfits around individual pieces, whether it be fuzzy knee warmers or 2000s high-quality denim jeans.
While self-expression isn’t Ernce’s goal, fashion gives her the confidence and drive to tackle her academics.
“If I'm like, ‘Oh, I need to study today,’ and I want to have motivation for studying, then I put on a cute outfit, and I feel good,” Ernce said. “It gives you energy.”
Her friend Machin, however, feels style is important in communicating identity.
Machin, a 22-year-old UF astrophysics and physics senior, said many of her peers prioritize comfort and resort to wearing the same clothes every day. Dressing uniquely, she added, doesn’t expend any more effort.
“If you get the right pieces, it's the same amount of effort to put on sweatpants that it is to put on a skirt,” she said. “I think everything that you choose to have in your life says something about you. … Your fashion really represents who you are.”
Contact Isabel Kraby at ikraby@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isabelgkraby.
Isabel is a general assignment reporter for The Avenue and is starting her first semester with The Alligator. She is a junior journalism student and transferred to UF from Daytona State College after her freshman year. When she's not writing for Ave, she loves going to concerts, crocheting and designing spreads for Rowdy Magazine.
