Four trends that Oxford is rocking this semester

All week long, Redhawks flooded into campus to kick off the 2022-23 school year. From “Move In” to “Welcome Home,” students of all years, backgrounds and identities have been eager to show off their own personal style.

For Cody Lai, a first year biology student, comfort and style go hand in hand. “Being from the west coast, everybody dresses like this. Really baggy for comfort,” Lai said.

Along with loose-fit pants, items like button-up shirts, crossover bags and oversized graphic tees have been showing up more in the masculine-leaning closet. Crossover bags, notably Lululemon, for feminine-presenting students, have been spotted all around campus; they allow for a hands-free alternative to purses and are more accessible than the fanny pack.

The “West Coast Style” in question is perfect for all occasions —block parties, as Lai was seen at, going out to Uptown, or even classes. Main celebrity influences for this style have been Frank Ocean, Ross Lynch and Clairo.

More suited to go out, first-year nutrition major Skylynn Spellman opts for a simple black tank and patterned trousers, while also sporting a crossover bag. Patterned threads, specifically of the art-pop and 70s style, have been extremely popular circa 2020. Bold and fun, brighter patterns are often paired with plain neutral colors, such as white or black, or a coordinating color to the pattern.

For more masculine-presenting students wanting to sport this look, opting for a patterned button up, a monochrome theme or patterned socks is the way to go. Wide-legged trousers are, yet again, great for replicating the 1970s-esque inspired fashions as well as for comfort. Perfect for a night out, this classic look is sure to turn heads! Main celebrity influences for this style have been Emma Chamberlain, Harry Styles and Steve Lacey.

For the first day of classes, athleisure has taken campus by storm. Second year biomedical engineering student Shelby Bass rocks a hot pink Free People skirt and a black Lululemon top. She dresses up the look by adding Gucci earrings and a Kendra Scott necklace. “I live in Tennessee, and the whole frilly ‘Bama rush’ look is super popular. Lots of skirts and ruffles,” Bass said. Feminine students have been loving neon pink — the hottest color of this summer. This weekend has been a sea of pink and black, especially Lululemon brand products.

Athleisure, as well as the “that girl” aesthetic, has taken America by storm, making comfortable clothing less of a taboo. Biker shorts, athletic tank tops, tennis skirts and athletic jackets are all the rage, especially for students who prioritize comfort for class. Many students decide to dress the look up by blinging out their outfits with necklaces, statement earrings and rings. Many celebrity influences for this style have been Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.

By the third day of classes, Redhawks across campus are ready to sit through lectures casually. Haoyang Wang, a fourth-year mathematics student, opts for a simple graphic tee, sneakers and khaki shorts. “I mostly dress for comfort,” Wang said. “Just comfortable tops and shorts for class and the weather.” For all students, graphic tees, especially oversized, have been all the rage these past few years.

Among many guys on campus, another major trend that has been spotted is baseball caps to complete the laid-back look. A lot of this style has been heavily influenced by the West Coast and “skater style,” with the popularity of brands like Thrasher and Supreme rising in 2017. Graphic tees have always been a classic, but are a major change from the jeans, polo tops and rugby shirts that dominated the early 2000s preppy revolution. Many celebrity influences for this style have been Tyler Okonma, Justin Bieber and Pete Davidson.

So whether hitting the books or hitting Uptown, there will be lots of west coast, southern, and 70s influence all throughout Oxford. As the year progresses, it sure will be interesting to see how these trends evolve and move throughout campus.