Tess Taetle ‘24
To shop like Ximena Castillo Núñez ’24, a student from Mexico City, you will need a plane ticket. Her T-shirt is from a local boutique in Mexico, her gold jewelry was passed down from generation to generation in her family, and her other pieces were found in thrift stores.
When deciding what to wear, Castillo Núñez first considers the weather. If it is sunny, she will reach for a skirt — a black mini skirt in this case. Then, she tries on different clothing combinations until reaching the set that suits her.
Castillo Núñez’s go-to style is layering. A simple white t-shirt and jeans outfit, or even button-up blouses and tank tops, can all be transformed into a fashion statement by simply adding on an oversized blazer. The backpack is another essential part of school outfits, so she changes the bag according to different looks. The gray puffer shoulder bag in this look, for example, suits the color scheme of her mostly monochromatic outfit. The mix-and-match style allows Castillo Núñez to find creativity and diversity within just a few pieces.
Her attention to layering reflects what Castillo Núñez loves about fashion: the freedom to experiment and be spontaneous in her outfit choices. “I do not like to define my style,” she said.
Ximena Castillo Núñez ’24
Manuela Sepulveda ’23, a student from Mexico City, takes closet inspiration from the 1990s’ anti-fashion movement when many women chose to steer away from traditional feminine outfits and instead incorporated T-shirts, jeans, tanks, and oversized silhouettes into their closets. “I am very much influenced by 90’s fashion,” Sepulveda said. “It comes naturally at this point.”
Big jeans, tight tops, oversized sweaters, and neutral colors are staples in Sepulveda’s wardrobe. On a gray Tuesday morning, she brought out her trusty pair of oversized Levi’s, a military-green printed mesh top with red exposed seams, and a pair of emerald green Chuck 70’s Converse. Her combination of the tight mesh top and oversized black pair of jeans is, once again, reminiscent of 90’s fashion.
Her outfit is the “perfect combination of masculine and feminine silhouette[s],” said Sepulveda — boxy at the bottom and fitted at the top. While experimentation is a huge part of Sepulveda’s style, she finds comfort in “stick[ing] to the same silhouettes and the same forms that work.” To Sepulveda, fashion isn’t necessarily about venturing outside one’s comfort zone; rather, it’s about discovering a style that fits the individual in every way.
Yoyo Zhang ’24
Summer Xu ’22’s outfit consists of a blue-and-white gingham polo and a white tennis skirt. As a firm believer of “dressing to the feeling” instead of adhering to a specific style, Xu allows herself the freedom to experiment with a wide variety of outfits. “I would put on something edgy and bold one day just because I’m feeling vibrant and energetic,” she explained. “The next day, though, you might see me in Choate sweats from top to bottom, because I want to go for a more comfy look.”
On school days, when there is less time to analyze her wardrobe, Xu describes her outfits as “spontaneous.” On the other hand, if she is going out on the weekends, she will take the time to coordinate a more refined look. “I think picking out different outfits is fun, so I would spend time on them whenever I can,” Xu said.
Xu is working towards being bold enough to wear whatever she feels representative of herself. Generally, she is open to trying anything fresh, young, and out-of-the-ordinary, even though she prefers monotone or blue-and-white outfits.
“You don’t need to be a fashion icon,” Xu said. “Dressing according to what you feel like is more important than dressing according to a specific style.”
