Fashion Student of the Month is a Lance tradition that highlights students for their originality and creativity when it comes to clothing. This month, we celebrate junior Isla Luby for her unique style.
Luby grew up in a household that encouraged individuality. Her dad constantly told her, “Be a leader, not a follower. You should find your own style, not rely on others to find that for you.”
She started to appreciate fashion during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing inspiration from TikTok. Isolation motivated people to experiment with different types of clothes, leading to the development of the “Alt Kid” style which often incorporated grunge, punk, and emo aesthetics. Following in the footsteps of social media creators, Luby felt inspired to go out of her comfort zone and develop her own alternative style. “Seeing how people got to express themselves online made me want to do the same,” she said.
Luby believes that “it’s good for everybody to have their own style, not just have the same exact thing. It speaks to who you are as a person.” Luby likes to take inspo from retro icons and tweak it to make her own outfits.
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For example, she looks up to celebrities from the ‘90s such as Natalie Portman, whom she came across in the movie Léon. She describes Portman’s style as sleek, elegant, and casual, which complements her own tastes. Photo Courtesy of Isla Luby
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She also admires the indie style of the more contemporary character Bella Swan from the movie series Twilight. In order to achieve a look like Portman’s and Swan’s, Luby recommends shopping at Brandy Melville and thrift stores. Photo Courtesy of Isla Luby
Luby’s favorite thing to wear is “definitely a good pair of jeans—like a baggy low-rise.” On the other hand, her least favorite fashion trend is skinny jeans. She particularly dislikes the combination of knee-high boots and this style of jeans. “I don’t like skinny jeans at all,” she said.
She also believes most clothes can look good if they’re styled right, saying that “if you style something with lots of accessories, for example a belt, or you tuck in a T-shirt instead of just pulling it on, it’ll look good.” She recommends wearing plenty of accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, belts, and purses.
Luby feels that fashion mirrors one’s character. She admits, “my style reflects my personality because at first, I may be scared to wear some new outfits and try out a new style, but once I start wearing it more, I get more confident. That correlates to my personality; at first, I may seem quiet, but once you get to know me, I’m more talkative and comfortable.” Luby understands that wearing unique clothes with confidence is difficult, so she aspires to help others on their fashion journeys.
“My best piece of advice is wear what you want, and don’t be afraid.”
Luby feels that her style reflects her own identity, as she is a creative person who likes to stand out. She does not want to blend into the background. “Hoodies are what people might wear today. They might like a comfortable and minimalistic style, but I don’t really like that look. I like more colorful things rather than just basic white and black.” She hopes that her own style comes off as special and different.
Luby does not conform to bland fashion trends. Her perseverance to wear her unique outfits despite uneasiness and her dedication to empower others qualify her for Fashion Student of the Month.
