This week we spotted Ruhama Wolle walking out of Public Affairs in a sleek black outfit, with a boutique blouse, faux-leather leggings from Forever 21 and DSW riding boots. This first-year business economics student’s statement piece was a feathery-looking fake fur sleeveless jacket she found at Forever 21. She loves it because she has a thing for fur, but can’t afford the real deal and is appalled by animal skinning methods. Ruhama told us that her style is constantly shifting, but she likes to describe it as “unexpected.” She spontaneously cited actress and model Olivia Palermo as her fashion icon. When asked if she had any tips for broke students to stay stylish, she told us “thrift shopping.” “Even taking old clothes and making them into things you would wear now,” she added. She gave Mojo the classic example of turning worn-out jeans into shorts.
First-year undeclared student Sofia Staab-Gulbenkian was heading out of Haines when we found her. She looked super edgy in her shiny bronze leggings and cut-out black sweater. She got her leggings from Black Milk, which she explained is “this weirdo Australian brand. They just make weird leggings.” Her sweater is from Marshalls, a store which she recommends if you’re willing to hunt. She paid full price at Urban Outfitters for her lace-up booties, but claims it was worth it because she wears them every day. As for how she chooses her clothing, she said: “If it’s different, I’ll gravitate towards it.” Like Ruhama, she spontaneously offered us her fashion role models; “Kanye West is my style icon. And Grimes. 50% Kanye, 50% Grimes.” Her advice to UCLA fashionistas is very specific: “Go into your mom’s closet, find the oldest things and cut off the sleeves.”
Remember Charlene Tam, aka Kinoko, or “mushroom” in Japanese? She was already featured on Mojo street style a while back. We stumbled upon the third-year Japanese student, and surprise: her hair is now blue! Once again, her creative outfit was über-colorful and largely inspired by the Harajuku movement, whose adherents, Tam explained, have a style all their own. Tam said she does too: “I like to wear whatever I want, I don’t really care about trend.” So her advice is for everyone to cultivate their personal style. She bought her patterned skirt in Japan, her pastel cardigan in Hong Kong, and her craziest piece, a rainbow unicorn T-shirt, at Urban Outfitters. But like most people, she sometimes doesn’t know what to wear. On those days, she asks a friend to “pick a color,” before assembling an outfit based on the chosen hue. She lit up when asked which song best described her style: undoubtedly, it’s “Candy Candy,” by Japanese artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.
Chance Plaskett, Christian Maldanado and Brian de Loera were spotted looking effortlessly cool at Rendezvous. Plaskett (left), a first-year chemical engineering student, sported a TopMan flowery shirt, with black skinny jeans and Docs. He cuts his own hair and styles it into this polished do. Maldanado (center) wore a beige jacket, a shirt with a tiger on it (not pictured) which he scored at Walmart, with boat shorts and shoes, and mid-calf socks. (His cigarette is not lit, in adherence with the smoking ban.) de Loera (right), who doesn’t go to UCLA, displayed a Morrissey-inspired outfit, complete with Boy London shirt, Cheap Monday rolled up skinnies and Fred Perry lace-ups. Asking them who their style icons were sparked up a heated debate: Maldanado is inspired by Michael Jackson, but Plaskett said that Prince is “so much better.” Finally, Maldanado’s ultimate advice to everyone is “stay cute,” while Chance’s is “stay frosty, stay greasy.” Take from that what you will.
—Iris Goldsztajn
