Brown, A Sidewalk Runway

Walking around the campus of Brown University is like flipping through a fashion portfolio full of a vast range of different styles. From alternative, artistically detailed looks of RISD to preppy New England business casual, people generally pay attention to their appearance at this university.

In the middle stretches of school days when the sun is out, you can catch girls basking in the sunlight on the green or outside the Ratty wearing narrow sunglasses, structured blouses with their oversized totes in hand. Warm weather invites stylistic effort - perhaps the sun brings hope, translating into aesthetic motivation. A student can find meaning in vanity simply by stepping outside into our beautiful campus, surrounded by striking architecture and nature, and joining the flow of students moving through the day in style. 

Once the temperature drops; during a typical day of classes one can collect sights of buttoned peacoats, sweaters of all shapes and sizes paired with brown or black boots. Women and men accessorize during the Winter with colorful or plain scarves, leather or wool gloves, and enveloping parkas. However, it is especially easy during the cold period to sift out the athletes; they commonly rely on their straight black parkas they receive in their gear packages to keep them warm and cozy. The large red “B” and the branded name of their sport on their left breast are dead giveaways to their identity, and sometimes there is comfort in knowing who you are dwelling with. 

Different events call for different attire, namely FDOC (first day of classes), where the warm weather combined with the desire to make good first impressions equates into stunning outfits that aim to impress. The stylistic choices on this day rarely occur again, a telling sign that people come fitted in their wardrobe’s best. Mainly a blend of casual and preppy streetwear, students wear boots, dresses, button-ups, denim mini skirts, and accessorize with sunglasses and large tote bags. This is contrasted with sports game attire (football mainly), where, given our mild school spirit, students aim to look put-together, but want to avoid looking like they tried too hard. Clothing of choice includes denim, Brown-logo hats and apparel, sneakers, and accessories such as a clutch or cross-body bag. 

The Main Green can be seen as a fashion runway, and in an environment like this, it is difficult not to gain inspiration. The effort people put into outfits never tapers and the students at this university constantly dress to impress. Brown offers such a wide array of aesthetics from fashion that varies in tandem with outside temperatures. One who takes time to observe the little details and the care that went into these outfits will find an inspiration gold mine of how to express oneself.