The individuality of Puget Sound fashion is no secret to anyone who has walked around campus on a sunny day. One look across the quad reveals colorful leggings, flowing blouses, classic tweeds and wools and some of the coolest boots you’ll ever see.
From hipsters to hippies, Puget Sound boasts plenty of students to whom I often feel like awarding a “best dressed” trophy.
Senior Daniel Pendleton’s blog, The Alderist, taps into the heart of Puget Sound vogue, featuring photographs of students whose eye-catching looks embody creativity, originality and ingenuity. After scrolling through photos of people whose faces I knew and styles I envied, I was hooked.
Pendleton, a double major in Spanish and religion, began to shoot photos of people while studying abroad in Europe last spring. He recalls being fascinated by the different styles of people in each country he visited, and started taking shots of anyone who caught his eye.
Shooting from the hip or looking in the other direction in order to catch them unawares, Pendleton eventually returned home with a series of photos that beautifully documented the clothing trends of Europe.
Back at the Sound the following fall, Pendleton’s penchant for eye-catching styles continued to grow, and he began to notice Puget Sound’s “quirky, unpretentious, and playful style.” He eventually created The Alderist in order to share his photos with others and provide a place for people to comment on the stylish individuality that marches its way across campus in boots, heels, sneakers, sandals and boat shoes.
Pendleton openly confesses that he doesn’t know a lot about fashion, but nevertheless captions his shots as he sees them. For example, in one of the Alderist entries, he characterizes a series of rips in a pair of turquoise tights as having a softening effect on the intensity of the color.
When asked for his take on upcoming spring trends, Pendleton guessed that large stripes, small doses of pastel colors and cuffed shorts will be a big hit for the guys.
“Avoid the regular T-shirt and tennis shoes on a regular basis,” he advised.
For the girls, he suggested strong, defined shapes that work well with bold shoes, slim jeans and tights or long skirts. He also said that pale blues and sun-bleached reds were good colors to wear.
For a fashion blogger, Pendleton is refreshingly down to earth and humble. When asked if he dislikes or grows weary of certain styles, he said he really didn’t notice the negatives. “That being said,” he continued, “two things bother me: Uggs and sweatpants together.”
As the weather starts to warm up, Puget Sound will no doubt continue to see even more fresh styles pop up all over campus. My advice is to keep one eye on The Alderist and the other one out for bold patterns, florals, washed-out colors, wide-brimmed hats and unique sandals.
But most of all, remember not to take any of it too seriously, to play around and to have fun with your clothes. After all, trends come and go, but creativity and inspiration always kill it.