As the fall season soon approaches, Pilots are reveling in the last days of Portland sunshine. UP now welcomes drizzly and overcast weather, making the possibilities for your daily fit check that much better.
Though the seasons are shifting, your wardrobe doesn’t need to completely change. UP’s thrift and fashion club, We Wore That, aims to bring sustainable fashion to students through regular meetings and monthly clothing swaps.
“You can buy really cheap clothes for close to no money [...] and they'll break down on you [...] and it's terrible for the environment,” treasurer Jacob Diffenderfer said. “Or you could spend the same amount of money [...] at a thrift store. Maybe you don't get the exact perfect, seasonally popular piece, but you're gonna get something to last longer.”
To help ease the transition between summer and fall, We Wore That answers the question: What do I wear for fall?
Fall essentials
Fall is the perfect time to dip into your winter wardrobe while still making use of your favorite summer pieces.
The best fall outfits are the ones that keep you warm and make you feel the most comfortable. Start with the season’s fashion essentials like oversized jackets, cardigans, boots, flannels, sweaters, a staple pair of jeans and a plethora of fun accessories.
Layer, layer, layer
The consensus from the club’s leaders on how to survive Portland fall weather is to layer, layer, layer.
“It's really just picking one piece you want to wear and making it wearable for the season that you're in,” club president Emma Knight said. “If you have a short sleeve shirt that you really love, add a long sleeve underneath it, and keep building ways to make yourself warm.”
Layering your clothing as it gets colder is practical, but according to fashion club secretary Megan Ou it can also be artistic.
“I've seen so much creative layering here [on campus], especially, because Portland has its own style,” Ou said. “You can really express yourself differently.”
To umbrella or not to umbrella?
As any UP student knows, rain is no stranger to campus. As a returning student myself, my advice is to embrace the cozy weather, spray your shoes to be water resistant and walk fast between classes.
On the topic of rain comes the age old question: To umbrella or not to umbrella? If you are anything like me, your parents will insist you buy an umbrella at the start of the year, only for you to never open it once.
The club’s executive board wrestled with the same question. While a cool accessory choice, Knight adds that an umbrella isn’t the only option.
“Our campus isn't that big that you need an umbrella,” Knight said. “Invest in a good raincoat. Invest in nice jackets with hoods. Something that'll keep you warm and dry, that can be used multiple ways.”
Try a mix of comfortable and out-of-the-box
Finding the clothes you love may be a lot of trial and error, but is ultimately rewarding. When picking out an outfit, start with the one piece you gravitate towards most, and stick with it.
“Putting yourself outside of your comfort zone, even a little bit every single time, is how you expand your horizon,” Diffenderfer said. “You don't have to take a massive swing every day.”
So this fall, start simple. Wear a different style of jeans, experiment with accessories or style that one item in the back of your closet you swore you were going to wear when you bought it.
Go online
Finding your personal style doesn’t have to be daunting. The process may begin right at your own screen.
“What really helped me [find my style] was finding people online that I really looked up to,” creative director Elia Mora said. “Incorporating that into my looks, and adding my own twist.”
That way, when you really have no idea what to wear to school that day, you have your Pinterest board full of ideas to back you up.
Ballin’ on a budget
If you want to up your fashion game on a budget this fall, take advantage of online second hand marketplaces like Ebay or Depop, and explore all that Portland thrift stores have to offer.
Better yet, I challenge you: dig in your closet and find those pieces you rarely wear and give them the attention they deserve. In my experience, even those old t-shirts, sweaters and jeans that rarely see the light of day can become something new when you experiment with cropping, painting and cutting.
How to get involved with We Wore That
Refreshing your wardrobe has never been easier. Clean out your closet and snag some new pieces at We Wore That’s next monthly clothing swap.
Whether you are showing up and showing out or rocking it simply this fall, keep the fashion talk going at We Wore That’s first all club meeting of the year, Sept. 20 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Slug Garden.
Kalena O’Connell is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu
