Donning a chic fall outfit, Migyu Kim ’25 layers sheer leggings with a black mini skirt and cream-colored fleece jacket. Paired with thrifted gold accessories, a plaid scarf, and black boots, Kim’s style takes inspiration from European fashion and embodies a timeless look.
“I have always tried to go for a little bit more of a classy, elegant, and elevated look. I take a lot of inspiration from European fashion which is very clean, and I don’t like the word preppy, but kind of like that. I get a lot of my fashion inspiration from timeless looks and European fashion,” said Kim.
Kim has been experimenting with fashion since middle school, maintaining the same tasteful foundation. Over the years, she has started to explore different accessories and hairstyles, adding color and detail to her outfits. Through these additions, she is able to personalize and elevate her look.
“Ever since I was in middle school, I liked to play with my own sense of fashion, some of it very unsuccessfully now that I look back on it. I’ve always had the same foundation of style in terms of a little bit more dressy, a lot of people say I have kind of a ‘mom style.’ Most recently, I have been playing around more with accessories, so whether that’s jackets, scarves, jewelry, I really like fun earrings, pops of colors, different shoes. The foundational elements of my style have really stayed the same, but it’s really about how I dress them up with accessories and hairstyles,” said Kim.
The majority of Kim’s clothing comes from second-hand stores. Kim frequents flea markets and thrift stores, where she buys most of her clothes. When making purchases, Kim seeks essential clothing items that can be utilized in various outfits. Her personal identity really comes through in her use of eye-catching accessories to pull her outfit together.
“I find a lot of my clothing and accessories just in general second-hand. A lot of my earrings are from a flea market right by my house, 75 percent of my clothes are from my local thrift store, which I am so lucky to have such a great selection. When I’m looking for pieces I really look for, in terms of clothes, is something that’s like a capsule wardrobe, very simple, and can be used for a lot of things. When I’m looking for accessories, that’s where I’ll look for flashier statement pieces, so I can dress up the simple clothes with more exciting details and embellishments,” said Kim.
When it comes to building everyday outfits, Kim pays attention to her accessories along with the combination of fabrics, colors, and shapes. She enjoys experimenting with adding unique jewelry or colors to a base of an outfit, while also creating minimalistic monochrome looks that uphold her signature chic style.
“I like having different textures or pieces, a flowier bottom means a tighter top, that sort of thing. Basing an outfit off a piece I want and then going from there. Once I have the foundation, I’ll think about the sweaters or jackets I want to wear and then the jewelry to go with it and my hair to finish it… My staple accessory has definitely been my earrings. I feel like the way that you accessorize, you are able to wear the most simple things and it’s special how your jewelry can really add that extra touch. Most recently, I’ve also been playing around with belts that I’ve thrifted,” said Kim.
Marcela Hernandez ’25, a friend of Kim’s, admires some of her staple pieces, particularly her striking jewelry. She emphasized how elegant accessories elevate Kim’s overall style, standing out as the heart of her outfits.
“[Her staple items are] her green Adidas shoes and then she also has these green earrings she wears, so she will sandwich those two together. I would definitely say, in general, any of her earrings. They are bigger and, I wouldn’t say showy, but they definitely make her outfit more unique and very noticeable,” said Hernandez.
Overall, Kim’s journey with fashion has been a cumulative one, with the end goal of working towards being able to express herself authentically. Despite not describing herself as particularly artistic, Kim uses her style and closet as an outlet to channel her creativity and set the tone for her day-to-day lifestyle.
“Every time that I dress well, it kind of sets an intention for the day about how I want to approach the day and present my best self. Even if I’m not feeling that good inside, I can try to become the person I look like on the outside. It’s my favorite form of self-expression and creativity. I’m not an artistic person, but I feel like I can really use fashion to test my imagination and explore,” said Kim.
