Bringing a retro style to life, Eliza Francis ’26 curates her outfits with intent, blending vintage treasures and hand-me-downs to craft a look that is authentically hers. Francis’ fashion is deeply rooted in her surroundings and personal history. Her wardrobe, largely composed of secondhand finds and sentimental pieces, tells a story of the people and passions that shape her identity.
Growing up with limited control over her clothing choices, Francis discovered freedom of self-expression through style as she got older. To her, fashion became about more than just clothing, but about honoring her family’s history while creating something uniquely her own.
“My style is a manifestation of the activities I do and the people and things I love. I tend to not fit into a singular aesthetic, but I also just try to be authentically me. I think a lot of my pieces have stories behind them. I love thrifting and I also love wearing my mother’s or my grandpa’s hand-me-downs and really treasuring those gifts and those like parts of my family and like bringing them to life in a way that is honoring them but still unique to me,” said Francis.
Francis structures her outfits around staple pieces, primarily her extensive collection of Calvin Klein jeans She considers them the ultimate versatile item, suitable for any occasion. She points to jackets as another essential component of her wardrobe.
“Jeans are the perfect clothing item. I wear them on airplanes. I wear them for tests. I don’t think they’re uncomfortable at all. I actually think they’re peak comfort… I love jackets. A lot of that is due to me stealing from my boyfriend’s style but I don’t pick an outfit that’s complete without a jacket and that’s probably my favorite thing to thrift. I love denim. I love big bomber jackets or ones that have random sayings on the back,” said Francis.
For Francis, an outfit is not complete without a bold pop of color. Her love for red, in particular, traces back to her years as a competitive dancer, where bright lipstick was a performance staple. Now, that signature touch has become an essential part of her everyday style.
“I love red. I do it with my lipstick too. That’s probably the one ‘out there’ component of my external appearance… I just think it exudes confidence and even if I’m not feeling it, I can look it. I’ll choose a color and I’ll see if I can make that color appear multiple times throughout my outfit, whether that’s matching the top and shoes or accessory and bag,” said Francis.
Francis’ dance career has influenced her style in unexpected ways, often blending practicality with experimentation. As a dancer, convenience plays a major role in her outfit choices, sometimes leading to an unconventional but creative look.
“I’d say my weirdest outfits honestly stem from a place of circumstance. I’m a dancer and sometimes I’m lazy so I’m not really interested in having to rush home and change. I’ll experiment with wearing leotards and bodysuits or having shorts underneath where they kind of peek through the low-rise nature of my jeans. I think that’s probably the most experimental,” said Francis.
In addition to practicality, Francis embraces seasonal themes in her wardrobe, using color palettes and fragrances to stay connected to the moment. While traditional accessories, such as jewelry, have never been central to her style, she still finds thoughtful ways to elevate her outfits.
“Honestly, accessories have never been very akin to my lifestyle. I’m a harpist so bare hands are preferable and a dancer who was told that wearing necklaces is a choking hazard all her life. So I tend to not accessorize in the traditional way. That said, I think there are implicit components of an outfit that I always consider. My lipstick, like I mentioned, is a big one but I’m also into perfume so I try to match my perfume to my outfit,” said Francis.
Francis continued, “I’d also say… I tend to dress seasonally. I try to be really grounded in life and I think part of that comes from honoring where you are in time. So this winter I’m not necessarily looking forward to summer and trying to wear bright colors. I’m reflecting what could be dreariness but what I view as beautiful and serene.”
Meara Wang ’26, a close friend of Francis’, described Francis’ style as deeply personal and rich with meaning. Wang sees Francis’ outfits as carriers of a story, making them all the more significant.
“I know Eliza thrifts a lot, and you can see a lived experience through her clothes. Each piece has a story behind it… It’s not just something out of a factory. It’s something that’s already been worn and loved by someone else, which makes it more beautiful,” said Wang.
Looking ahead, Francis does not see herself pursuing fashion professionally but remains passionate about using style as a tool for self-expression. She values authenticity over trends, aiming to continue dressing in a way that brings her joy and confidence.
“I think trends aren’t inherently bad, but if you get absorbed in them, they can turn into a negative headspace where you’re always judging yourself. I’ve done a lot of work to not use clothes to hide my body but rather to accept who I am. I hope I continue to view fashion as joyful rather than trying to fit into a specific mold,” said Francis.
