In an era of minimalist trends, the wardrobe of Nurul Izzah Khairunnisa ’25 bursts with color, texture, and stories. Turning tradition into vibrant self-expression, her style isn’t just clothing; it is a rebellion against conformity, and a statement of culture worn proudly every day.
Khairunnisa draws inspiration for her style from both her surroundings and heritage. Traditional Indonesian textiles like batik play a central role in her outfits, allowing her to express cultural pride through her outfits. For Khairunnisa, fashion is a way to stay connected to home.
“I feel like I’m inspired by a lot of media that I consume, and I’m also inspired by my culture. I would say that all my clothes are very patterned, or they have a lot of texture. I really like clothes that are maximalist, that are not plain… It’s a big part of our culture to have a lot of patterns. One of our formal wears that is most common [is a pattern] called batik… I feel a certain pride when I use a lot of these patterns that are made in Indonesia,” said Khairunnisa.
For Khairunnisa, modesty isn’t a constraint but a form of creativity. As a practicing Muslim, she embraces long sleeves and flowing silhouettes, and her vibrant collection of hijabs has become a playful tool for self-expression.
“I’m a practicing Muslim, and so I very much keep modesty in mind… But, I really want it to be shown in a way that people don’t think modesty is restricting in terms of style… I do feel like I’m expressing a part of myself and showing that I can still do this even if I’m dressing modestly… I have hijabs in all kinds of colors so I can coordinate them with my outfits — it’s part of the fun of dressing modestly but expressively,” said Khairunnisa.
Georgianna Harpole ’25 emphasized how Nisa’s approach to fashion stands out in the Andover community. Specifically, she admires her ability to combine unexpected patterns and accessories in ways that are coherent, with each combination full of intention.
“I think that she does something that nobody else on this campus really manages to do, which is that she can find really obscure and complex patterns with really different prints, and [the outfit] will match to a tee, like it was custom-made for her. One of my favorite [of her outfits] is probably her Halloween costume. She found a really cool steampunk mask, and she paired it with a ruffled blouse and a tiered maxi skirt,” said Harpole.
Harpole also noted Nisa’s authenticity as unique and inviting. This visibility, Harpole suggests, makes approaching Nisa feel natural.
“She is resolute in showing up as an Indonesian every place she goes, and that means that it’s really hard to copy her style. If you’re ever interested in meeting somebody who has a lot to say, who’s very insightful, very friendly, I think that the way that she dresses makes it easy to go up to her and have some sort of confidence in knowing what type of conversation she’s into, if that makes sense. She’s very open. She’s very outgoing, and she reflects her interest in the way that she dresses,” said Harpole.
Khairunnisa embraces standing out on campus, using her distinct style to celebrate her culture and produce a look that’s entirely her own.
“I’m pretty sure no one on campus is wearing a barrette and a long skirt and ruffled tops. And I stand out because of that, but that is something that I do enjoy… I feel like I’m playing my part in sort of promoting my own culture… I find that I am finding my own unique niche,” said Khairunnisa.
