Taking inspiration from the early 2000s, Blake Herndon ’25 paired her signature gold hoops with an assortment of gold bracelets. Herndon reflected on how both her style and mindset have evolved over the years and grown more independent and individualized.
“As I got older, I’ve tried less to be like what other people are dressing around me, and I choose stuff that I like for myself… I would describe [my style] as elevated streetwear,” said Herndon.
For the most part, Herndon follows a routine to style her outfits. Often planning looks in advance, she focuses on avoiding repetition and experimenting with her looks, especially regarding color and accessories.
“I choose my outfit the night before, and I usually try to wear a different color every day, so I try not to wear the same color two days in a row to keep it interesting. I [also] like to choose my jewelry the night before… [However], I do have lazy days where I won’t try as hard and those days are usually when I pick my outfit the morning of, and I don’t give myself time to think about my outfit,” said Herndon.
When selecting her clothes for the day, Herndon often considers the relationship between elements of her outfit and her confidence and attitude, and subsequently her daily successes. By choosing outfits that make her feel empowered, she aims to enhance her self-esteem and maintain a positive mindset for the day.
“I really think that feeling confident in myself helps me do better. If I look good, I feel better. So, I know I’m going to do better… For example, if I have a test or a big assessment, I dress nicer for that day because I really do believe in ‘look good, feel good,’” said Herndon.
Herndon reflected on the fashion influences in her life, acknowledging her sister’s role in her journey to discovering her own style. She also noted aesthetics and styles she hopes to explore next, expressing her eagerness to expand her closet and experiment with fashion.
“My inspiration comes from my older sister Kennedy. She actually dresses more masculine [than me], and I would say we’re kind of opposites, but I love to play my style off of hers. We’re so alike in opposite ways… [I’m hoping to explore] ’90s streetwear, specifically baggy clothing. I feel right now, I’m more into cropped items, or tighter fitting items, and I think it’d be really cool to give more variety to my closet by adding baggier items,” said Herndon.
Maddie Redmond ’25, who’s known Herndon since Junior year, applauded her sophistication and originality. Redmond described her favorite outfit formula of Herndon’s, and emphasized the importance of shoes and accessories in her wardrobe.
“My favorite outfits of hers are when she does Skims tops or tight-fitting tops with cute, low-rise jeans… The shoes [make them unique], and she loves to accessorize, which I feel can make it more original. She loves jewelry. She has a gold jewelry box just filled with a bunch of jewelry. But also styling her hair in different ways and her glasses as well. She has two pairs she loves to wear that can also set her apart. She’s very meticulous with accessories, especially,” said Redmond.
With fashion being an important part in her life, Herndon hopes that it will continue to be an outlet for self-expression, and a means to foster confidence. She reflected on how attending Andover has helped her find the style she feels most comfortable in.
“I want fashion to always be a way for me to express my confidence. I want it to stay as a constant for me to be able to express myself. It’s important to me because I know that if I don’t like my outfit, [or] I don’t like my jewelry [or] my hair, I’m not a happy camper… [Coming to Andover changed my style], but not necessarily because it’s Andover, but because I’ve matured, and I’ve felt more comfortable expressing myself. I feel like I’m more comfortable with myself now to the point where I know what I want to wear,” said Herndon.
