Fashion, for Karen Douyon, Teaching Fellow in the Theatre and Art Department, is an act of confidence, a daily choice to show up as herself. Her style is bold yet thoughtful, shaped by her culture, her mood, and her refusal to chase trends. Each outfit tells a story of growth, self-acceptance, and joy in being unapologetically herself.
She attributes her sense of style to the people, places and culture that she was surrounded with during her impressionable years, whose style shaped her beyond just how she dresses. Growing up, she found inspiration in the women around her. Their influence taught her that style could be a form of representation, a way to take up space and express identity without words.
“[I draw inspiration from] my mom and the shows I watched as a kid: ‘Moesha,’ ‘The Cheetah Girls,’ ‘In Living Color,’ ‘Living Single.’ I got inspiration from Black women who were unapologetic about what they wore… but it is not about dressing like them. It is about seeing women who give me permission to express myself,” said Douyon.
Douyon credits her mother for shaping how she approaches her wardrobe. Her mom’s emphasis on timelessness and quality continue to guide how she shops today, lessons first learned through weekends spent thrifting together. Long before it became mainstream, Douyon’s mom taught her that secondhand shopping was about patience, creativity, and the joy of discovery.
“My mom [got me into thrifting]. This was back when thrifting was just going to Goodwill, Salvation Army, estate sales, or garage sales. When I started shopping for myself, I could never shop online. I love looking through every rack, picking things up, and trying them on. I will go to the fitting room with 20 things and end up liking three… I love the little fashion show of it all because I did it with my mom. It takes patience. You have to go thrifting expecting not to find anything. That is when you find stuff. You have to be okay with looking and not finding anything,” said Douyon.
Having learned patience and creativity through thrifting, Douyon now channels those same values into what she calls her “playing around era.” She experiments freely, layering denim over jumpsuits and pairing dresses with boots or sneakers. Her style is about mixing textures and colors to create outfits that feel spontaneous and joyful.
“I like quirky pieces. I have thrifted pants with a zipper down the leg and I think that is cool. I figure out how to fit different clothes together. I am not a two piece set type of girl. I like to mix and match and see what works. I will wear a cute dress with cowboy boots or Doc Martens or sneakers, and sometimes heels,” Douyon explained. “You have to be okay with trying things. Life is too short to say, ‘I do not know.’ Wear the thing. It’s fun.”
Part of dressing freely is learning how to weave facets of identity into your personal style. Douyon found this outlet for expression critical towards developing how she views herself as an individual. She talks about how the complexities of fashion and identity have developed the way she views herself as a member of her communities.
“I used to show off my body for validation. Now I validate myself. I love myself. I do not need anyone to validate me. I feel confident in what I wear, so others end up validating it because I already have,” said Douyon.
Douyon continued,“My mom taught me to present myself when I leave the house. ‘Do not look raggedy because people are already going to judge you as a woman of color. Do not give them another reason.’ Hair is part of my style too. I want to be an example [that] you can wear your natural hair. You do not have to slick your edges or hair back. You can wear twists or your hair as it grows and it is beautiful and worth it. It is not about others. It is about confidence. If I walk out and feel like I am that girl, people will see it. It is in the mind.”
Consistent with her statements about the importance of fashion in expression and self discovery, Douyon hopes to continue dressing vibrantly in ways that encourage individuality. She aims to model authenticity for her students, reminding them that confidence grows from curiosity and self-acceptance rather than from trends or approval.
“I hope to keep exploring and be an old lady who is not afraid to try things. I love being in a space where I can model how to be fully yourself. You are the only you that will ever exist. In spaces like PA and other boarding schools, with proximity to young women, I want to show them you can be whoever you want. You can dress how you want… It starts with loving yourself. Once you love yourself it does not matter what you put on… Feeling liberated and fully expressing who you are when you get dressed is the real thing,” said Douyon.
