After hitting the snooze button one too many times, Olivia Picchione ’16 finally jumps out of bed and rushes to her closet. Only a few minutes remain before the bell for her first class rings, so Picchione has limited time to pick out an outfit. Luckily, in these last minute situations, which Picchione described to The Phillipian, she knows one particular article of clothing that will serve as the backbone of a perfect outfit: a good pair of jeans.
“I definitely hail to the jean gods. A good pair of jeans is the secret to a happy wallet and a confident owner because [jeans] last forever, get more comfortable and look better with age, and they can be worn a million different ways,” said Picchione.
Picchione does not think of herself as having a strict personal style, but jeans, accessories such as watches and bracelets and the technique of layering several pieces of clothing are all essential aspects of her outfits. She also calls navy and gray her “go-to colors.”
“On a regular day, my outfit will almost always be composed of a pair of jeans with either sneakers or desert boots, [short, lace-up suede boots]. My ‘I-woke-up-late-and-have-three-minutes-to-get-to-class’ outfit is always one of those combos with a button down shirt and a watch or bracelet,” said Picchione.
Picchione’s interest in fashion partially stems from her parents, who met while working in a clothing store – her dad in the men’s department and her mom in the women’s department. Both of her parents have continued to work in the fashion industry in fields including merchandising and public relations. This connection has also taught her the ins and outs of shopping, allowing her to develop a personal shopping philosophy.
“The companies that [my parents] work and have worked for have definitely shown me how fashion is done, but I prefer to shop and search for unknown, under-the-radar labels. I don’t think anyone should limit their style to just a few big names that they are comfortable with,” said Picchione.
“Whenever I shop, I look for pieces that won’t go out of season. While I am an obsessive shopper, I am not an impulsive buyer. I always online shop and put things in my cart without buying them mostly because I test myself to see if I still love the pieces three days later,” Picchione continued.
For outfit inspiration, Picchione studies fashion blogs and Tumblr accounts. In particular, one of Picchione’s style icons is Leandra Medine, an author and blogger known for her website “The Man Repeller.” Picchione admires Medine’s humorous writing style and her ability to layer several pieces of clothing, like overalls and turtlenecks, in unexpected ways. Just as Medine inspires Picchione, Picchione advises others to find something or someone’s style to emulate and adapt.
“I am a big believer in creating, finding and starting your own trends based on who or what inspires you. Fashion is about self-discovery and authenticity,” said Picchione.
Isabella Haegg ’16, Picchione’s friend and Sports Editor of The Phillipian said, “[Picchione] has been impeccably dressed since [Junior] year – I don’t think I’ve ever seen her go to class in sweatpants. She makes casual pieces look really elegant and stylish – she’ll pair her ripped jeans with a button down and sweater or dress up her white Adidas sneakers with a gold watch and a cool bucket bag. As a person, she’s very down to earth yet sophisticated, and her clothes reflect that. I’ve always loved that she’s never been showy in her outfits but instead pulls them off in a effortless way that still doesn’t go unnoticed. She has that cool girl look that a lot of people try to emulate, but hers just comes so naturally.”
