Lately the brisk, yet sunny days (and the passing of midterm exams) seem to have everyone eager to debut their favorite fall clothing on campus. This week’s Fashionista, Emma, is a junior at Barnard College majoring in psychology with a minor in anthropology. Through her ensemble, she shows us the importance of details in making a simple, classic outfit not only cohesive, but interesting as well.

From afar, the outfit appears relatively simple and classically stylish: a white collared shirt, a black A-line skirt, and a boxy black blazer. Yet upon closer inspection, the classic skirt is actually leather! If you are looking to mix up the usual routine, try incorporating a seasonally trendy texture like this. This skirt specifically can be found at Vince. Next, everyone should have a white collared shirt. Not only can such a piece be worn with everything, it is also appropriate at a myriad of occasions. Purchase a reliable shirt like this at Gap. The black blazer is another staple item. Blazers flood the market during fall, so you can buy a more durable one at Theory, or if you’re less convinced, get less expensive one to test-run.

The details in this ensemble are completely dependent on these three classic pieces. Beginning with the footwear, Emma’s oxfords combined with knee high socks make for an interesting play of masculine and feminine, always an eye-catching technique. Also, not only do they follow a similar color scheme together and with the clothing, but they also both feature this season’s favorite print, polka-dots. Sometimes this pattern can seem too overwhelming when colors are thrown in, so I suggest starting out slow with a simple black and white combination as seen here. Oxfords like these can be purchased at Cole Haan, and fun socks like these can be found anywhere from Madewell to Target. Although the socks and shoes unapologetically stand out, one must also appreciate this Fashionista’s additional incorporation of black and white prints in the lining of the blazer and the rim of the hot pink scarf. 

Next time you have some time on your hands and are looking to change up monotonous outfits, take advice from Emma and scour your closet for subtle, yet surprisingly complementary prints for a thoughtfully chic ensemble.