Comm Ave Runway: November Edition

Comm Ave Runway: November Edition
Our ongoing fashion series finds stylish students and asks them how they achieve their look
Temperatures were all over the place last month, rising to brush 80 degrees before dipping into the 40s. But colder temperatures make for better outfits, and being able to layer clothing brings a whole new spectrum of style.
Our BU Today interns hit the streets yet again for another edition of Comm Ave Runway, our new fashion series where we highlight Terriers with a great sense of style and ask them for some tips for making Comm Ave your personal runway.
Want to be featured or know of someone who should be? Email us at today@bu.edu.

Rosalynn Zhang (CAS’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
The shoes are from Onitsuka Tiger, and the sweater is from Urban Outfitters. The dress, top, and scarf are all from online shopping in China. My headphones are Bose.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I try to make my style colorful, because I don’t like to only wear black and white.
Your favorite places to shop?
I usually like shopping online, like on Essence, Farfetch, Urban Outfitters, or Zara.
What are your fashion influences?
I follow some celebrities on Instagram and on a Chinese website called Little Red Book, which is kind of like Instagram, but the Chinese version. It’s a place where people share their thoughts and ideas. Also, my roommate wants to be an influencer and has really good [fashion] ideas. She really has the gift of knowing how to dress and do makeup.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
I would say that money shouldn’t stop you from wearing certain clothes.

Jack Dekempe (CAS’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I like going to Goodwill a lot, so I got both the boots and the shirt from Goodwill. I live in Denmark and they have these things called local markets, which are basically flea markets. People sell clothes there for pretty cheap, so I got this purse there. The jeans, I think, are from Urban Outfitters. One of the necklaces is my mom’s, the other one is from Mexico, and the third one I got in Denmark.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I like earth tones a lot, I don’t like too flashy of colors. I like them on some people, but I don’t wear them too much. I like keeping it minimal, with some pieces that are a little more flashy, so most of the outfit is spotlighting another part. Honestly, it’s more of an intuitive thing.
Your favorite places to shop?
As trite as it is, probably just secondhand stores. Not the vintage stores where they resell for a lot of money, but more like markets and Goodwill. A lot of times you can find really cool stuff there for a pretty good price. And then if there’s a piece that I like a lot, like a necklace or something, I’ll probably spend a little more.
What are your fashion influences?
My best friend is a huge fashion influence of mine. There’s [no one else] that really comes to mind, [like] a celebrity or a person.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
Wear what you feel comfortable with. It’s a pretty common thing to say, but if you don’t like what you’re wearing, it doesn’t look as nice because it doesn’t match who you are. So get influenced by other people, but stick to yourself, too. Money-wise, you can definitely find a lot of cheap stuff. I would avoid the big department stores. It’s not good quality and you can spend a little more money on something and have it last longer.

Nitz-fa Dimanche (CAS’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
Jacket thrifted from Goodwill, skirt thrifted from Goodwill, scarf thrifted from Goodwill. The skirt is from Zara, it was on sale for like five bucks. The boots are the expensive $400 Naked Wolf boots…but you gotta do it. The bag is Telfar.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Whatever I’m feeling. I feel like my style ranges. I love ultra-feminine and very sexy, but then I can also do baggy sweaters. So I would just say alternative. I like mixing it up.
Your favorite places to shop?
Goodwill, I love to thrift. There’s a lot of good stuff that people discard.
What are your fashion influences?
There’s this girl called Aliyah on TikTok and she’s amazing. I like Doechii too. Doechii’s style is really cool and fresh. I would say any of my new black rap girlies—they’ve been killing it. Those are my top three right now that I can think of.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
I know you love that top, but you can find a cheaper option. You can always find a cheaper option, and I think you’ll find more happiness when you do. And if you can afford it, buy what makes you happy. But if you can’t, I would say always go to thrift stores.

David Nguyen (CAS’24)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I think I got the top and my pants from H&M. The shoes are Dr. Martens and the socks are from TJ Maxx. The earrings are from a random local store in Vietnam. The bag is from Typo, it’s a little stationery place.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I think it depends on the day and depends on the mood. I always try to pick a theme and really go for it. I would say it’s a little bit of casual wear, like blouses, but sometimes it’s also skirts and bows and all this coquette-ness.
Your favorite places to shop?
In Boston there’s a good Goodwill. I would say Zara is a good place to go to, as well as mostly just kind of walking around and seeing what’s here.
What are your fashion influences?
I think just scrolling on TikTok in general, but I really love the style of Aliyah, I think she’s very cool.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
There’s a lot of stuff you can do in terms of fashion with the stuff you already have. There are different ways of layering, you can crop stuff, really try using what you have, and exploring.

Fernando Ramírez (CAS’24)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got this [hoodie] at Abercrombie. I actually got [the unbuttoned shirt] from my friend’s closet and I just haven’t returned it. The hat was a gift. My mom got the pants for me. I think they were thrifted, also. And I got [these shoes] at Champs or PacSun.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I really like streetwear. More casual. Jackets. I really like jackets. It’s a great season for jackets.
Your favorite places to shop?
I went to Fenway Flea a couple of times. They had it when it was nice out. I usually go to thrift shops, like Goodwill.
What are your fashion influences?
Honestly, just whatever draws me in.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
Definitely thrifting. I got [this jacket] for like $15. There’s not really a bunch of thrifting places I’ve found in Boston, but definitely Goodwill and the small ones out there now.

Tami Ajibade (CAS’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
My shoes, I got them on eBay. I’m not sure where [the skirt] is from, but I got it from the thrift store in Roxbury. The top part I also got from the Goodwill in Allston. [The brand is vintage and it’s] called Take Two Clothing. I actually did get it from a vintage market. Watch is eBay. The ring is from a vintage store in deep Allston, Vivant Vintage. I got this [necklace] from Vivant, too.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I would definitely say eccentric, colorful, inspired. I feel like I get a lot of my outfits from shows and movies that I watch.
Your favorite places to shop?
I really like eBay. In Boston, I really like Vivant Vintage. Any market sellers, and of course, Goodwill. I also like Zara.
What are your fashion influences?
I just see a character and I’m like, damn, they look fly as hell. I wanna look like that [show] Russian Doll. I have a coat that’s definitely Russian Doll as hell. I love Natasha Lyonne. Whoever styled her for that show, I need their number.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
Looking good on a budget really just comes down to thrifting. If you want cheap clothes, shop at cheap places and you’ll find something you like.
Also, look around…don’t be afraid to hop on that Pinterest board. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, because that’s where growth happens and that’s where you really can find what makes you feel good.

Mellissa Tan (COM’24)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
The clothes are all H&M. The shoes are from Nordstrom.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I like a really simple, neutral outfit, so I wear a lot of blacks. Anything that’s like a capsule wardrobe, which is a variety of minimalist clothes that can be put together in numerous configurations. Anything that’s interchangeable. And I like leather a lot.
Your favorite places to shop?
In Boston, I like Marshalls. They have really good clothing for really, really cheap. I got a white corset top for literally $10. H&M has good stuff, but I don’t go there often unless I really need something. And Zara, but Zara can be overpriced. It’s good for basics. I think Marshalls is underrated.
What are your fashion influences?
I have so many. On Instagram, there’s this girl named Laura Jade Stone and she also dresses in basics. She’s always in pants, and I like pants and her style. There’s a bunch [of style influencers] on Instagram.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
Marshalls. Or Nordstrom Rack. But I think you just need time. You need to prep yourself mentally to look through all the stuff.

Oluwaseum Ademiloye (CAS’26)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got [my dress] from Ross, I’m not sure what brand it is. My bag is Michael Kors. Shout-out to my mother for this gift. And then my bracelets are from SHEIN. My [shoes] are from Nike. They’re white Air Forces.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I don’t really choose an aesthetic, honestly. Depending on how I feel and how the weather is making me feel, that’s how I like to dress. So one day, you’ll see me flaunting street wear, and then the next you’ll see me all girly [in] the frilly skirt or the dress. I don’t like to confine myself, but I do like to own whatever I wear. I do like to feel comfortable. I just feel like sometimes I like my outfits to make other people’s day as well. I can make me happy, and when people see me, I want them to be happy as well.
Your favorite places to shop?
I think Ross is actually really nice. They have a lot of high-end things for lower prices, and you can definitely get a taste of what brands you actually like or which silhouettes you like. I may go to Target sometimes for some basic pieces, like plain tanks. Target and H&M have good quality basics: black skirt, white top. Sometimes, if I want to get something really “out there,” I’ll go to SHEIN. If I don’t want to spend a lot of money and I want to try something on, I’ll go there and then I’ll expand to check other places.
What are your fashion influences?
I follow a few fashion influencers online. Some of my favorite ones include Bronnniee. She loves to mix and match colors. She likes to colorblock. She likes to do monochrome. I think she really pairs things nicely and makes even the most bizarre prints look great.
I also love Angwi Tacho. She dresses very feminine. I just like the whole clean, put-together look. Every time I see their outfits, I smile and I love what they’re doing.
And then, this is a more popular person that some people may recognize: De’arra. She wasn’t always a fashion influencer, but she’s definitely been stepping her game up in the past a year or two. I love the way she accessorizes. I wish to accessorize as much as she does. She makes everything look really great.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
I would first say to look at your closet. And if that means trying everything on, go ahead, see what you feel good in. Don’t follow trends—just because something’s trending doesn’t mean it will flatter you or you’ll look nice in it. There’s some things that people say flattered me, but I just didn’t like on me, I didn’t think fit me well. See what you have in your closet that you like. What do you gravitate to more often? Each day, what do you wear a lot? Once you lay those things out, you’re going to [think]: “Oh, this is probably my aesthetic,” or “This is what I like,” or “Maybe I can find pieces to actually elevate the current situation I’m in.”

Sophia Zoghby (Sargent’26)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I actually thrifted [this button up] from Goodwill. I’m not sure what the brand is, but I just thought it was really cool. Pants are also thrifted. Again, I don’t know the brand. Also, I think pretty much everything but the shoes are thrifted. Jewelry, thrifted, and then also from T.J.Maxx because I thought it was really cute. And then this [necklace] is from Lebanon.
How would you describe your fashion sense In a few words?
I think it is very down-to-earth. I’m not the type of person to get really out-there. I tend to stay very natural, with neutral earthy colors. It’s very relaxed and comfortable.
I like to dress comfortably. It makes me feel really good about myself. Sometimes I can be uncomfortable with [items] at first, but then I’ll just take little steps. Let’s say if I have platform Dr. Martens that I want to wear but at first don’t know, I’ll wear them out a little bit and then just work my way up to actually loving them. Because then they become a part of me in a way. Don’t be afraid to take those little steps, because if you really want to wear something, go for it. If it’s you, that’s what matters. And being yourself is the best thing that you can do.
Your favorite places to shop?
My favorite store is Garment District in Cambridge. It’s really popular. I go there all the time. I just go crazy. I love their pile [clothing on the store’s floor that’s sold for $2 a pound]. I found so many items of clothing from there, and plus, it’s very affordable as well, which is what I really like.
A lot of times [Goodwill] can be a hit or miss. I really love their hoodie section because sometimes they have really cool stuff.
What are your fashion influences?
I think the person who has influenced my style the most is actually my partner. When we met, I really admired his style. And I think that just made me dress the same way as him as the years went on. I really do owe a lot of it to him.
Your advice for students who want to look great on a budget?
The thing about clothing is that there’s billions upon billions of different styles out there. There’s so many similar styles that aren’t those bigger brands. It’s really about going out into those thrift stores and places like that to find those things that fit your vibe. I’ve found so many articles of clothing that kind of replace the bigger brands that I like. For example, I’ve always wanted a Coogi sweater, which are on the market for upwards of $500 each. Before I was actually able to save some money up and find one that I liked, I kind of replicate them in a way. And it made me feel really excited to wear them because they’re just beautiful, like art. Bottom line: there’s so many options in the world that pretty much replace those bigger brands and are so affordable.
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