As the weather grays and leaves turn to beautiful colors littering the streets, the fall quarter at Western Washington University comes to its own quiet conclusion. The students' stylistic choices reflected the weather. People picked out their warmest jackets and coziest sweaters as the rain clouds loomed overhead. Flannel has been quite popular around campus, and it’s easy to see why: the stylish pattern feels closely associated with the coziness of fall, and the material tends to follow through with that promise. Boots have been another fall staple on campus, offering much needed puddle-protection for walking through Red Square and handling muddy treks across campus and beyond, all while keeping your feet warm.
This is my first Style Spotlight where I have taken on most of the work, and it has been an honor to participate in and carry on this Wavelength tradition. I was both excited and nervous because getting your picture taken can be an awkward experience that I know all too well. I’ve come to learn that awkwardness is a two-way street—it’s just as awkward taking the picture as it is having it taken. The days started off slow, cold, and awkward, just as I had worried, but the people that came up were nice and friendly, which eased my anxieties. As time went on, I started to feel more comfortable in the role, and I relaxed and enjoyed talking to the people that came up to the table. The people that expressed excitement to show off what they happened to be wearing that day were particularly a delight to talk to. People were passionate and excited to use this as an opportunity to show off a bit of their self-expression, and I truly loved that.
It was a great experience getting to see everyone show off their unique styles. Even if it was cold and wet, the people at Western shine with a warmth that could cause you to forget about your damp socks and frizzy hair. I gained a lot of new insights over the two days spent taking photos, and I’m excited to do it all over again in the winter. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped out along the way—it wouldn’t have been possible without any of you!
