Comm Ave Runway: April Edition
Our ongoing fashion series finds stylish students and asks them how they achieve their look
Comm Ave Runway: April Edition
Our ongoing fashion series finds stylish students and asks them how they achieve their look
The weather is finally turning spring-like (at least by Boston standards), which means people are once again ditching their scarves, knit caps, and winter coats in favor of thinner layers, lighter colors, and bolder fabrics.
Looking for ideas on how to refresh your spring wardrobe? We spoke to some of BU’s most stylish students to get their thoughts on this season’s trends, where to shop on a budget, and where they find fashion inspiration. Take a look.
Luke Gamber (Questrom’27)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
All my clothes have a story. This jacket is Pelle Pelle. I got it at a Salvation Army in Chicago three years ago—that’s where I’m from. This hoodie I stole from my best friend back home. I got the pants on sale from Urban Outfitters’ clearance section. It’s a running joke that I only shop at the clearance section. These shoes are from a consignment shop in Chicago—they’re Doc Martens. For jewelry, I’m wearing this ball and chain thing, and this is a deer hide string that I tied. And my spoon ring is made from a spoon. I took a class over the summer where you pick a spoon and mold it and repurpose it. My glasses are tortoiseshell aviator glasses.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Gender-fluid, French, and cheap.
Your favorite places to shop?
Secondhand stores across the country. Churchyard sales and stuff like that, and the clearance rack at Zara and Urban Outfitters.
What are your fashion influences?
My internet friends, gay people, and old people.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Whatever makes you capable or able to put your best foot forward. Some days I’ll wear an outfit very different from this—one that makes me feel academic, so I perform better when I’m studying and in class. So whatever makes the individual achieve their goals for the day.
Trinity Ezedi (CAS’27)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I bought the coat on Amazon. I wear it multiple times a week; it’s kind of just an essential staple. The sweater is from American Eagle, and so are the jeans. I just have my comfy Adidas on. I have a lot of walking to do and I like Adidas for that—these are from DSW. The earrings I bought at Marshalls and I inherited this necklace from my grandfather.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Elevated elegance.
Your favorite places to shop?
I love Zara, H&M, and Old Navy.
What are your fashion influences?
I love classic things, so Audrey Hepburn. I’m into her aesthetic. I also look on Pinterest.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
I’d say shop clearance, there’s no shame in clearance. It’s all about having essentials, like starting with the basics and building off of that. A belt can elevate, so can jewelry and sunglasses. As long as you’re dealing with basic pieces you can put them all together to achieve an elevated look.
Henry Backus (CAS’26)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
The boots I’ve had for years, I just ordered them online. I got my pants, shirt, and long-sleeve shirt all from thrift stores. I’ve had them for a couple years, but I may have bought them from Boomerangs or Goodwill.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Grandpa. Brown, because the stuff I own is brown.
Your favorite places to shop?
I really liked Boomerangs when it was open. [After closing last year, Boomerangs recently reopened its Central Square location under new management.] In my hometown I like the Goodwill bins or Garment District in Cambridge—I like their pay-by-the-pound section.
What are your fashion influences?
Seeing people with cool outfits and being like, “Oh, I want to look like that.”
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Never buy anything new, except for shoes. That’s the one exception I’d make to that rule. Any place that has pay-by-the-pound has great potential value.
Eleanor Oser (GRS’28)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
The shirt is thrifted, I found it on Depop. The sweatshirt is also thrifted. The coat is a gift from my parents. These pants are by Margiela but I found them on Depop. The socks are Vivienne Westwood but they’re from SSENSE. And the footwear is just my Doc Martens that I picked up at Buffalo Exchange.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Probably aiming for effortless and comfortable chic.
Your favorite places to shop?
I spend a lot of time on eBay, Poshmark, and Depop. I mostly go online or thrifting here, like at the Goodwill.
What are your fashion influences?
My friends, my sister, just people I see on the street.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
eBay—eBay is the way.
Lenna Merian (Questrom’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got this shirt from a boutique on Newbury Street, I don’t remember which one. I got the skirt from Zara about three years ago. My boots are by Coach, and the faux fur vest I think is from Nordstrom, or some place like that. This necklace was my grandmother’s, and the belt I took off of a dress from Zara. The headband is made from fabric I cut off of a sleep dress from T.J. Maxx.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Unique, maybe a little bit flirty, and classy.
Your favorite places to shop?
I like going to T.J. Maxx because they have a lot of different things. I also like the online site RealReal—so good. And then I just like thrifting at random places, because you find cool things that no one else has.
What are your fashion influences?
I like Audrey Hepburn and Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Anything that’s expensive you can find in a different form, but cheaper. I would say just be open to trying things on, because it can look so much better when you actually put it on. Don’t be afraid to take a risk.
Dar Saravia (CFA’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
This sweater is an OS42 [Oxbow School] custom sweater; OS42 was our class year. I did a semester in high school there in an arts program. One of the students designed the sweater and I’ve just had it ever since. My jeans are thrifted from Goodwill and I have my Nikes on. I used to work at Urban Outfitters, and this [Ed Hardy] hat was in backstock and I hid it. Then I got one of the managers that liked me to check it out for me, because they hadn’t been released yet, so we weren’t allowed to buy them. But I really wanted it, and I knew it would be sold out if I didn’t get it that day, so I managed to get it.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Eccentric, urban, and maybe digital.
Your favorite places to shop?
Any thrift store, Savers specifically. Goodwill is nice—not so much the Goodwills around here, but some Goodwills outside of Boston. Urban Outfitters is great, and Depop.
What are your fashion influences?
Definitely other people on campus, honestly. There’s a lot of people that dress really nicely, you kind of just have to pay attention sometimes. There’s this girl, her name is Internet Girl, and she was like the one years ago. Everyone was looking to her for style influences, and she used to run this successful Depop shop. I think she’s kind of fizzled out now, but she really set a lot of the trends back in 2017 and 2018 that I still evolve from now.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
I’d say, make it work. You can pull anything out of your closet, as ugly as you think it might be, and you can find a way to reuse it, upcycle it, or just fit it into an outfit that can make it shine. Any piece of clothing is wearable as long as you can style it.
Anna Albrecht (COM’27)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got my top from Depop—it’s a Brandy Melville, but I don’t like to shop directly from there, so I only buy secondhand. My skirt is from Aritzia. My shoes are New Balance.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I would say it’s simple, but also it’s whatever makes me feel confident and pretty on any given day. It’s taken me a while to figure out my fashion sense and I still think it’s evolving.
Your favorite places to shop?
I love Depop, thrift stores, and flea markets. My favorite brands are Free People for cool pieces, Madewell or J.Crew for sweaters, and Levi’s for jeans.
What are your fashion influences?
Rachel Green, my mom when she was 20, and Pinterest’s recommended outfits.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Definitely thrifting. Goodwill is a great option and has cheap stuff that’s really cool and unique. Every piece I’ve considered my favorite has been thrifted or from flea markets, or from small businesses, but those generally have higher prices.
Ada Sussman (COM’27)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
Every part of my outfit is either secondhand or a gift. My shirt is from Thrifty Threads in Coolidge Corner, my denim jacket is a hand-me-down from my mom, my pants are a hand-me-down from my friend, and my shoes were a gift from my dad. All my jewelry is either homemade, secondhand, or used to belong to my mom.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
I like earthy colors, textured fabrics, and lots of layers.
Your favorite places to shop?
I would say 95 percent of my closet is secondhand. I get almost all my clothes from thrift stores and vintage stores. I always find my favorite and most repeatable pieces at Goodwill or Savers. I’m also lucky enough to have a twin sister with a great sense of style who I’ve been sharing clothes with my entire life, so lots of my closet staples come from her and my mom.
What are your fashion influences?
I love getting ideas from Pinterest and old movies. But mostly, I look to my friends!
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Don’t be afraid to reuse, rewear, and share. You’re never going to build a well-priced wardrobe you love if you rely exclusively on brand-new retail shopping, so make the most of flea markets, clothing swaps, and sharing with your friends.
Sofia Farfan (COM’26)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got my overalls and top from H&M and my boots from Forever 21.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Colorful, wacky, and fun.
Your favorite places to shop?
I adore thrifting.
What are your fashion influences?
I really get a lot of influence from my friends, but also Instagram influencers. My go-to is @victoriawestofficialx on Instagram.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Go to flea markets! You will find such cute stuff there for such a great price.
Michela Shunney (COM’26)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got my scarf from a thrift store in Burlington, Vt., called ReSOURCE, my jeans from a Savers in Rhode Island, and my shirt from my aunt. My bag, which is fraying a bit—but I am still obsessed with—is from Depop.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Sustainable, accessories, colorful.
Your favorite places to shop?
I love thrifting. My go-to is Savers in West Roxbury.
What are your fashion influences?
I love Instagram influencers. My favorite is @komal_nambiar—she has a great fashion sense, and she’s hilarious.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Go to estate sales. You can find such cool and timeless pieces there for so cheap.
Julien Mondjii Adlerberg (CFA’27)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I got the jacket from Macy’s and the scarf as a gift for Christmas, so I don’t actually know where it’s from. I bought the shirt at Goodwill—I think it’s originally from H&M. The pants and boots are from Goodwill, as well.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
It changes every day—it’s a chameleon type of thing. Sometimes it’s more masculine, sometimes it’s more feminine.
Your favorite places to shop?
I like to shop at Buffalo Exchange, and I like to shop at Goodwill. Those are my two main places right now, but I shop wherever I can find good clothes.
What are your fashion influences?
Going on TikTok and seeing things that inspire me. And I inspire myself.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
If a person feels good in what they’re wearing, that’s all that matters, it doesn’t matter what other people think. And I’d add that Depop is good for budget-friendly clothes.
Ava Benzan (CAS’25)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
I bought this shirt at Goodwill. I got this skirt from Depop for a Halloween costume, because I was Gregor Samsa, the cockroach. The tights—I don’t know, maybe CVS. The chain on the skirt came from a girl in Pahrump, Nev., in Death Valley. You open up [the locket on the chain] and there are photos of two random children. I actually just discovered this today. I got these boots from Savers and I purchased my little heely attachments from a mother on Facebook Marketplace.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Strange, fun, eclectic.
Your favorite places to shop?
Savers in West Roxbury—that’s where it’s at—and Goodwill. I don’t really shop that much in Boston; I feel like I go on Depop a lot.
What are your fashion influences?
I like the 2010s Disney stars, they’re so funny to me. I’m like, you know what, layer those insane things. Any TV show from the early 2000s I think is great.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
If you’re thrifting, there’s a lot of weird, ugly stuff out there, but there’s always ways to mess around with it until it fits.
Priyal Patel (COM’27)
Tell us about your outfit. Where did you get each piece?
My jeans are from ASOS, but I got my shirt from my aunt. Most of my jewelry, and my belt, is from my mom, which are hand-me-downs. My necklace and bracelets are from India.
How would you describe your fashion sense in a few words?
Whatever makes me feel most confident and comfortable. Jewelry-wise, I love to wear gold or Indian jewelry, because I enjoy representing that part of myself.
Your favorite places to shop?
My mom’s closet. Boston has a lot of great thrift stores, so I try to check out whatever I can.
What are your fashion influences?
My mom when she was younger, because I steal a lot of her clothes now. Also, Pinterest and videos of people’s thrift finds. When it comes to jewelry I definitely look to Pinterest.
Your advice for students who want to look good on a budget?
Thrift whatever you can, and really invest in pieces that you feel like you will rewear often and that will last a long time—those are the kind of things you want to drop money on, because they will last the longest.
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