Excuse me for sounding like your Gen Ed Anthropology class, but globalization is all around us.
The fashion savvy across the world are now able to find inspiration in one centralized place, resulting in a convergence of trends. This phenomenon can be observed on campus, as students diverse cultures bring their own personal styles into the fold.
Dana Al Ghusain, a sophomore studying Public Communication, grew up in Kuwait before coming to AU.
As an international student, she notes the differences in fashion between the two countries.
“Dressing back home is a lot more conservative,” Al Ghusain said. “At the same time, I feel like people dress up more at home than they do here. They are just as fashion forward.”
Al Ghusain first began taking fashion risks in high school, although her options were more limited in Kuwait.
“In high school, I had a uniform,” Al Ghusain said. “It was a really strict dress code, but I felt like I could push the envelope. I was the first one in my school to wear Wayfarers. I could wear whatever shoes and accessories I wanted.”
While Al Ghusain has greater freedom to experiment in what she wears here, she misses the warm weather Kuwait had to offer. To combat the D.C. cold, she turns to a few staples in her closet.
“I wear winter leggings and big chunky sweaters because they look good and they’re comfortable but can still keep you warm,” Al Ghusain said. “I also wear tons of layers. I always make sure I’m comfortable in the cold.”
Al Ghusain pairs these staples with stand-out pieces to create her own “comfy chic” look for the winter season.
Currently, she loves the fur vest trend.
“I feel like the fur vest dresses up an outfit,” Al Ghusain said. “You can wear something casual, but when you wear it with the vest I feel like it elevates the look.”
Al Ghusain also likes the vintage-inspired trends for fall including high-waisted pants and retro sunglasses.
“My mom will always say ‘Why are you buying all of these things? I used to have these when I was your age!’” Al Ghusain said. “I like that we’re drawing influences from the past into today’s trends.”
Whether at home or abroad, one thing remains consistent in Al Ghusain’s wardrobe: her shoe obsession. She stays up to date on some of her favorite shoe trends for fall.
“I’m really excited to wear oxfords and lots of leopard print,” Al Ghusain said. “I like combat boots and ankle boots, too.”
And, like most shoe fanatics, Al Ghusain has a particular weakness for anything with a heel.
“I dream of owning my first pair of Christian Louboutins,” Al Ghusain said. “Even though I don’t wear heels often because I’m more casual, they’re just so nice to look at.”
Though Al Ghusain regularly reads fashion sources like Teen Vogue and Glamour, she mainly looks to her community and environment for inspiration.
“A lot of trends I get from what other people are wearing,” Al Ghusain said. “I get really inspired by the people I see around me.”
