Times like these, out of my element and away from Bethesda or Nashville, make me feel quite out of my element. I’ve been indoctrinated into the casual East Coast preppy lifestyle, and college mixed that with a slight Tennessee twang. Neither of these looks line up with Bloomington’s style. Where do these hipsters shop? To be honest, I have absolutely no clue.
I don’t necessarily want to blend in, but it would be great to not stick out like a sore thumb in my Jack Rogers and J. Crew. So today I trekked downtown to Urban Outfitters, purveyor of all clothing fit for posers and true hipsters alike.
The brand Silence & Noise has many items that can pass as trendy whether you’re on the East Coast, in the South, or in the Midwest. Their Ruffle Camisole in particular comes in eight colors and can be worn with jeans and jacket, or tucked into the BDG Full Knit Skirt.
Another look, more appropriate for summer jobs or internships, is based on the same basic building blocks of tucking a top into a skirt. The Cooperative Floral Skirt has a versatile pattern that can work in the summer with bare legs and flat sandals, and then tights and brown leather boots in the winter. A blousy top, such as the BDG Breezy Button Down Shirt, balances the shortness of the skirt.
So how are button down shirts, ruffled camisoles, and short skirts more Bloomington and less DC/Nashville? Good question. I’ll have to take the new ensembles for a test-run and report back. But never fear, a leopard never changes its spots: you won’t find me sporting dreadlocks, sitting outside of a dingy coffee bar, taking espresso shots and brooding over a composition book. That would be far too alternative for this DC native.
