Photo courtesy of Maya Yngve
By Maya Yngve
TAMPA, Fla. – Hot autumn temperatures at the University of Tampa can deter students from dressing their best for class; as temperatures start to drop, many undergrads continue to sport their eccentric styles, from monochromatic outfits to unique accessories. These stylistic choices raise two questions: what are the “effortlessly cool kids” wearing on campus, and what influences them?
What appears to be the most common is matching workout sets. A simple colorful sports bra and leggings or athletic shorts make getting dressed in the morning easy and stress-free. Brands like Set Active, Lululemon, DB Sport, Aritzia, Vuori, and Amazon are seen across campus. Paired with a plain black or white tank top, these outfits are versatile for going to class or going for a “hot girl walk,” a Gen Z term for an outdoor wellness walk that helps people stay active and prioritize self-care, or walks on Bayshore Boulevard.
Makenzie Tyrrell, a student from Chicago, loves to wear matching workout sets to class. Her red set paired with the trendy white wrap top and chunky sneakers is the perfect outfit for the hot Florida heat. Her reason for dressing her best every day comes down to motivation.
“If I am dressed poorly, I don’t have as much motivation. Since I am pre-nursing, I
need motivation every day,” said Tyrell.
Monochromatic outfits also take the lead in popularity. A solid color top paired with matching colored bottoms makes loungewear look sophisticated.
Brandy Melville is the most popular brand by far, carrying the viral “Priscilla Pants” since 2023. These pants feature a low-rise fold-over waistband with a wide leg oversized fit, making them both form fitting and baggy.
Capri pants are back in style, just like every other 2000s fashion trend that manages to resurface every couple of decades. Brandy Melville has cleverly adapted to the fast fashion trends, recently releasing their classic “Priscilla Pants” in capri styles.
Brandy is the best brand to shop to find trendy and 100% cotton pieces for an affordable price.
Many students around campus are joining the mockneck trend, a high collar shirt that comes around the neck without folding over like a turtleneck. with a high collar neck. This look fits perfectly into the “clean-girl aesthetic,” a fashion style centered around simple, well-fitting pieces. Mockneck sweatshirts, especially from PARKE, have a chokehold on students at UTampa.
Other students are getting creative with traditional classwear, looking beyond the same pair of sweats and worn sneakers.
Senior Vivian Boucher from Watertown, Connecticut, went to class rocking straight-leg jeans, a plain white tank layered under a loose purple blouse, sunnies, and flip-flops. Boucher dresses every day with the goal of being “casual chic,” typically wearing her favorite brand, Free People.
As the sun goes down, outfits get even cooler. Freshman Eva Angel and Naomi Chizik elevate their nighttime outfits with big jewelry, mini shorts, and loose crop tops. Their most stunning feature is their curly hair.
Students also represent their Greek Life organizations and campus sports teams. Roughly 20% of the undergraduate student body participates in Greek Life, and there are nearly 700 student-athletes on D2 varsity sports teams. Students like to showcase their involvement on campus, wearing graphic T-shirts plastered with the University of Tampa logo or tops with their Greek letters. Some athletes even have custom backpacks with their jersey number embroidered into the fabric.
Sophomore Kaiya Budwick is an athlete on the track and field team, originally from Tampa, Florida. She paired a lime green mockneck t-shirt with baggy dark wash jeans, Adidas, and her Goyard bag. Kaiya gets her style inspiration from her mom, Marcy Budwick, who is a fashion designer and owner of KD Boutique in Tampa.
As for accessories, some items stand out the most. The most common bags are Longchamp Le Pliage Tote Bags and Goyard Large Shoulder Tote Bags.
In the afternoon, students rock sunglasses of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
One thing UTampa students take seriously is their jewelry. Gold seems to be the most popular metal, although some students wear silver. Girls wear stacks of enewton, David Yurman, Hermes, and Tiffany & Co. bracelets, paired with chunky hoops or dainty pearls.
Due to the humidity, I rarely see girls with their hair down. Many wear slicked-back buns or their hair thrown up in a ponytail. Undergraduates are following the Chelsea Parke clip trend, sectioning their hair into a volumized half-up-half-down style. Claw clips are the most essential accessory carried by students.
What connects all 11,500 students at the University of Tampa is music. Everyone uses headphones, like AirPods, Beats, and wired earbuds (the most chic way to listen to music these days).
While UTampa students aren’t typically trendsetters and most are primarily influenced by trends they see online, some bring their personal style from home to college. It is simply a balance between individual identity and shared campus culture.
What it really comes down to is dressing confidently and wearing what you feel your best in. Student Mateus Bailey from Toronto, Canada, stresses the importance of dressing confidently.
“If you look good, you feel good, so I try to put on a decent outfit every day.”
College fashion is less about following trends and more about wearing what makes you feel confident, comfortable and unapologetically yourself.