Statement pieces

There is nothing remotely average about sophomore Bentrice Jusu’s personal style. Flaunting an easy light-wash denim button down and versatile black skinny jeans (both coveted staple items in my own transitional summer-to-fall wardrobe), I was determined to introduce myself to and get to know this walking textbook definition of nonchalant urban chic. What first caught my eye about Bentrice’s entire getup were her utterly awesome boots, a hybrid of the hiking boot, combat boot and high-top flat oxford—an undeniable necessity for fall. Where the majority of Wake girls tend to constantly over-utilize their beloved chestnut UGG Classic Short/Tall’s, Bentrice instead opted for personality-packed lace-up boots that scream distinction and command attention. Her worn camel-toned leather boots take a new spin on the traditional black leather combat boot popularized recently by Megan Fox in the “Love the Way You Lie” music video which I recently wrote about.

My reverence for the rest of the outfit worked from the ground up. One of the first blog posts I ever wrote was about my favorite black denim J Brand skinny jeans. With the form-fitting cigarette leg and inconscpicuous yellow/orange stitching, my favorite dark skinny jeans are a familiar wardrobe staple for the most esoteric of fashionistas. Like Bentrice, I also love the stylistic effect that comes from tucking jeans into the chunkiest of boots—if you’ve seen me on campus at all, you’ll know that I really could not survive a day without my trusty Sam Edelman cowboy boots. 

On top, a denim button-up is one of the simplest outfit enhancers that exists today. Matching it with a pair of rain-wash leggings or even sporting it unbuttoned over a monochromatic silky floral babydoll dress like I suggested here (or even a pair of dark-wash denim skinny jeans—don’t let the jeans-on-jeans aspect deter you) instantly challenges an outfit to go one step further. Instead of opting for the typical cuffed-sleeve, pastel-pink-and-white-striped PRL oxford to wear with a pair of bootcut 7FAM’s and black patent Reva flats (perhaps the safest of safe Wake uniforms), I commend Bentrice for making a statement with her ultimately cohesive outfit appearing as if it were just thrown together without a thought more—which is probably my favorite statement made of all.

Cross-posted HERE.

Here's to you, fashion. Cheers.