As temperatures drop and the first real fall winds whip down East 25th, Baruch students are switching shorts for sweaters and Birkenstocks for UGGs. Outfits seen in hallways shifted what felt like overnight, with autumn tones and layers upon layers. But beyond simply dressing for warmth, many students see fall as a season to experiment, express themselves, and redefine their fashion.`

Across several interviews with Baruch students, one idea resonated: regardless of the trends that pass in waves, students should stay true to themselves.

One student who feels the ups and downs of trends is Junior Nora Lundqvist. For her, fall means cute long sleeves, jeans and swapping her bedazzled summer shorts for more practical clothing. She gravitates toward what she sees on Tik Tok, Pinterest and what her friends are wearing, describing her style as fashion that “blends in but still feels like [her].” 

When asked if she follows fall trends or feels pressure to fit in, Lundqvist admits that she wears what she sees around school like “UGGs and North Face jackets,” though she wears what she “feels good in.” Regardless of what teens are wearing around her, she maintains her signature pieces: her Miss Me jeans and her Tiffany & Co. necklace that she clips on every morning. 

While Lundqvist focuses on “cute stuff” and familiarity, Senior Katie Vartumian approaches fall fashion with a more vintage, experimental attitude. Though she admitted that she misses the ease of summer clothing, she embraces the chance to pull out coats inspired by “the 60s with fur-trimmed details.” Even when she is wearing sweatpants, she insists that style doesn’t have to disappear with comfort: “you gotta know how to elevate it,” Vartumian said.

Unlike the others, Vartumian’s inspiration comes not from TikTok or her peers, but from models like Kate Moss, fashion designers like Victoria Beckham or looks she sees on runways. 

Vartumian’s vintage touch contrasts with Senior Veronica Rossi, who takes a simpler, more comfort-based approach to fall fashion. She describes autumn as the season of layers and “big slippers” – UGGs – which she wears almost every day. She sticks to thrifted basics that stand out to her, and occasionally slips leggings under her jeans when it becomes too chilly. 

When asked if she considers herself fashionable, Rossi said, “I’d say so, yeah. I definitely have a personal style.” She also observes that Baruch students seem to be leaning more towards neutral tones like browns, blacks and greys this fall, while also prioritizing comfort and warmth.

The theme of keeping your fashion true to yourself becomes stronger when speaking with Junior Taniyah Jackson, who recently transferred from the High School of Fashion Industries. Fall is her favorite season because it allows her to experiment with silhouettes, sweaters, boots, skirts and what she calls “the art of layering.” Her style is shaped by the music she listens to in the morning, movies she loves and characters she admires, as well as the fall scenery in New York City. 

When asked if she is confident in what she wears, Jackson quickly replied: “Oh, yeah, absolutely. I feel like what I wear plays a big part of my confidence and now I present myself to the world.” She also noted that instead of revamping her closet every season, she “remodels clothes she already has for “where [she is] with [her] personal style.” When she does shop, though, she goes to vintage stores and picks out pieces that feel true to her.

As Baruch students shared their fashion routines and inspirations, the role of personal confidence became more and more apparent. This was especially true for s

enior Etienne Booth, who considers himself “well-dressed”, rather than fashionable. For him, many outfits begin from the ground up – literally. “My shoes are always the best part,” he said, explaining that he enjoys building outfits around his collection of shoes. 

Fall made him shift from linen pants and shorts to sweaters and layered pieces, many of which come from thrifting, shopping on Depop, or inspiration from his older brother. Booth said he feels no pressure to keep up with trends, but he notices the same school-wide patterns other students mentioned:  North Face jackets, jeans, and simple comfortable pieces. 

His advice is simple: “It’s important to know what colors you look good in and what type of clothes, like, you know, baggy, skinny, etc. You don’t have to follow trends.”

Across all conversations, one message ties everything together: Fall fashion at Baruch is less about trends and more about how students want to be comfortable and express themselves as the leaves fall. The students who experiment with outfits and consider themselves to be fashionable often say that confidence is half the look.

Jackson put it best: “People are kind of scared to dress more boldly because they think they’ll get judged. But clothing is how we should express ourselves. There’s nothing wrong staying true to your own fashion sense – who cares? Clothing is just great.”