By Ryanne Czarina Villegas
Walking around Silliman University at any hour of the day is like flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine. Each student has a unique style—each fit a personal fashion statement.
For some, fashion can be about getting dressed and being presentable for class, or just throwing on anything that isn’t their pajamas. While others approach it as a form of self-expression, a reflection of their personal taste, or a subtle act of rebellion to express their own truth.
As a university with a rich history and a mix of cultures, fashion can be seen in so many forms. One thing is certain, though, fashion at Silliman is as diverse and dynamic as its student body.
On one end, we can see students who lean toward the more common everyday fashion: the casual and street style aesthetic. Comfy tops, graphic tees, denim jeans, cargo pants, hoodies, sneakers, tote bags, and body bags.
A subunit of casual fashion is also the clean girl aesthetic. This is the style that is one of the most popular among girls of this generation: the minimalist fashion. Fitted plain tops, denim jeans, wide-legged pants, shoulder bags, buns, and ponytails. These two aesthetics are the type of outfit that dominates campus life, seen especially in “IDGAF” students or unbothered queens, and those who juggle academics, org meetings, daily commutes, and among other things.
Another very popular style is the preppy and chic aesthetic. This style is for all the students who love to dress in sophisticated, Gossip Girl-inspired fits. Polo shirts and blouses, Mary Janes and loafers, miniskirts, bows, blazers, flowy trousers, and tweeds. These are the students who grace the campus with their head held high and their posture unbending. This look says smart, polished, and put-together. This style is often favored by students who like a more tidy look.
And then there are the students who have a very specific sense of style that they rock every second of everyday. Some of which are the students who dress in bohemian, goth, indie, or a way that is inspired by pop culture, social media movements, or even K-pop idols and fashion influencers. They will wear streetwear confidently going to class, neutral-colored fits, thrifted vintage items, or Y2K-style outfits. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have also become de facto lookbooks, sharing concepts on layering, accessorizing, or thrifting on a budget. These are the students who excel in the creative field.
There are also students who dress in a reserved way. Long skirts, modest blouses, and simple hairstyles. Many of the students who adopt this style do so as a reflection of their cultural values and upbringing. Their fashion choices are deeply personal and are guided by their roots, rather than trend—a way to express their culture and tradition. This style speaks of understated beauty and simplicity, with quiet grace and discipline.
And lastly, there are the students that dress in a specific way catered to their college programs. Most common among the students are those in the medical field with their clean and pristine white uniforms, and business majors with their day-to-day business-formal outfits. Along these are also student-athletes who love to integrate their jerseys and joggers into their everyday style. These students are ultimately part of a whole community of people who have a strict dress code, and somehow still find a way to style their outfits to still fit their personalities. This style screams: “I am disciplined, active, and responsible.”
Nowadays, fashion also becomes a way of determining which clique you belong to. Art majors are apt to wear artsy, experiment-with-the-latest-stuff attire, whereas athletes sport casual athleisure. You can tell who’s been at the gym, who has an early 7 a.m. class, or who just did a thesis defense—all from what they’re wearing.
In the end, there is no single Sillimanian look. That’s what makes it so beautiful and interesting. From vintage thrifted gems to streetwear statements to oversized comfort to quiet cultural pride, the fashion on campus is as diverse and layered as the students who wear it.
“Campus couture” isn’t merely about luxury–it’s about the perfect blend of comfort, expression, personality, and everything in between. At Silliman, style isn’t just aesthetics, it’s storytelling.
So what about you, which aesthetic of campus couture do you call your own?
