As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, students at Poly are exchanging their summer ensembles for warmer wear. To get a sense of the fashion trends this fall, I spoke with a few students and teachers about their favorite pieces, style inspirations and what they think defines cold-weather wear on our SoCal campus.
When it comes to dressing for the gloomy, colder months, comfort is key. Freshman Holden Joanou prioritizes staying warm. He said, “When it’s cold, I normally like to wear sweaters or hoodies and jeans, sometimes sweatpants.”
At Poly, many boys lean toward a practical, laid-back cold-weather style. “Most boys wear hoodies and sweatpants when it’s cold out,” Joanou shared.
Girls, though, also like to keep it simple, opting for clothing that is easy to layer and mix. . Freshman Angie Hollemen said, “I like sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, anything that will keep me warm throughout the day, especially if it’s cold.” Her classmate, freshman Esme Gardiner, agreed: “I’m big on long sleeves and fuzzy socks. Fuzzy socks are any season, but that’s a big one of mine.”
Teachers also prioritize warmth when dressing for colder climes. Upper School History Teacher Samuel Anderson said, “I like when it gets cooler so I can wear my cardigans. The one I wear every time is my brown one.”
When asked about the overall clothing vibe for this season, Gardiner responded, “Definitely very fall girl-coded, like what Blair Waldorf wears. This season gives chai or coffee-in-hand vibes.” The “Gossip Girl” character’s aesthetic blends chic and coziness together. It’s both modern yet classic, merging the staple winter pieces like sweaters and boots with today’s trends of flared jeans and comfy hoodies at Poly.
For many students, fashion inspiration comes from different corners of life. “I definitely get my inspiration from my friends and my family or siblings,” Hollemen commented. Junior Malia Mohandesi, however, turns to social media. She shared, “I often scroll on Pinterest a lot and find myself getting inspiration from the outfits on the app.”
Meanwhile, junior Dora Chen takes a different approach, answering, “My own imagination, which is probably why it’s so unique and different from Malia’s.” Chen’s style consists of whatever she can find in her closet, whether that’s a pair of sweats or a comfy sweater, while Mohandesi’s style is more thought out, composed of stylish boots and fashionable belts.
On campus, there’s no right way to dress; it’s all about personal taste. “I’m going for a boots, shorts and shirt kind of vibe,” said Mohandesi. “Right now, my favorite outfit is a gray sweater with a big belt on my tiny shorts and big boots.”
Chen keeps things a bit easier. “Personally, I wear jeans and a short-sleeve top every day to school, maybe some long sleeves or a sweater when it’s cold.”
Joanou mentioned a few of his favorite cold-weather brands, saying he likes Woolenmaker for sweatpants and Cold Culture for hoodies. He shared, “I also like BDG for jeans due to its soft and warm denim.”
Finding the perfect outfit, however, doesn’t have to mean going to the mall or spending large amounts of money on brands. Mohandesi loves the creativity that comes with secondhand fashion. She shared, “I go thrifting a lot, so a lot of my clothes are secondhand, actually. I look for any patterns or textures that interest me, and vintage type things.” Thrifting not only adds a unique touch to every outfit but can also introduce you to new types of fashion that you may fall in love with! Fall and winter fashion wouldn’t be complete without the right color palette. Mohandesi said, “I’m feeling a maroon vibe, and like a navy dark blue.” Chen agreed, adding, “I think red, orange and yellow, because these are the colors of fall and winter.” Warm tones evoke the cozy feeling that the season captures, a sentiment shared by fans Hollemen, Gardiner, and Anderson as well.
Whether inspired by Pinterest boards, thrift store finds or personal creativity, Poly students and teachers are making fall and winter fashion their own. From fuzzy socks to belts and boots, their styles capture both individuality and the comfy spirit of the season. So grab your favorite pieces and embrace the cold weather. Poly’s patios are already looking like a runway!