RORY

Rory; MPA (Masters Public Administrative) Programme

Hailing from East London’s burgeoning art scene that is Hackney Wick, Rory cites Bryan Ferry - of 70’s Roxy Music fame - as the ultimate style icon that he model’s himself upon. For those of you who find Bryan Ferry unheard of, Rory kindly lends words to our imagination, “Think Glitter. Think Blazers. Think Glitter Blazers!” With such a potent fashion muse - it is no wonder that Rory has managed to set himself apart from the dull sea of banker’s beiges at LSE’s campus – by kitting himself out in a red lumber-jacket that subtly screams of LSE patriotism. Casually kicking his heels with masculine cowboy boots, Rory is the prime example that boots are not just designated for those on the set of Brokeback Mountain. In fact, I am positive that city-slickers will soon catch on to man-boots, lest they get left behind by their horse-riding counterparts. So where exactly does one acquire such astute fashion taste? “I recommend ‘The Secret Sample Sale’ at the Truman Brewery – it is the only place in the world where you can snap up a Burberry jacket for a tenner.”  Upon being prompted about his views on LSE’s fashion, Rory suggests himself being christened as ‘The Fashion Interventionist’ – a role in which he would wave a fashion wand over his International Development lecturers to transform their ‘overly beige attire’ to ‘more colourful numbers.’ In particular, Lloyd Grubert would his first choice up for the fashion chop. Don’t say you weren’t warned…

SAM

Sam, first year philosophy student from East London

For Sam, fashion is first and foremost a form of self-expression. Taking catwalk concepts and translating them into his own identity, he likes to follow trends but tries wearing them in a way that suits him. But where most people simply stock up on high street, Sam has a very distinct taste when it comes to which designers and fashions he tries to embed in his own personal style. He mentions All Saints and Vivienne Westwood in one breath, adding that he does not continually go for one single type of outfit: “One day i can be indie, and the next you'll see me in harem trousers!” In London, the main trend as Sam describes it is a combination of “old and new”; with London being a Valhalla of vintage shops he thinks Londoners have a knack for bringing back styles from a different era and making them modern. Sam himself is also a fond vintage shopper, though from time to time he does love to indulge in high-quality clothes. Looking to magazines such as GQ Style, Love and 10 for inspiration, he tries to have as much fun as he can in putting outfits together. Jokingly he admits: “I bought a special outfit for LSE! I was going for a little geek chic... Going to university means so many new styles to try out!”

KATE

Kate, 2^nd year, Crimonology & Social Policy

Coco Chanel once uttered the immortal words, “Fashion is everywhere… Fashion is in the sky, Fashion is in the street…” Well certainly true - if Kate’s modish style is anything to go by – Fashion was quite specifically found in LSE’s very own unsuspecting Clement’s Inn street! This is precisely where I scouted Kate and her magnificent Camel Cape this week – a garment whose sheer volume and brilliance justifies its own Capitalised Status. Now, I understand that the mere mention of the word ‘cape’ often conjures images of Superman and Batman in one’s childlike nostalgic mind – but do not fear; I assure you that The Camel Cape is a staple must-have for any serious fashionista this winter! Take advice from Kate, or rather - “Trendy-Wendy” as her boyfriend likes to refer to her as - and team your cape with skinny jeans to balance out the upper volume and add high heels for that touch of elegance. Her outfit ensemble is a mixture of high-street affordable fashion from the likes of Topshop, New Look and American Apparel with a high-end Vivienne Westwood bag.  However, Kate also champions student’s favourite ‘Primark’ – a budget high street store that is almost as famous for its chaotic shop floors as it is for its cheapness. Kate’s final say on the fickle world of fashion (and who knows – a quote that may rival that of Coco Chanel’s one day?!) is “Bring back the LSE backpack!”

EMIR

Emir: a first-year Politics and Philosophy student from Richmond, North Yorkshire

Emir: a first-year Politics and Philosophy student from Richmond, North Yorkshire. Emir has a penchant for individualistic threads when it comes to shopping in charity shops: “These days London folk dress in fashion for fashion’s sake, but I prefer to dress for identity.” A keen bargain hunter in charity shops in the Northern regions, Emir definitely gets our double ethical fashion thumbs-up. Many fashionistas these days are too quick to disregard charity shops as a credible hunting ground, but quite often it is possible to find little vintage gems at a fraction of their original price. Emir adds to this that it is great to be able to dress in quirky items whilst being able to contribute to a good cause. Contrary to popular belief, shopping in charity shops is not as tedious as one may think – in fact, Emir insists that “I don’t find the clothes; the clothes seem to find me!” On London street style, Emir thinks that the London fashion scene is improving: “People’s styles are not defined by their subcultures anymore, there appears to be a more dynamic interaction between styles such that subcultures have become a thing of the past.” If you are intrigued by Emir’s distinctive style, be sure to tune in to his Jamaican Reggae radio show on Pulse Radio, Wednesday 4-5pm.

ERICA

Erica,  a master student originally from New York, studying Media, Communication and Development

Erica,  a master student originally from New York, studying Media, Communication and Development describes her style as a mix between classically “american” and eccentric. Combining pieces from J. Crew with items she picks up in a thrift store, she aims for a style full of opposites: “It's fun to be unexpected!”. Today her outfit is perfectly in sync with this objective: a girly skirt combined with a masculine jacket, shoes and briefcase create a truly remarkable look!

Inspiration can come from many sources, but for Erica living in New York has sparked her creativity more than anything else. She gets ideas from people on the street, especially across the river. “Brooklyn is more edgy than the rest of New York, which can be quite conservative”, she states. Applauding Londoners for their provocative style, she admits to a serious “shoe envy” when walking down the street here. According to Erica, upon comparing fashion in both cities, London fashionistas put a strong emphasis on what they put on their feet, and create the outfit around their footwear, whereas in New York people think more in terms of outfits.

On the subject of “ethical fashion” Erica says she does not specifically select her clothing on its ethical value, although she does think it is important to take care of her clothes so as not to waste the effort put into producing it. Moreover, her love for thrift store shopping is not merely based on the possibility of finding original items: “While I don't seek out hemp clothing or actively eschew leather materials and fur, I think an important element of eco-friendliness is reusing and recycling. Visiting my local thrift store (or my mom's closet!!) for amazing finds cuts down on shipping and helps to neutralize the environmental impact of transporting a sweater from some factory across the world.”

Welcome to LSE Lookbook!

MAAIKE&YAN of www.lselookbook.blogspot.com scours the streets for the prestigious title of LSE's best dressed each week! So doll up girls and suit up guys we are on the style prowl... one thing that LSELookBook does not do is discriminate - so whether you regard yourself as the GaGa of Houghton St; or the Gok Wan of Clement house - we will happily invite you to divulge in fashion tales from the soul for the good folk at LSE! Please check out our blog for those who have made it into LSE's hall of fashion fame