SPOTTED: Sprinkle of Urban

by Caroline on February 4, 2009

Senior Brandon from New York University wearing American Apparel, Monk, Urban Outfitters, Gap, H&M, Banana Republic, and L.L. Bean. College Street Fashion and Style

Brandon spotted on Washington Square East:

Hat: American Apparel, $20
Sunglasses: Monk, $30
Scarf: a vendor on St. Marks, $10
Black tie: Urban Outfitters, $30
Shirt: Gap, $50
Coat: H&M, $100
Similar: Urban Outfitters, $100
Vest: Urban Outfitters, $54
Jeans: Banana Republic, $79
Boots: L. L. Bean, $150
Describing his style: Preppy hipster with a sprinkle of urban (Love “sprinkle”)
Fave brand: Polo
Fave stores: Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Monk (vintage store MacDougal & Waverly Pl)
Where are you from? Queens
Where are you on your way to? Voice class at Kimmel
School, Year, Major: Tisch, Senior, Drama

Brandon’s look perfectly captures the essence of functionality and style. On a bitter cold day (*shiver* like yesterday) I know all I want to do is wrap myself up in layers of long johns, leggings, scarves, ear muffs, sweats, sweaters, down coats, 5 layers of socks…..

But, unlike me, Brandon uses the cold slushy weather to his advantage. Armed in his sturdy, high-top L. L. Bean boots, (I must say, I didn’t even know L. L. Bean had good looking shoes…the last I remembered they all looked a bit too functional) a structured coat, scarf, and hat, he is fearless and fashionable in the snow. Yes. He is equipped to be one of those people that gallops through puddles without a care while the rest of us less-armed have to tread carefully in our soggy sneaks.

For me, what really changes the look up and moves it away from being completely preppy is the the rolled-up jeans and high-top boots. Again: functional in its ability to prevent wet-pant-bottoms yet funky and eye-catching at the same time. Genius!

Preppy hipster with a sprinkle of urban indeed.

[Editor's note: We recognize the controversy regarding the Palestinian kuffiyeh scarf (read more about it here). Neither Street-Spotted nor Brandon are voicing any kind of political opinion regarding the Middle Eastern conflict. We are simply viewing it as a popular culture symbol of the hip-hop fashion movement that has moved to NY.]

Photo by Dean Stattman