Fashion on Fifth: Fashion of the Free Press

This week on Fashion on Fifth, I’m reviewing enough looks to last you the summer. Or, if you’re me, one day’s worth of outfit changes. The students featured this week are all members of the beloved New School Free Press team. They put up with my weekly fashion tangents and run around the city chasing breaking news, all while holding the entire publication together.

Char Shelton she/her

@char.shelton, fourth-year Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts liberal arts student

Char, our Arts and Culture editor, and also my editor, looks like the bitchy too-busy-for-you girl that she is, with her oversized sunglasses and YSL tote. Inspired by the book “Take Ivy,” about Ivy League style in the 1950s and 60s on the cusp of the hippie revolution, Char wears a blue and white striped button down under her favorite camel hair sweater. Loafers are the perfect preppy pairing with her striped track pants, because even though it’s finals week, she refuses to “dress like a slob” by wearing sweatpants.

Hmac she/her

@hmacsauz, third-year Parsons School of Design illustration student

Hmac, our illustrator, dresses how she draws. A walking color wheel, a box of crayons, an amalgamation of primary colors, all topped off with her everyday cigarette butt earrings. The Crocs boots might be my favorite part of the look, matching the red and green puffer vest contrasting a bright yellow t-shirt. Surprisingly, these aren’t the only pair of red and white striped overalls in the column today, but luckily it isn’t a “Who Wore It Best?” situation because they’re styled so differently. You’ll recognize Hmac’s wacky illustrations as my signature Fashion on Fifth banner and in our beloved Sunday comic series.

Kelly Woodyard she/her

@peibutalsokelly, second-year Lang journalism and design student

Kelly, a fellow arts and culture reporter, always distracts me during class with her gorgeous silver jewelry. Today her earrings are stacked to perfection and on her choker hangs a portrait of a border collie surrounded by an ornate silver frame. Other than her jewelry, Kelly loves a long skirt and tank top with a cardigan combo. She likes to use a peek of skin as a division between her bottoms and tops. Since Kelly doesn’t like long shirts, she finds it necessary to have “a cropped aspect to the situation.”

Riley Owens she/her

@rileyy_o, third-year Lang journalism and design student

I have very few rules for Fashion on Fifth but one of them is no sweatshirts or sweatpants. Riley is my exception because she and the badger on her sweatshirt are both wearing dazzling red and white striped overalls. But while mister badger wears what look like Clarks moccasins, Riley outshines him in the red, white, and blue Pumas. She doesn’t conform to outfit trends, and she carries her style over to the New School Free Press Instagram as one of the social media editors. Riley and the rest of the social team work their hardest to maintain the formality of a newspaper while making it *art school.*

Rthvika Suvarna she/her

@rthvika, third-year Lang journalism and design student

As a news editor, Rthvika always has her finger on the pulse and looks chic doing it. She isn’t a colorful person, never has been. I think her typical all-black look is why I always think she always looks put together and ready to chase a story down Fifth Avenue. Today she wears a flowy dress with boots: her two staples. Rthvika is heavily influenced by her mother’s closet which consists of patterned skirts and kurtas, long, loose, collarless tunics from India. Combined with jewelry that she’s collected throughout her lifetime in Singapore and India, Rthvika balances multiple cultural influences flawlessly.

Jo Gutierrez she/her

@majodeteee, third-year Lang journalism and design student

The mighty Jo, our editor-in-chief. Though small in size, her sweet smile and strong voice wrangles a room of rowdy reporters to follow her expert guidance. The weather is an influential factor in getting dressed every morning, and when it’s warm she loves to wear funky pants and floral dresses. Growing up in Mexico, Jo loves ornate and artisanal clothing full of embroidery that’s reminiscent of her heritage.

Libby Markham she/her

@libmarkham, third-year Lang journalism and design student

Copy chief and Love Lucy writer Libby is an advocate for outfit repeating. After the Met Gala on Monday where guests wore more vintage and archive pieces than ever before, I want to quote fashion guru Rachel Tashjian and say that “I’m going to start referring to times when I wear my clothes more than once as ‘a reference to one of my previous looks.’” Sounds classier than outfit repeating, doesn’t it? Libby loves to mix textures and patterns together. Her wardrobe is all thrifted, and while she wears a lot of color, she was stressed today which, she told me, caused her to gravitate towards mostly black.

Sasha Fuetsch she/he/they

@sasha.fuetsch, first-year Lang undeclared student

You can tell Sasha listened to Ella Fitzgerald as they got dressed today. In celebration of May they’re wearing a floral dress with cute white socks and lace-up loafers. The brown coat is so 1930s, but clearly Sasha’s still hanging onto the 20s a little bit with the cloche style hat. As a copy and social media editor, Sasha puts the finishing touches on articles while simultaneously updating our Instagram feed.

Bella Piacente she/her 

@bella_piacente, first-year Lang journalism and design major

Bella, an arts and culture reporter, isn’t worried about looking chic. She’s a self-proclaimed California hippie who prioritizes comfort. These are her favorite pair of Bugle Boy jeans, a skate brand that was popular in the 80s but has since gone bankrupt. Very retro paired with the orange Nike Cortez sneakers (I complimented them the first time we met and the rest is history). Although it’s hidden under her hair, Bella also wears her precious turquoise necklace, gifted by her grandmother as a reminder of her Alaskan native heritage.

Lola Piuggi she/her

@lolapiuggi, third-year Lang journalism and design student

As a child, Lola had to go to the doctor because she had trouble focusing in class. The doctor suggested that her uncomfortable clothes were the cause of her problems, and ever since then she’s prioritized comfort over everything else. It’s especially important to be comfy when her responsibilities include scouring Google Analytics and tracking social media engagement as our head of audience and strategy. Lola describes her style as a coastal farm girl and references her faves Matilda Djerf and Paige Lorenze with her boots-over-jeans and double zip-up sweater.

Lilly Grogono she/her

@lillygrogono, second-year Lang journalism and design student
Lilly is a visual editor and I always notice her boots and leather jacket as soon as I enter the classroom. Someone told her recently that she dresses like a 30 year old mom, to which I say, Lilly, you would be a “cool mom.” She loves elevated basics and clothes that fit just right. Rachel Comey is an inspiration for her wardrobe with her elegant yet interesting womenswear. Having taken this picture on the first Monday in May, I appreciated Lilly’s subtle tweed minidress with pocket and button details. So Karl.

I’ve loved highlighting the hardworking members of the Free Press and their nuanced style influences. While silently judging their outfits all semester, I’ve finally reached the moment where I can say my thoughts out loud and I’m honored to be so trusted by my fellow reporters and editors. If you love to write, or you’re like me and just love to have opinions, the Free Press is a welcoming writer’s haven at The New School. I hope to see you, dear reader, next semester, and I bid this season of Fashion on Fifth not a goodbye, but a see you soon.