This week’s Fashion on Fifth is all about the accessories we wear to stay warm during the winter. In the midst of recent snowfall, accessories are not only necessities, they also transform functional clothes into fashionable outfits. While some go to class with minimal layers, other students opt for wool trench coats, scarves, and mohair hats. From students shuffling out of bed to those with hour-long commutes to class, New Schoolers are finding ways to keep warm from the first snowy winter in over a year. As the cold air whistles down Fifth Avenue, it’s time to see what accessories and experimentations people are wearing before the spring showers arrive.
Emma Foley she/her — @emma.j.foley
Fourth-year Parsons School of Design fashion design student
Emma’s most used winter accessory is her transport for her other necessary accoutrements when she steps out into the cold. Inside her large denim Y-Project bag are her driving gloves and balaclava, a kind of ski mask for those not “in the know.” She gets cold easily, so her rotation of gear includes gloves and scarves, as well as a pop of denim. Emma wears a flowy black zip-up dress with puffy sleeves to match her bubble bottoms. Her dress sleeves and pants echo off of each other, going from poofy and loose to hugged and cuffed on her wrists and ankles. The curved and pointed corners of her large denim bag add dimension to her outfit. “I’m a big denim person too, and in the winter I feel like that’s a bit more hidden. So maybe switching where it shows up in the outfit is something I try to do,” she said.
Rebel Spirit he/him — @rebelspiritm
Third-year Parsons fashion design student
Rebel’s outfit caught my eye as he walked calmly into the University Center, listening to music and wearing his camo jacket. Camouflage has had a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with the Gorpcore aesthetic encouraging sporting gear to be worn as street style and Blumarine’s Resort 2023 collection featuring camo cargo skirts and pants. Rebel’s outfit strongly represents how camo is no longer an indicator of a hard-core hunter but a statement piece to make a gentle outfit pop. Besides his jacket, Rebel wears baggy khaki pants, thick-soled brown leather shoes, and a black backpack. His go-to accessory is a long scarf. He elevated his outfit with a purple-and-white striped one, adding another hint of color to the green and brown hues. His earbuds traveled under and out of his jacket into his pocket. One might suggest the earbuds were the finishing touch to his model off-duty look. Pro tip: putting your earbud strings under your jacket like Rebel prevents them from falling out of your ears.
Sadet Mucaj she/her — @ih8camera
Third-year Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts literary studies student
If you’re from a warmer climate and don’t quite have all you need to keep warm, Sadet’s got some ideas. As she listed off her favorite winter accessories (knitted earmuffs that tie at the chin, an ivory mohair scarf, a large red wool scarf, a rabbit fur scarf, and black or red tights), I couldn’t help but think how soft her accessories looked. Her gentle voice and delicate movements, as she counted her favorite items on her fingers, reflect the personality of her outfits. To Sadet, her accessories make her feel like a little lamb, and it shows. The rabbit fur scarf, cropped gray jacket, black mini skirt, and red tights move together and feel innocent yet adventurous, just like a little lamb.
Santana Jimenez she/her — @stantanabjimenez
Fourth-year Parsons photography student
The one who can brave the cold with nothing but a cigarette, Santana wears a moto jacket, Adidas track pants, and Adidas Sambas with laces she replaced with light pink ribbons. A sleek blue and white beanie pops from under the hood of her sweatshirt. Besides the cigarette, Santana will implement warm socks and the bonnet that her girlfriend knitted her to keep her cozy. “It’s warm, handmade with love,” Santana explained. A combination of love and warm knitted socks will get you through the bleak cold. So if you’re still feeling chilly, wear your socks and give your partner a kiss.
Tadeas Milan Beise he/him — @tady_beise
First-year Parsons product design student
Tadeas likes to wear his favorite beanie in the winter because of its vibrancy. The magenta color draws attention to the top of his head and serves as a starting point for the journey down his outfit. His earrings dangle at his chin and the end of his white t-shirt pops from under his dark jacket. On his brown belt loop hangs a carabiner. Through a mixed and matched road of muted colors, his magenta beanie stands out.
During this chilly weather, students are putting on their favorite store-bought, thrifted, or handmade winter accessories to survive the winter. Scarves, hats, and gloves are worn along Fifth Avenue with heartfelt sentiments woven into the stitching. Whether your mom or girlfriend knitted the hat you keep in your bag or the color simply draws your attention and keeps you warm, bundle up with them the next time you step out. You might just feel warmer.