Every fashion enthusiast knows that Fifth Avenue is one of the best places to go shopping. But here at The New School, Fifth Avenue is more than that — it’s a runway. From statement bags to standout shoes, Fashion on Fifth is here to give you weekly, front row access to some of The New School’s chicest looks. This week, we’re looking for shapes!

This week has been busy, busy, busy! With Halloween over and the end of the semester closing in, assignments are piling up and students are registering for classes. Between all the deadlines, I decided to take a short break and look for something that brings us back to simpler times: matching shapes to their names. So this week, I was in search of New School students who found whimsical ways, from hair clips to earrings, to play with shapes in their outfits — round, angular, and everything in between.  

Photo by Cozette Calderon

Photos by Cozette Calderon

Jules Blancaflor – They/Them @juleskaylie

First-year undecided student at Eugene Lang’s College for Liberal Arts 

Shapes don’t always have to be the main attraction. Sometimes they work best when they blend in, adding a pop of artistic expression to an outfit. That’s exactly what Jules Blancaflor demonstrated. Their look was so fun and artful that it immediately caught my eye in the University Center cafeteria. The stacked jewelry, mix of textures like fur and denim, and, of course, the star hairpins stood out against the overcast day. 

Though subtle, their star hair clips added shine to the upper half of the body, balancing the metals from the jewelry on their wrists and neck. 

“It’s changed over time. I feel like the clips [are] something that I really love doing right now. And sometimes I won’t put the clip just in my hair. I’ll put it on a shirt or like on the side of something,” Blancaflor said, when asked how they typically incorporate stars into their outfits.

Stars are versatile, appearing in countless forms. Blancaflor’s approach to using hair clips beyond their intended purpose feels both inventive and practical. Adding a hair clip to a tank top strap is something I personally love doing, and with a shape as whimsical as a star, it really makes an outfit feel creative and unique. 

Blancaflor took the idea of “shape” beyond geometry class or kindergarten cutouts, talking instead about the overall silhouette of an outfit.“I feel like a shape is everything, because, especially for me who has horrible, awful eyesight, when I am looking at somebody from across the room and stuff, like what I will notice first is the shape — the overall shape that they have.” 

It’s a valuable thing to remember that styling is not only about which shapes you include, but how those shapes fit and move on the body to create a silhouette. Blancaflor’s look demonstrated that perfectly: a poncho that flared out over a skirt with a similar flow, forming a soft, rounded structure. 

Their inclusion of stars is because stars are truly a part of them.“Physically, I’m a very jumpy and movey person. I tend to be physical in that sense and make, like star shapes and whatnot.” Blancaflor said. For them, a shape doesn’t just have to be a visual accent — it’s an extension of your personality, a way to let what’s inside take visible form.

Photo by Cozette Calderon

Jayi Gu – she/ze  

First-year BAFA communication design student at Parsons School of Design and philosophy student at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts 

Flowers often add a soft, tropical feel to an outfit, but the ones on Jayi Gu’s skirt stood out for a different reason. Being black and white and not a full floral print, they brought a subtle edge to the look. However, something interesting about these shapes is that they may be shapeshifters. While I saw flowers, Gu saw stars. Playing with perception and finding similarities between shapes keeps an outfit open to interpretation. 

Even in darker shades like black and white, shapes can make an outfit pop. Such is the case for Gu’s outfit. The simplicity of the black sweater and gray leg warmers let the skirt take center stage and the flower-like pattern added a necessary dimension to the outfit. 

“I’m really into polka dots recently … Black and white, polka dots, and those angel wings are gonna be in trend … Somehow, I just sense that,” Gu said. I certainly see her predictions in this outfit. Polka dots are definitely having a moment now. I’m  specifically thinking of Princess Polly having an entire website page dedicated to it and Kylie Jenner posting about “polka dot summer.”

Better yet, Gu’s comment pointed out how shapes can transform. What first appears to be a flower  — or a star, or even a triangle — can take on a new identity when combined with others. In this case, the flower-star motifs echo polka dots, a clever way to play with pattern while keeping it cohesive.

Photo by Cozette Calderon

Photo by Cozette Calderon

Maple Barker she/her 

Second-year product design student at Parsons School of Design 

So many good things come in round shapes: cherries, the coconut custard buns in the UC cafeteria on Fridays, and Maple Baker’s earrings! 

Baker, who is from Santa Cruz, California, thrifted the gold and silver earrings back home. Paired with her simple outfit, the earrings stood out for their bold metallic sheen and circle shape. Jeans and fitted clothing, like the shirt Baker was wearing, often create a straighter silhouette. 

When asked her favorite shape: “Oh, that’s hard. I really like squares, or rectangles, or triangles!” Baker said. It was too hard to decide, and for good reason. Playing around with geometrics can be intriguing, especially in outfits. While her earrings are simpler than the angular shapes she gravitates toward, the lion engravings give them texture and character, making them anything but ordinary. 

The lion head, which complements the roundness of the earring hanging beneath it, also caught my eye — adding a slight edge and twist to these otherwise simple earrings. Baker’s outfit is a great example of letting unique, fun earrings stand out; I’m certainly glad she let the earrings have their moment! 

Photo by Cozette Calderon

Julia McNeill – she/her @juliaaa_McNeill

First-year BAFA illustration student at Parson’s School of Design and environmental studies student at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts

Patchwork was an increasingly popular trend throughout 2021 and 2024, popping up in multiple designer’s runway shows and collections, like Dolce & Gabbana and Khoki, according to Vogue. Patchwork garments are really just unifying squares. Squares sometimes get a bad reputation, considered boxy upon first glance and therefore at times not appealing. However, I think patchwork garments are the perfect way for squares to get the love they deserve. 

“I don’t have a ton of pattern clothing, so this was a nice way to add some interest to the outfit. Squares are so rigid and they stand out,” McNeill said.  Patchwork is such a fun addition to one’s closet because of the mix of colors, texture, and patterns. Though squares can be seen as more serious, in patchwork designs they have a carefree feel. 

I loved the retro vibe these squares brought to McNeill’s outfit. I felt like we were back in the ‘70s, since she was rocking neutrals and a high-neck shirt with beautiful wavy hair. The colors and corduroy texture of this jacket provided just the right vintage and effortless feel. 

“I got it off of Depop. It was for $50, and then sold new it was like $150, so I got a good deal,” McNeill said. The joys of thrifting! McNeill truly got a great piece for a great price, a good reminder to search for your dream clothing secondhand. A thrift store or an online reseller might be willing to fulfill your dreams (and sustainably)! 

Whether it’s round, angular, or nondescript, shapes are everywhere, and styling them can be as fun as it is nostalgic. These students certainly proved geometry isn’t just for class.