Guest Blogger Allison: Big Ten Style at MSU

Allison Doherty, a rising senior at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI (and twin sister of our previous guest blogger, Lauren!), is one of AKIRA’s Campus Representatives. Here, she gives us even more info on fashion at MSU.

Michigan State University is home to great sports teams (go green!), incredible academic & study abroad programs and a down-to-earth student body. Since MSU offers its Spartans a choice of 150 majors, its students have many different backgrounds and tastes. This versatility expresses itself in the campus’ fashion scene.

MSU is full of trendy, stylish and independent students. Even though the student body is almost 40,000, each Spartan keeps his or her style consistent and infuses it with personality. Most students’ wardrobes consist of trendy urban pieces. During the winter months, though, girls tend to fall into a uniform. This uniform consists of black leggings, a down North Face parka and the dreaded Ugg boots. Some girls like to accessorize with winter headbands and colorful scarves. I hate to admit that I do dress in this uniform from October to February (and even sometimes into March). It’s just so easy to pull this together as you’re rushing out of your apartment and taking on a blizzard outside.

Most students tend to do their shopping along Grand River Ave., which is a strip of shops on our main road through campus. These stores include the ever-popular Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. If you’re willing to spend a little more, then you can check out Mad Eagle, where they sell Frye Boots, cozy Alternative Apparel zip-ups and Free People tops. Mad Eagle also has jewelry and hair accessories for sale.

This coming academic year, I see the MSU trend of wearing moccasins and UGG boots shifting toward TOMs shoes, Vans and classic Converse. I also think that more people will be wearing Hunter rainboots with liners to keep dry and warm in the winter. From my own experience, wearing rainboots is a great alternative to wearing Uggs, which become sopping wet after five minutes of walking in the snow.

Overall, Michigan State’s style can be described as classic with a bit of a trendy edge.