Campus Street Style: Uni Students Give Us Lessons on How to Dress

We are sipping our double shot espressos on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn, bleary-eyed, (why do people schedule 8.30 a.m. meetings?) when a girl walks past wearing ruby brocade trousers and Nike Air Max 95s. Now that’s an #OOTD to overrule every other. Soon after, a guy in sky blue chinos, leather boots, and a burnt-orange cap runs across the street.

Where were all these fashion icons-in-the-making coming from? A little bit of detective work later, we figured it out. And by detective work, we mean that we looked up and saw a sign on the Glenferrie Station wall that said ‘Swinburne University of Technology’. Genius.

Now, there’s only one thing to do in a situation like this. Ditch the meeting, grab the camera, and run after strangers.

Images: Nikki Williams

Swinburne University campus fashion

Thomas - Film And Television (Honours)

Studying film and television, Thomas already looks like he belongs in the director’s chair. Maybe it’s the glasses. We love his blue on green shirt/jumper pairing, and his tan suede Doc Martens, an old subculture favourite. He says he hasn’t consciously cultivated his look and doesn’t care for labels. Some people are just born with it.
Mikayla - Visual Communication

Mikayla wears her dad's old striped jersey, tucked into some rolled-up Versace jeans from a Salvos store, with her mum's old belt. Finishing the look are some black Docs, unlaced. "Always good for the water – and muddy puddles!"
Isabel - Media And Communication (Media Industries)

Isabel is embracing spring, even though the weather still hasn’t got the memo. That white jumpsuit! Those cutouts on the knees! Together with the shearling collar on her Princess Polly denim biker jacket, her outfit is an exercise in how to mix textures of a single shade. Swinburne’s surroundings are an influence. “Everyone is just a bit quirky and different around here.”
Molly - Design

We're coveting her green Doc Martens, bought in London. "They're a little bit of a statement, yeah," she affirms. "I do tend to steer towards a lot of green – because red hair kind of helps! But I just like whatever makes me feel the most comfortable. I'm not really a stylist! I just choose whatever I feel good in." Molly is inspired by her fellow Swinburne students. "You see so many people with out-there clothing – it just makes you want to try new things."

Figure out your new thing here.
Phu - Information Technology

Studying hard in the final weeks of his master degree, Phu somehow manages to appear completely zen when we spot him listening to a lecture on his headphones. Phu favours neutrals – today he's decked out in a Carhartt jacket over a knit (from a local arcade store) and black jeans. He notes that his New Balance sneakers are, "a bit worn out," adding, "I wear 'em every day…" We say, don’t change a thing.
Sam - Business (Marketing)

Sam might be studying business in the big smoke but, stylistically, he hasn't forgotten his rural Tasmanian heritage. “I've been living in Melbourne for about six years," he says, "but it's always nice to sort of keep my country roots going." He reps classic Australian brands with a jacket from RB Sellars and distinctive RM Williams boots. “My old man purchased them for me,” he grins. We love how his John Lennon sunnies give his outfit a little bit of street.
Nellie - Industrial Design

Nellie’s neon skirt demands attention in a sea of black. The skirt and zippered jacket are original Pleats Please by Issey Miyake! "I'm influenced by tactile fabrics and clothes that become architectural garments on the body, rather than just jeans and a T-shirt," Nellie says. "I'd like to do furniture and lighting design, but I'm open to anything. I previously studied fine arts, so that influences my design education, but I'm also open minded to less niche pursuits."
Adam - Communication Design (Honours)

Adam's quips that his clothes are "all just thrifted”. “Missing pocket, missing buttons, a bit mangy. That's just the look," he smiles. Finishing it off is his prized Florence + the Machine tote – scored at 2015's Sidney Myer Music Bowl concert. "I definitely don't adhere to any rules – I sort of do my own thing.” The haircut says it all.

Find out more about going to the uni that embraces you for doing your own thing.
Tayla - Politics And International Relations

Tayla’s mustard turtleneck and red lip are welcome pops of colour on this cloudy morning, offsetting the weather-appropriate jacket in a more sober colour. And the glasses that spell business? We can’t ask for a more eloquent full-stop to the look.
Alison - Communication (PR)

Though Alison dressed in the cold for an 8.30am lecture, she exudes the glamour of a top publicist. Her outfit is a study in bringing high and low together. Alison’s leopard print coat is from Manchester-based Glamourous, her boots are by Louis Vuitton, while her turtleneck is from Lowes menswear. “They do lots of clothes for tradies,” she laughs. “Uni’s just another opportunity to play around with what I wear.”
Isabella - Business (Marketing & Social Media)

Red on grey is a classic combination, and Isabella elevates the look with carefully considered detailing – note the front pleat and slits on her SHEIKE pants, and the scalloped edge of her Glassons top. Isabella considered studying fashion design, then decided to be more strategic. "I thought, you know what? I will get a business degree from Swinburne, then work in a fashion company.” She’s already a fashion influencer. (Follow her on Insta @issywilsonn)
Alexander - Communication

Alexander's idiosyncratic dressing is one of thrifty repurposing. For us, it's the puffer in Aussie green and gold that stands out. Pretty much everything was picked up in an op shop raid. "Today, I'm wearing a jumper I got for $4 at an op shop that I plan on embroidering someday. But right now, I use it in the deli at the supermarket where I work – that's why it smells like prawns! The jacket I got in a small-town op shop, for about $6 or $7."
Rishie - Information Technology

Let’s do away with stereotypes of what an ‘IT guy’ looks like! Rishie is inspired by his favourite R&B and hip-hop acts, most notably, The Weeknd. We like a man who’s not afraid of powder pink, faded double denim and gleaming white boots!
Finn – Arts and Education

If, as an Education student, Finn dresses like your fave hip teacher from school, that's no coincidence. "I think part of my image as a teacher - I associate with teachers I see in fiction and such – a classic look is just the jumper, with the collar poking out from underneath…," he starts. Finn has donned a maroon baker boy cap, a fringed tapestry scarf, a rust jumper, and belted sky-blue pants plus a satchel and tonal-contrast leather footwear. Most of Finn's garb, including the accessories, are op shop treasures – his hat discovered at the local MS outlet. At Swinburne, Finn tired of the black he himself wore in his high school years. "I sort of made a conscious effort to change it up a bit. Recently, I've had a swing away from my penchant for maroon – I still have it in the hat – and I've really gone for lots of sky, sunset colours; oranges and blues…"
Flynn - Marketing (Research)

A scholar he may be, but there’s nothing stuffy about Flynn’s style. The turtleneck, velvet blazer and jeans are all EDWIN, all op shop-sourced. His polished footwear is from iconic brand Julius Marlow, born in Northcote in 1933. “Swinburne’s campus is urban. So I keep my outfits … I wouldn’t say rugged, but practical.”

If you see yourself at Swinburne, you know what to do. (Click here.)
Robel - Building Design (Architectural)

We love that vein of orange breaking up the grey, black and white of Robel’s outfit. And those Air Jordans. As a student of building design, Robel is influenced by Kanye West, himself fascinated by couture and architecture. “I’m a big fan because his style is different.”
Bella - Media And Communication

Bella’s easy, thrown-on style is a perfect mirror of her personality – she’s already late for class when we stop her, but graciously smiles for the camera anyway. Her top is a repurposed cardi, and she says of her wide-legged pants – “They feel like trackies, but look a lot dressier.” She’s hoping to parlay a career in PR into writing. With that open, positive attitude, we’re pretty sure she’ll do great things.