Fashion Focus: the study of style

There is so much to learn about fashion, and where better to start than with those who are studying it? This week, therefore, I conducted two interviews with fashion students, Gina who studies Fashion Communication at the University of the West of England, and Bee who studied Fashion Business and Retail at the Fashion Retail Academy in London. In our discussions, I addressed their experiences studying creative courses, their views on the fashion world, and I gained some crucial style advice which will conclude the article.

Gina focussed on the practical limitations of removing creative courses, describing them as an essential “gateway” to “get into a creative industry”

I first asked Gina and Bee about the nature of their courses, specifically what their studies entail and the impact of studying in a creative discipline. They both mentioned their courses “focus on a variety of things in the fashion industry and cover a lot of different pathways […] such as communications, styling, visual merchandising” as well as, for Gina, “photography, editing, and social media”. They both expressed that this diversity in their courses nurtures a range of skills and abilities to become proficient members of the industry and has allowed for their experiences to be “incredible”. Both mentioned they feel highly “motivated” when studying and “had amazing bonds with their teachers” who were “so supportive and easy to talk to”. For Bee, the experience was formative – it “made me the person I am today”, and for Gina, her studies are incredibly fulfilling, as she recalled feeling as if “I can’t believe I did this” when receiving the photos and films she produced.

As they expressed such positive opinions towards their experiences studying creative courses, I wondered how they felt about the broader issue of the arts facing cuts at university. This has reemerged in mainstream news with Cardiff University planning to close a range of art-based courses, including music, in a cost-cutting proposal. Their insight on this matter was so invaluable. Gina focussed on the practical limitations of removing creative courses, describing them as an essential “gateway” to “get into a creative industry” as they “help you gain connections and build portfolios” which is necessary for people who want to get into the industry. Bee, who earlier in our conversation brought up the importance of “networking”, placed priority on her personal development. She said that during secondary school she “considered [her]self not very smart” but “as soon as [she] started studying a creative subject” she “felt so much more motivated and inspired… and made [her] such a confident person.” Therefore, in conjunction, we have a strong argument against the closure of creative courses, as they are indispensable for an individual’s development, both personally and regarding their careers.

To learn about their views on fashion more broadly, I questioned Gina and Bee about what they like and what they dislike in the fashion world right now. This was an incredibly broad question to allow them to venture into topics which interest them, with the understanding of their varying aesthetics.

Bee was interested in discussing events and fabrics. She mentioned she had been loving “Louis Vuitton’s autumn/winter 2025 collection by Pharell” and specified she enjoyed this collection due to the involvement of “double denim”. Contrastingly, she commented that she was “not a fan of velour at the moment” thinking “it can look quite tacky”.

Gina, on the other hand, brought up subcultures, authenticity, and social media. She specifically identified “Japanese subcultures”, such as “Visual Kei” and “Lolita” as “interesting” and “beautiful” subcultures that she had been admiring, and expanded on this by stating ‘I enjoy seeing people do whatever they want, with a ‘who cares’ attitude.” Regarding what she has not been enjoying, she proclaimed that “TikTok ruins fashion”. With passion, she argued “TikTok, while help[ing] small brands grow, ruin[s] individuality and supports fast fashion and consumerism” through the fast-paced nature of the micro-trend cycle and the worsening of attention spans.

This opposition to fast fashion, raised by Gina, was something I wanted to touch on with both interviewees, so I asked Gina and Bee to expand on this issue in the context of the closure of high-quality, slow fashion brands such as Y/Project. They shared similar views, expressing that the situation makes them feel “sad” and “bothered”. They argued that with the state of the “economy making it so difficult for people to even live, fast fashion is winning at the moment” because people are focussed on “what can I get for the cheapest price” and the higher expense of slow fashion products “doesn’t persuade people to choose slow fashion”. This analysis provided by Gina and Bee is incredibly valuable, demonstrating an understanding of the industry in relation to economic contexts and consumer practices.

To improve your sense of style… it has to come from things you enjoy

Bee, studied at the Fashion Retail Academy in London

Following this topic, to steer our discussion in a more positive direction, I mentioned that in my articles I have addressed the topic of ‘style icons’ – from Erykah Badu to A$AP Rocky. I was intrigued to see who these fashion students look towards for inspiration, and how they have used these individuals as influences for their own aesthetics. Bee cited “A$AP Rocky, Gabbriette, and Billie Eilish” as her current style icons and put forth the idea of “taking certain elements from each inspiration and making it my own.” In a sense, she’s supporting, not replicating, the fashion figures and by adopting aspects of their aesthetic you enjoy, you embolden your own sense of style. On the other hand, Gina mentioned “Internet Girl” as someone who “heavily impacted the way [she] thinks about fashion and style.” Notably, Gina admires the Internet Girl’s confidence stating: “She’s obviously so comfortable in her body… which is so admirable.”

To conclude our conversations, I asked Gina and Bee to give one piece of advice for a university student looking to improve their style. Their guidance was rooted in our previously discussed themes of originality and conviction. Gina advocates for self-assurance based on her “in the end we’re all gonna die” mindset. She encourages us to “wear whatever the fuck you wanna wear” noting that “self-expression is so important to your soul”. In parallel, Bee focussed on being genuine, arguing that “to improve your sense of style… it has to come from things you enjoy” such as “films, music” as well as street style. She believes these roots of inspiration will embolden your style and are much better than “falling heavily into trends”. These mirroring messages of authenticity and confidence are therefore undeniably at the core of enhancing your sense of style.