Preppy, punk, sporty, and bohemian are typical terms used to describe a person’s style. However, for sophomore Claire Zurkowski, none of the above terms seems to fit. Instead, she defines her style as “Kurt Cobain’s grandmother.”
“Half my clothes are my grandmother’s. I like to take a darker, more hardcore side to some of the pieces. A sort of sloppy look,” Zurkowski said.
While much of her inspiration comes from the late lead singer of Nirvana, Zurkowski’s style is also influenced by street style and the way models dress off of the runway. “I love how models always look like they just got out of bed and threw something on. It looks so perfect. I like the essence of no effort,” Zurkowski said.
Combining her combat boots, black slightly high-waisted jeans, a loose-fitting neutral tank top, and a fur vest, Zurkowski creates her favorite look. “I tend to wear a lot of black. The big boots create the hardcore aspect of my style, and the mix with the fur vest neutralizes the outfit.” At the moment, her favorite accessory is her new pair of metallic Dr. Martens.
Besides rummaging through her grandmother’s closet to find old sweaters, Zurkowksi enjoys checking out thrift shops for cheap items. “You can be fashionable without shopping at expensive stores. People [don’t] necessarily have style by wearing an expensive brand. It’s all about how you put pieces together,” Zurkowski said.
Zurkowski takes art classes and believes that painting helps her understand how colors play with each other.
“I never think about matching my clothes. What exactly is matching anyway?” she said.
Currently, Zurkowski is writing her own fashion blog where she comments on runway looks and gathers knowledge about the fashion industry. Although runway looks are “too conceptual or couture to dress like,” Zurkowski appreciates the artistic creativity behind them.
Zurkowski just finished creating a design for a Cornell apparel design competition. If she wins, her design will be produced and showcased at the Cornell Design League’s Annual Fashion Runway show in Ithaca, New York.
Zurkowski aspires to have a career in fashion. “I dance outside of school. Having been perpetually busy with that, I can’t imagine stopping. However, I came to the realization that I don’t want to sit in rehearsals all the time. I’d rather be educated in fashion,” she said.
Zurkowski is interested in attending either the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) or the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York to study fashion merchandising.
“I don’t want to be a designer because it is too competitive and I wouldn’t get anywhere,” Zurkowski said. Her ideal career would be to be a buyer for fashion shows and to come up with new displays for stores, which would enable her to incorporate her artistic talent.