The Gator recently sat down with Stephanie Altschul ’25 to learn more about the influences behind her style and the importance of fashion in her life.

What are the most important things you consider when picking out an outfit for the day? 

The comfort of clothing is really important because I have to wear it all day. I also appreciate how things look in general coordination, so I usually start building an outfit from a certain clothing item and then work around that, so I don’t have to think about too many things at once.

What is your favorite article of clothing?

I have this pair of jeans that I thrifted, and they are the greatest things on the planet because they are really soft, fit perfectly, and go with everything.

What stores/websites do you like to shop at?

I really like Minga London, and I get basics from Brandy Melive and Urban Outfitters, but most of my wardrobe is thrifted. I usually steal a lot of my mom’s shoes. I would probably splurge at a lot of small Instagram stores. 

Do you prefer online shopping or street shopping? Why?

I like street shopping because you can try stuff on and feel the texture of things you can’t online. 

Does your style reflect your personality?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but day-by-day, I dress how I’m feeling mentally. But it definitely depends on what mood I’m in. although I think my style changes a lot because my personality is really fluid, and I really don’t like the fashion narrative that you have to stick to a certain aesthetic and only dress in that aesthetic because it tires yourself to this expectation that you can’t really fulfill.