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Like many areas in the South, Starkville has adopted a boutique style of fashion, fashion-savvy residents say. Pictured is Sisters Boutique & Clothing on Lampkin Street.
Like many areas in the South, Starkville has adopted a boutique style of fashion, fashion-savvy residents say. Pictured is Sisters Boutique & Clothing on Lampkin Street.
Fashion is a feature that can define the culture of a college town. Starkville is no exception. Students at Mississippi State University have varying opinions on the city's fashion and how individual trends have evolved over the years.
At MSU, Fashion Board serves as the leading fashion-oriented organization on campus. Sadie Ogletree, a junior fashion design and merchandising major, is currently serving as Fashion Board president. She commented on women's fashion trends this year.
"I'm seeing a lot more loosely-fitting jeans come back into style here, oversized things, puffer jackets, large sunglasses. Statement items are very in right now," Ogletree said. "Lots of color, lots of sparkle, lots of everything. 'Lots' is really in style right now."
Ogletree said she struggles to find options in town to fit her individual style and believes most clothing stores in Starkville sell the same type of items.
"Most of the stores in town don't have just a ton of different options," Ogletree said. "They all cater to the same Southern style, which seems to work for them: frilly ruffles, pastels, whispers of lace."
Ogletree said she mainly shops online for quality clothing that can stand the test of time. Her favorite clothing store in Starkville is George Mary's, which is located downtown.
Anthony Burton, a senior kinesiology major, is a model for Fashion Board. He said most men's fashion has stayed fairly consistent: pairing long boots with jeans and a polo for football game days, oversized shirts and sport shorts for class and tennis shoes as their everyday shoe. Not many men stray from this style, he said.
For those desiring to go outside the norm when it comes to expressing their personal style, Burton encourages them to simply go for it.
"Wear something you want," Burton said. "Give the world the opportunity to understand a little bit about you based on what you are wearing."
With Starkville adopting the boutique-style fashion currently sweeping the South, some female students said they are frustrated with the limited options they have.
Abbie Holderfield, a sophomore criminology major from Birmingham, AL, said her biggest complaints about the style are the pricing and sizing. Those that do choose to shop in town can be met with upsetting restrictions.
"It is sometimes harder to shop in Starkville if you wear (a size) bigger than a large," Holderfield said. "I also think the high prices of the fashion here can be an issue as it can, once again, exclude others."
An alternative to shopping at boutiques is hitting local thrift stores. Thrifting allows more room for sustainable fashion at a fraction of retail price.
Starkville native Mary Jones is the creator of Pink Plaid Vintage, an online shop made up of upcycled apparel, home decor and accessories all sourced from second-hand materials. She emphasizes the importance of thrifting in a world of fast-fashion.
"It is also operated in a much more ethical way," said Jones, who sews every one-of-a-kind piece from Pink Plaid Vintage.
She said failure to find certain styles could lead to new fashion opportunities.
"I know it can oftentimes be difficult to find specifics within the thrifts, so open your mind, get creative with pieces you may not normally wear," Jones said. "You can also add and take away from these items to make your own."
The Starkville fashion scene has the potential of evolving, fashion enthusiasts say, but it will require an active pursuit and community engagement. In the past few years, the current style has sold well. Why would Starkville try to fix what is not broken?
Fashion Board President Ogletree shared her hopes for fashion style changes in the city.
"I hope Starkville gets more diverse clothing options in the next few years, but this is quite the boutique town," Ogletree said. "It is very Mississippi-style clothing, and it works for them."
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