The Piedmont Highlander

The Student News Site of Piedmont High School

The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Lee expresses herself through fashion

Lee+expresses+herself+through+fashion

“Fashions fade, style is eternal,” fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent once said. Senior Mika Lee embodies this quote as she strolls into the library for her interview. Her outfit instantly attracts second glances of admiration from the surrounding students laboring over their books. The pink sweater, black skirt, rose socks and white platform sandals Lee wears are not particularly unusual as individual clothing pieces, but the combination is arresting.MikaLee

 

“She matches things so that they connect in an unusual way,” art teacher Gillian Bailey said.

Lee said her style started evolving as soon as she became old enough to start choosing and combining her own clothes.

“She has been developing her own style since grade school,” Lee’s mom, Lisa Oyama said. “It just has that Mika vibe.”

Lee said her style is reminiscent of the 1980s because she often wears her mom’s old clothes. Lee also said she goes thrift shopping with friends to find cheap clothing, which she can then combine to match her style. Her favorite places to thrift are Salvation Army and Mars in Berkeley.

“I try to go shopping with my friends to see what they like, just to see different perspectives and how that can influence me,” Lee said.

Lee also said she tries to notice what others wear and draw inspiration from her surroundings.

“I don’t have a specific person I look up to, its everywhere,” Lee said.

Oyama said that part of the key to Lee’s style is that she is willing to take risks that others might shy away from.

“Her style represents who she is as a person,” Lee’s friend senior Zoe Kalbag said. “She’s very fun and unique and it’s a surprise to see what she chooses to wear everyday.”

Bailey said Lee’s eclectic aesthetic transfers to her artwork.

“Her sense of voice in both fashion and artwork is discernable,” Bailey said.IMG_3674

Lee said she tries to be attentive to the tones that clothing pieces have, and choose outfits to reflect her mood.

“My fashion reflects my personality in that I don’t really talk a lot and I’m not always great with words, but I think I’m much better at expressing myself visually,” Lee said.

Lee said that the current trends she favors are monochrome outfits and denim on denim. She also said that she adores faux fur.

“It’s such a good balance of glam and punk,” Lee said.

Lee said that winter is her favorite season because it allows her to wear a plethora of sweaters and jackets. It also permits her to wear more black, completing her transition to becoming goth.

“I’m also really into turtlenecks right now,” Lee said. “So far it’s gotten pretty hot when I wear them, so I’m really looking forward to turtleneck season.”

Kalbag said her favorite part of Lee’s outfits are her shoes, while Lee said she likes her sock collection.

As Lee exits the library, her black backpack bobbing in sync with her pigtails, she seems unaware of the glances that trail her. Although Lee’s clothes may be from the past, her style reflects the present and defines the future.

Donate to The Piedmont Highlander

Your donation will support the student journalists of Piedmont High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Piedmont Highlander