Forget Milan, Paris and New York City. Ignore Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss — and even the famed Derek Zoolander. Local clothing merchants and avid shoppers think University students are “in style” and up to date on the latest fashion trends.
For men, this spring holds little surprise — merchants say they aren’t into fashion trends. But the same fashion mavens say women have taken to lacy and feminine, bloused peasant tops, whisker-washed denim skirts and ruffles on sleeves of shirts. Style is heading back to the 1960s and ’70s.

Men’s fashion
Store owners said women tend to go along with changing styles whereas men don’t have as many clothing options — men’s fashion often revolves around jeans and T-shirts. Although West Moon Trading Company doesn’t target men, owner Jamie Thomas said she has noticed there are some men on campus who stay in fashion. But she said men’s fashion is harder to keep up with, and men who are fashion-conscious tend to buy labels.
Mary Kolego, store manager of Buffalo Exchange Ltd, said vintage western shirts are hot sellers among her male
customers. And Laurel Rose, manager of Ipnosi, a clothing store with multiple Oregon locations, said comfortable clothing is a key fashion factor for both men and women in the northwest.

Women’s trends
“We’ve gone back to romantic ruffles and flowery skirts,” Kolego said of current women’s fashion. “It’s an updated prairie influence.”
Rose said this year’s “spring style represents soft Bohemian construction with a clean contemporary edge.”
She added that there is a focus for female shoppers on light weight, brightly colored fabrics with top stitching, lacing and embroidered details. She said bold belting and romantic sleeve treatments are complemented by light-colored footwear with straps, as well as leather and turquoise accessories.
Rose added that while both the Eugene and Portland Ipnosi stores carry the same merchandise, the more urban population in Portland is faster to accept the latest fashions.
Senior Anya Bjornskov from Lake Oswego agrees. She considers herself a follower of trends and an avid shopper. She said she has definitely observed a campus population that is “totally in style.” However, Bjornskov said the Eugene population doesn’t need to sport “the city look” of sophistication and glamour.
“People dress up to go out to clubs in Portland far more than they do in Eugene,” she said.
Bjornskov said there’s a noticeable difference between real vintage clothing and the newer, fashionable peasant wear.
“You can definitely tell the difference between the two,” she said, describing the latest look as sexier and tight-fitting with lace “strategically placed around the breasts” on female attire.
As Bjornskov flipped through the latest J. Crew catalog, she pointed to denim jeans with a lace-up fly, capri pants, linen fabrics, pockets in the front of pants and elaborate stitching on the front and sides of clothing as just a few examples of spring urban style.
Bjornskov said salmon, pink, orange, light blue and white are the colors popping up on the mannequins in the malls. She said that, because she works in a mall, she goes shopping at least two times a week and loves catalog browsing, too.

Local scene
Whether college students are wearing what’s in style or what’s in their grandparents’ attic, Rose said today’s comfortable fashion elements are a modern interpretation of the past.
“We’re always reinventing what we’ve seen before,” she said.
Thomas said what’s in style this spring is “fortunate for Eugene.” She described the look as gauzy, peasant, hippie and natural, which fits into the local dress patterns already. She said this season’s colors are natural, coral and red.
Local store owners said the peasant-style fashions they’re selling are catered to a younger crowd — from pre-teens to people in their 30s. Kolego said the 1960s and ’70s are still popular in Eugene, with low-rise pants and a mix of bold and pastel colors.
In addition to clothing, jewelry also changes with the season. Shell, bamboo, beads, pendants and stone accessories are all selling, Thomas said, adding that this means she is constantly reordering.