Fashion on Fifth is back, showcasing the creative outfits your classmates are wearing every week, and the thought and inspiration behind them as interpreted by the author.

This week on Fashion on Fifth, I want to know about how you’ve changed since moving to New York City. And how has getting changed, changed? Nowhere else but New York can people truly reinvent themselves without judgment, because in reality, we’re all evolving everyday with each new outfit we wear. These students have come to New York from all over the world and are sharing their wisdom about finding themselves, and their true style, here.

Nkoli Okoye she/her

@nk0li, third-year Parsons business and fine arts

Unless Nkoli’s school uniform at home in Nigeria included camouflage maxi skirts, her style has evolved quite a bit since coming to New York. Because she used to wear a stiff school uniform, now she focuses on having fun with her clothes, even when getting dressed for her 9 a.m. classes. Nkoli has always loved clothes and styling herself, but New York gave her a push towards embodying her confidence. Wearing a literal tree printed on her skirt, she was incredibly down to earth and asked me lots of questions, including where my clothes were from. How the tables turned! If you want to know my deepest darkest secrets (like where I bought my leather jacket), Nkoli has them, and I trust she will keep them safe and zipped away in the pocket of her green and red leather coat.

Piper Lacy she/her

@piperrlacy, first-year Eugene Lang undecided

The biggest adjustment for Piper since moving from Los Angeles is learning the art of layering. Luckily, it’s easier to draw inspiration from street style in New York than LA, where most of the people she sees are in traffic through their car windows. Shockingly, gridlock doesn’t spark much outfit inspiration. To Piper, “people at home are boring.” She states that her style has only gotten better since moving to the city, and I can’t help but agree considering she’s the only person that can really pull off a Spongebob t-shirt who isn’t an 8-year-old boy.

Jay Scivetti he/him

@jay.scivetti, second-year Parsons strategic design and management

Jay has always been intentional while getting dressed, but at home in Malaysia, he wanted to fit in. In New York, he doesn’t feel the same pressure, and now has the freedom to wear whatever he wants, free of judgment. Standing aimlessly on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 13th St.,  wearing sunglasses, airpods, and mostly black, he was brooding in his own little bubble of art school angst. He apologized for not having more articulate things to say about the evolution of his wardrobe, but I think his story is perfect. There’s nothing better than moving to a new place and finally having the freedom to be whoever you want.

Jie Chen she/her

@_j1015c, fourth-year Parsons fashion design

Coming from China, Jie feels like she has more freedom in a diverse city like New York. Without to the more rigid norms and expectations back home, she no longer has to worry about scrutiny from friends and family regarding her clothing choices. She used to dress more conservatively, especially considering she wore a high school uniform, and now is happy to have the choice to wear whatever she wants. Feeling more accepted here, Jie has grown into who she is: strong, confident, and able to pull off wearing a strawberry cardigan and bondage-style cargo pants in the same outfit.

Moti Venegas she/her

@moti.venegas, second-year COPA drama

Considering Moti came from a Mexico City catholic school, a lot has changed in her wardrobe. She feels more confident when she walks down the street here, there’s more accessibility to cool clothes, and honestly anything is better than a catholic uniform. Enamored by fashion, Moti doesn’t confine herself to one style. Her only limit is her art-school-student-sized bank account, which I can relate to as someone with a Depop and eBay habit (it’s becoming a problem). Moti says she didn’t put much thought into her outfit today, but she instantly caught my eye from across the street in her candy cane-esque ensemble.

The New School is lucky to have students that bring their diverse cultural influences to city style. These students have come to New York from all over the world, and they all have one consensus: whether it be children’s t-shirts, realtree camo, or sunglasses when the sun isn’t out, they finally feel like they can wear whatever the f*** they want.