Written By: Victoria Fok Photographed By: Roberto Leon
The Style Diaries
Oliver Whiting
Spotting a well-dressed man on campus is like finding needle in a haystack, but in a sea of hoodies and sweats freshman Oliver Whiting stands out. Donning suits on the regular, Oliver is often questioned why he is so nicely dressed. While “It’s for a job interview” kept the inquiries at bay for a while, he soon resulted to the simple answer, “I like to dress well.” Quoting one of his favorite designers, Tom Ford, Oliver explained that “dressing is a form of good manners.” These words inspire him to be ever-conscious in the way he presents himself, and this discipline has allowed him to have a style that is tailored, classic and functional for his everyday life.
monday: suit up
Oliver loves to throw on a suit for no reason other than to simply look put-together. He notes the importance of starting off the week strong, so Monday is naturally a good day to look his absolute best. With the weather warming up, Oliver decided to break out his unique blue seersucker suit, which believe it or not was purchased at JCPenney. He explains that “you just have to dig� to find unique pieces in unexpected places. Color is an important aspect to Oliver, so a pop of an eye-catching hue with a pink polka dotted tie is a natural choice. Oliver finishes off his ensemble with his pair of go-to brown loafers.
tuesday: denim with an edge
Everyone has that one horrible day of the week where everything piles up on a full day of classes. Tuesday is that day for Oliver. At this point, the beauty of a fresh week has worn off, and with a packed schedule Tuesday’s style calls for comfort and no distractions. In this simple yet sleek ensemble of a black leather jacket, jeans and oxblood Timberland boots, Oliver looks effortlessly put together and is ready to take on his busiest day of the week.
wednesday: preppy layers
By the middle of the week, personal style usually takes a hit as sweatpants and sweatshirts start rolling out of our closets. Yet for Oliver, sweatpants are never a choice. While he’s recovering from the horror that was Tuesday, he still manages to look sharp in a casual ensemble that includes blue and white-checkered pants and a striped sweater layered over a white polo. For Oliver, this is an ensemble that is comfortable enough to get through the day, without proclaiming, “I’ve given up.”
thursday: british influence
Thursday signals the weekend approaching, which in turn means a dressy day for Oliver as he has time to relax and have fun with the way he dresses. For Oliver, this means donning a classic grey suit to class. To find his perfect fit, Oliver often relies on H&M with their slim cuts and he accredits his suit style to his British roots on his mother’s side; citing his grandfather, great-grandfather, and the iconic Savile Row as his inspiration. So much for suits being reserved for job interviews and Sunday’s best attire – Oliver will don this dapper look whenever.
friday: black noir
When Friday finally hits, Oliver is provided with the opportunity to dress to the nines. Celebrating the end of a long week, Oliver leans toward something that can transition effortlessly from class to work. With black-on-black as his work dress code, an all noir ensemble is a perfect choice. Altogether this look is sleek and chic, and a good pair of dress shoes finishes off the look. Loafers and dress shoes are Oliver’s go-to. Flip-flops and boat shoes are not his cup of tea and admittedly do not go with such a polished look. In this all-black attire, Oliver has found a sophisticated ensemble that is sure to impress no matter where he’s headed off to.
MODA