After mid-terms being an experience where showing up in sweatpants and oversized hoodies is considered a fashion statement itself, autumn is here – the moment has arrived to get out of the cocoon. As relief hits the university and campus life is very much alive again, it is the perfect time to give your wardrobe a friendly reminder that it is time for an upgrade. But the question of how to dress still remains, and can only be answered by looking at those who have mastered it.
For most of us, our fashion inspiration comes from celebrities and influencers whose content we stumble upon – all credit given to doomscrolling. Between their red carpet looks and mirror selfies, we fall in love with the way they dress. While inspiration can breeze from anywhere – a stranger’s coat in The Meadows or a perfectly layered look seen on a Pinterest board, there are a few whose style lingers in your mind way after you’ve scrolled past. This autumn there is certainly no shortage of our favorite icons serving looks worth borrowing.
Dakota Johnson has always been a quiet force in fashion and isn’t talked about enough, but after her premiere in The Materialists, she has become impossible to ignore. She has conquered the chic minimalism look paired up with effortlessness that looks intentional. Her standout outfits from the film feature a blazer with a short skirt, sheer tights and knee high boots along with a messy high ponytail: adding that spirited vibe to a well-structured look. Her standard look involving vintage Levi’s jeans with a half-tucked white tee is classic and hip. For students who lean towards basic clothing with a hint of playful messiness, Dakota Johnson can be your style guru this autumn. Think classic pieces – crisp tees; straight jeans; oversized, neutral blazers; tied hair with loose strands; and rolled up sleeves – to transform your staples into something cinematic. Going beyond the film, her daily street style involves lived-in cropped cardigans and high waist trousers that scream ‘minimalism doesn’t need to be boring’. For students like us, her wardrobe is a masterclass that simple pieces can make a statement anywhere – even on campus while grabbing a coffee.
Ever since the Gap commercial made headlines, Gen Z cannot get enough of Lara Raj from Katseye. Her wardrobe spans everything from vibrant prints to edgy denim but her ornate jewellery is what steals the show; her Ohm necklace and iconic bindi weaves together her global pop-star image with representation. What makes Lara truly a symbol of fashion today is how she embraces her South Asian roots unapologetically, her heritage dictates elements of her style which blend in with the contemporary. Her statement in a nutshell emphasises on stacked bangles, layered chains, and maang tikkas; alongside makeup that includes sharp eyeliner, striking eyeshadow, and glazed skin that keeps her bindi and henna details right at the center of attention. For students wanting to adapt to a similar look think oxidised jewellery, chunky statement pieces to stack up your arm that jingle with every move you make paired with patterned jackets and Y2K inspired silhouettes. Even a pair of antique earrings with a simple jumper is enough to make a statement on its own this autumn. Let Lara Raj be your blueprint this season – let her individuality, heritage blended with modernity, and boldness be a lesson that being yourself will never go out of style. So stack your bangles, wear that bindi, rock your favorite prints and be absolutely unapologetically you.
“Dakota Johnson at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival” by Gabriel Hutchinson Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.