International Threads

Designed by Linda Montejo-Bartolon

When Weinberg junior Aliya Bekshenova left her home in Kazakhstan to start her first year at Northwestern, she knew life would look a lot different in the United States. Beyond the obvious differences of being in a new country, the daily ways of using fashion as both a utility and means of self-expression immediately stuck out as a new adaptation.

With over nine thousand international students from over 120 countries, a diverse global influence can certainly be felt on campus. In an increasingly globalized and technologically connected world, it might be easy to overlook the subtle nuances across cultural styles and outlooks toward fashion. However, upon starting university in a different country, many international students faced the challenge of adjusting to American style.

Bekshenova noted the main style difference she has found since leaving Kazakhstan is rooted in the way Americans develop personal fashion tastes. While influencer culture and micro-trends seemingly dominate the Western trend cycle, the culture back home, she says, is much less turbulent.

“At home, we don’t really have these super specific popular people to look to for inspiration,” Bekshenova says. “It’s more like, you go for a specific vibe that is good to you, but it is not as trend dependent.”

While she feels she dresses more “put-together” at home, she has seen her closet evolve into one with much more color and idiosyncrasy since coming to Northwestern (and filled with much more loungewear than ever before).

SESP junior and Hong Kong native Katia Shek echoed the stark difference in emphasis on presentability between countries. Shek attributed the increased focus on appearances back at home to the idea that presentation is a key factor in relationship-building in Asian cultures.

“I think Hong Kong people really care about appearance,” Shek says . “They judge a lot based on that, so most people put more effort into it. I don't see it as a good or bad thing. Because a lot of the industries are very trade-based, it takes a lot of human-to-human relationship-building, and so I think being presentable comes in handy there, almost economically.”

Shek’s daily style consists primarily of elevated basics with high re-wear potential, mixed with unique, often-thrifted staple pieces influenced by her friends and Hong Kong’s thrifting and scavenging culture.

Weinberg senior Emily Park, originally from Seoul, South Korea, believes the essential characteristic of Korean style is “trying to fit in,” with trends and popular styles, unlike in the States, where people are more open to dressing with individual motivations – in other words, both comfort and fashion are seen as culturally acceptable priorities when choosing an outfit for the day.

“When I came here for the first time, I was stoked to wear pajama pants outside and just leggings with sweatpants to class,” says Park. “It actually took me a while to get back into more of a thought process on how I looked and presented myself.”

In contrast, Weinberg senior Lucy Zhang from Shanghai, China feels like her style has become more vibrant and adventurous, as she draws inspiration from social media trends on Rednote, which she feels is more on-trend with progressive Chinese style. She also noted the prevalence in Shanghai of shopping from sites like Taobao, which she feels is a common experience among fellow Chinese international students.

Zhang’s everyday style is feminine and often vintage-inspired, implementing lots of pastels, florals, and classic silhouettes, with the occasional edge or pop of a bold accent color. Despite being abroad, Zhang uses the power of online communities to remain tethered to Chinese trends, still embracing similar style philosophies held before coming to Evanston, while simultaneously feeling enabled by the general culture of acceptance amongst the Northwestern student body of global and fashion-forward style.

“I feel more comfortable about what I’m wearing now because on campus, people usually dress more casual and everyone feels very inclusive,” Zhang said. “So even though I dress a little bit [fancier] in my day-to-day, nobody’s going to judge me.”

While the exchange of trends and styles from abroad manifests in different ways among each student, one common thread weaves through Northwestern’s secret fashion rulebook: Ditch the trenchcoats, a staple in European and Asian streetwear, and buy a black North Face.

“Everyone here loves puffers,” Shek said. “When I first got here, I brought a lot of trench coats, but I felt like the exception. I think you just have to be comfortable enough with your identity to wear what you want, though.”

Despite the cultural contrasts in fashion norms, one thing remains clear: style is a fluid and personal journey, shaped by both heritage and environment. For international students, adapting to American fashion is a reflection of evolving identities, newfound freedoms, and the blending of global influences. Whether embracing loungewear, experimenting with vibrant colors, or holding onto elements of home, these students navigate fashion as both a form of self-expression and a bridge between cultures.