Campus Style Watch: Free to Be Unique

by Eleya Raim- Horizon Features Editor

Student:  Malcolm Mann

Where he calls home:  Dallas, Texas

Majors:  Sociology

The Look:  Sophomore student and athlete, Malcolm Mann, is setting new trends with khaki slacks, sapphire blue polo/tee hybrid, and unique accessories, including a burnt orange patterned scarf, autumn orange shoes, and a navy blue bandana sporting hot pink and white birds.

Why did you choose this outfit?   Colors coordinate and pop when Malcolm chooses his ensembles, which are always tied together with a bandana (his signature piece) that compliments his clothing choice. When asked why he wears a bandana, Malcolm responds that “it’s for the same reason that you would put on shoes or a shirt.” This Mann likes to be different and makes his style unique by wearing a scarf on occasion.

What started your bandana trend?  While at a friend’s house, Malcolm put on one of his friend’s sister’s bandanas. He liked the way that it looked so much that he went out the next day and purchased six of his own!

What do you think that this outfit says about you?  “My style shows that I am free spirited and that I try not to care about what people think of my style. I care about people and helping others, but I try to dismiss criticism about what I am wearing. I don’t want to be held back by other people’s opinions.”

What is your favorite thing about this ensemble?  The scarf and the bandana tied for this competition. A classic favorite is the bandana because Malcolm feels that this represents who he is. “Freedom” is the word that describes what the scarf means to him. “I feel so free as I walk around with it blowing in the wind.”

What would you call your personal style?  “Free. I never, not one time, think about what other people are going to think about me when I put on an outfit. I try not to look at myself in the mirror before I leave. I mean I do when I get dressed, but before I leave in the morning I don’t check myself to see if my scarf is on right or my bandanas looking right on my forehead. I just try to go.”