Studying abroad. Ask any college graduate, professor or student who has just gotten back from overseas — spending part of your education somewhere besides Eugene is a must. Going abroad offers a multitude of incredible benefits, but more than getting credits or learning a language, studying abroad seems to serve as an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture.
Although grasping the concept of a new place is far deeper than the food you eat and the clothes you wear, many University of Oregon students have embraced the beauty in learning, trying and wearing new things.
Charlotte Williams spent her summer semester at sea. She noticed a pretty big style difference in Spain and Portugal in comparison to America. She described the women as having an “effortlessly chic aura about them.” The clothes in these countries included pieces of denim, leather, flowy and light materials which Williams loved because it related most to her own personal style. When asked about the relationship between culture and style, Williams agreed that the relaxed atmosphere of both countries clearly influenced current trends. “I am definitely inspired by the style I saw in Spain and Portugal,” said Williams. “The women I saw there are my main fashion influences now that I am back home.”
Senior Ryan Olsen studied abroad in Townsville, Australia. For men, the biggest style difference he noticed was the length of shorts. “Everyone wore rugby shorts that only went halfway down their thighs, no one wore basketball shorts that went below the knee.” Olsen described Australian culture as “very laid back with a kind of ‘who cares’ attitude,” which was reflected by the tank tops, rugby shorts and sandals worn for day-to-day activities. Olsen noticed that unlike America, wearing hats to bars or clubs was inappropriate. Olsen said that back home his style has not changed, but he loves to wear Havaiana sandals whenever it’s nice out — which are a favorite among Australian men.
Brooke Barker spent her summer in Angers, France. Being only a two-hour train ride from Paris, Barker knew it was a city she had to see before she left. The biggest difference she noticed between American and French style? “More sophistication, especially men — they care much more about how they look. I never saw anyone in sweats. Most people wear heels and beautiful dresses.” Surprisingly, Brooke was reminded of an American trend while in France, as she saw little kids wearing shirts with sayings in English, similar to shirts that have French words, but they rarely made sense grammatically. The biggest takeaway she got from Parisian culture in relation to style is to care about quality. “I can’t go into Forever 21 anymore,” she joked, and is learning the value of investing in timeless pieces.