Sun shining, rushing students on their way to pick up coffee, boys zooming by on long-boards, the splash of the fountain, sun-kissed girls sitting on quilts doing homework amidst the yell of friendly hellos across the mall.

These are a few of the things that you experience when you’re an East Carolina University student.

Summer seems to last extra long, autumn is eagerly awaited, winter is crisp and festive and spring is alive with activity and the anticipation of freedom. While the stereotype is that ECU is solely selected for its “party school façade,” beach atmosphere and lively campus, one aspect that rarely comes to mind is the fashion sense.

I’ll admit it: East Carolina University definitely doesn’t have fashion that rivals that of SCAD, NYU or any other university located in a city populated by fashion-crazed kids.

While the style you see draped across the shoulders of the business majors and nursing students at my college isn’t always identical to what Kate Moss or Rachel Zoe goes out in, one thing that I can definitely say is ECU has a great school spirit. No matter what your schedule is like or what time of day you walk around campus, there is no doubt that you will see a student in ECU memorabilia.

Purple and gold floods the city of Greenville in a sea of Pirate pride day after day. While some may not consider this school spirited style “fashion sense”, to the students of East Carolina University, it’s a way of life.

When one thinks of a student with spectacular fashion sense they usually think of girls and guys interested in “fast fashion.” They imagine 20-somethings who take what they see on the runway, fashion blogs and magazines and transfer that to the brick-lined walkways of their campus.

Stores such as Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and Aldo can help my peers and me re-invent an outfit using cheaper clothes and our own manipulation of trends.

Although New York Fashion Week isn’t top priority for all students’ here, the ones who flock towards creative majors like apparel merchandising, interior design, fine arts and other eclectic choices tend to continually stay on top of their style game.

Torre Grills, a textile design major here at East Carolina, is one of the select students at ECU that effortlessly emulates high fashion at a college level.

With her sprawling wardrobe made up of leather loafers, vibrant blazers, high-waisted shorts, billowy maxi dresses and countless classic pieces, you are bound to spot her sporting a look that makes any Fashionista swoon.

The outfit that she threw together on this bright Eastern Carolina day was as close to perfection as possible: lace-up Madewell combat boots juxtaposed against cuffed white shorts, an off balanced sequined top and a cargo jacket covered in a brown and black paint-splattered pattern came together to form an out-of-this-world fall ensemble.

With her keen fashion expertise, Torre may not be considered the “average ECU” student by many, but in the realm of the creative majors here at East Carolina University she’s just another everyday trendsetter.

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