Looks on Campus: Karon – University of South Florida

Karon has always had a unique sense of style. Whenever I spot him on campus, he looks like he has just stepped out of an Urban Outfitters or American Apparel ad. Overalls are not an easy piece to style properly, but Karon not only wears them, he owns them. Read on to see his perfect mens overalls outfit.

Karon 101

Name: Karon

School: University of South Florida

Major: Civil Engineering 

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Let’s Talk Fashion

Who or what inspires your style? “My brothers [inspire] my style. [I’m also inspired by] a lot of Tupac. Modern day, I would say Jaden Smith and just whatever I see here and there. Nirvana… [and] lot of different things.”

Where do you like to shop? “I like to shop wherever I can find deals, like the thrift store. Wherever I can find the deals, I can make it work in my style.”

How would you describe your sense of style? “I would describe it as more, like, grunge type, ’90s urban.”

Why did you choose this particular outfit? “Because I like my overalls! I love my overalls because whenever I get a chance to wear them, they’re my go-to [out]fit. And I felt like the bandana was a nice touch because… why not [wear] a bandana? It can always be thrown in there… and that’s about it. I wanted to go triple black so…”

What fashion advice would you give to other male students looking to improve their style? “I would just tell them to just be [themselves] and whatever that is, be comfortable and be confident in it. So no matter what you’re wearing, wear it with confidence. It doesn’t matter what the brand is or how much you paid for it, as long as you have that confidence within yourself it all come[s] together.”

What are your favorite trends right now? “I don’t really keep up with trends, but if I had to say it would be… I like how [Nike] Cortezes are coming back in style. I’m seeing a lot more of those jeans – dad and mom jeans – that are coming back. Yeah, those are my favorite trends coming back.”

Do you have any favorite fashion designers? “I [like] Jaden [Smith]; I like Tyler the Creator because he’s different. They’re just over-the-top themselves. Tyler the Creator has always come in the game and been himself even though if it’s a little weird.”

What do you do for fun – do you have any unique hobbies or interests? “I don’t know if you would call this a hobby, but I do like mentoring. So giving back to the community and stuff like that. I feel like as an engineer – a person of STEM that’s black – I have an obligation to my community to inspire others to reach out and become more STEM involved. That’s one of my biggest hobbies and interest[s] at the moment. I also play basketball and read books.”

If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be, and why? “I would have to go with A$AP Rocky. The outfits that I’ve seen him wear are just, like, some crazy stuff. I’ve never seen this stuff in person or [anything] that resemble[s] it. He always has some extraordinary garments on and I would just take all his garments.”

Elements of Karon’s Outfit

1. Nike Sneakers

These Nike Cortez sneakers are Karon’s way of making his outfit feel a little more old school. You might as well add them to your Christmas shopping list because they are stylish, come in many different colors, and are comfortable for long walks to class.

2. Anorak ​Jacket

A great anorak jacket is a fall essential. Karon broke up his all black look with an army green anorak. This style is unisex and complements practically every outfit, whether it’s masculine or feminine. 

3. Fanny Pack

​Yes – you heard it here: fanny packs are making a comeback. Karon demonstrates just how guys should style them. The color coordination with his anorak helps break up the all black ensemble and looks great! Even if you aren’t a fanny pack fan, you can’t help but appreciate his boldness.

4. Overalls ​

When’s the last time you saw a man wearing overalls and wearing them so well? Karon gets bonus style points for the black and white bandana tied around his leg. What a clever touch!

What do you think of overalls?

How would you style them into a grunge look? Would you wear Karon’s outfit? Let us know below!