What We Wore: Fashion Lessons from the Penn Party Scene

Courtesy of Pinterest

When I moved into Penn last fall, I thought I knew what to expect: long lines at Smokes, Thursday night house parties, themed darties, late nights blurred into early mornings. What I didn’t anticipate was how central fashion would feel to the experience, and how much I would learn just from watching what people wore.

Because here's the thing: Penn is full of fashion girls. Real ones. Girls who pull off archival pieces, know their way around a microtrend, and can throw together a night-out look that feels effortless and editorial all at once. Some nights, stepping into a party felt less like a random frat basement and more like an unofficial runway.

That being said, when you see enough outfits—good, bad, and everything in between—you start to notice patterns. And if freshman year taught me anything, it's that some trends deserve their permanent place in the going-out canon... and others? It's time to let them go.

The Staples That Need a Refresh

The Black Crop Top and High-Waisted Jeans Combo

Let's start with the obvious. The black top + high-rise jeans uniform isn’t bad per se, it’s just tired. In 2017, it was groundbreaking. In 2024, it’s the sartorial equivalent of “I didn’t know what to wear.” It's time for a refresh: new silhouettes, new proportions, a little more personality.

Cropped Lace Corset Tops

Back in the early 2020s, Urban Outfitters’ lace corset had its moment. But fashion has moved on from the “Instagram baddie” aesthetic. We're in a post-corset era now, and the vibe is less tight and shiny, more draped, sheer, and interesting.

Ripped Jeans

I'm all for intentional distressing, but full-blown knee rips and shredded hems feel out of sync with the more polished direction fashion is heading. Cutouts? Yes. Rips? I'm leaving them in freshman fall.

Oversized Sequins

Blame the Eras Tour or maybe just fast fashion saturation, but giant sequins have reached peak exhaustion. A little sparkle is still magic, but the best-dressed girls this spring wore sequins with subtlety: delicate beading, vintage shimmer, not plastic plates glued onto a mini dress.

Leather Jackets (As a Default)

Leather jackets are timeless. But when everyone shows up wearing the same cropped moto over a black outfit, it starts to feel like a uniform. I’m keeping leather, but on my legs, not my shoulders.

The Trends I'm Taking With Me

Trousers Instead of Jeans

If Penn’s party scene had a quiet revolution this year, it was the rise of trousers. Black, slouchy, low-rise or cinched at the waist, trousers made every outfit look cooler, sharper, and just a little more European.

Low-Waisted, Bootcut, and Embellished Denim:

While high-waisted jeans faded into the background, better denim came forward: washed vintage blues, bootcut silhouettes, and low-rise fits that felt both effortless and fashion-forward. Some of the coolest girls I saw out were wearing jeans embroidered with rhinestones, patches, or metallic thread: small touches that made a big difference.

Full-Length Tops and Interesting Cuts

This year confirmed it: a full-length cami or a high-neck, low-back top is so much chicer than another basic crop. One of my favorites was the Intimissimi slightly sheer long-sleeve: simple, slinky, and elegant, the kind of piece that hints at skin without giving everything away. Tied halters, delicate sheer layers, silk camisoles straight out of an early 2000s model-off-duty moodboard—these are the pieces that looked fresh. 

Statement Bottoms, Simple Tops

Minimalist up top, maximalist down below. I fell in love with girls who styled sleek camis or ribbed tanks with sequin mini skirts, leather pants, or embroidered micro shorts. 

Slingback Heels and Boots

Another shift: sneakers, while still everywhere, started to feel a little predictable. The most stylish exits from Ubers and Lyfts involved kitten-heeled slingbacks, pointed ankle boots, or black knee-highs—shoes that said, yes, I planned this outfit.

Accessories as Everything

Maybe it’s my Indian roots, but I’m always going to be a maximalist at heart, and this year, accessories really had a moment. Swishy dupatta-like scarves, tiny purses you can barely fit a lip gloss into, skinny belts, and jewelry stacked like an art form. The best outfits were built from the details up.

Trenches After Dark

One of my favorite evolutions was the move away from the leather jacket and toward the trench. A long black trench thrown over a party outfit isn’t just chic, it’s powerful. It's giving 90s supermodel hailing a cab after an afterparty.

Messy Blowouts and Smudgy Glam

Slicked-back buns had their moment, but this spring? It was all about blowouts that looked a little wild, a little slept-in. Eyeliner smudged just enough to feel accidental, a little rockstar, like last night’s party never fully ended.

Surprising Structure

My favorite outfits of the year weren't the loudest, they were the ones where the structure did the talking. An asymmetrical top, a sculptural neckline, a well-placed tie or drape. Clothes that felt designed, not just worn.

It wasn’t trend forecasts or TikTok feeds that shaped my style this year. It was other girls at Penn. I’d be standing in line for a bathroom or dancing at a tiny apartment and suddenly notice it: the swing of a sparkly bag, the glint of rhinestones stitched into denim, the clean line of a silk top tied low in the back. Little style moments everywhere if you were paying attention.

And that's the real joy of fashion here. It’s not about gatekeeping. It’s about walking into a room and thinking, I want to dress like that, and knowing you can.

Featured Image Courtesy of Pinterest