Stylish Bostonians: Sophia Chou

Name: Sophia Chou

Age: 25

Occupation: Dental student and fashion blogger (phosphenefashion.com)

From: South End, Boston

Her inspirations: “I’m very inspired by spaces, by a mood, by music, by architecture. What determines what I wear is intuitive; it’s an expression of what I feel.”

Favorite stores: “I like to mix and match old and new. I wear lots of vintage—from thrifting, and various buyers on Etsy. I like mixing vintage with some new pieces from stores like H&M, Zara, and Barney’s. My shopping experience is really random; it’s really a mix of whatever’s out there.

Her signature accessories: “I used to be a bag person. I’d say I’m all about whatever’s practical, functional. The main deciding factor now is whether I can store my laptop. I like to accessorize by shoes now, ranging from flats to stacked heels to dainty heels—which are a little more elegant, refined”

Favorite designers: “Lately I’m completely obsessed with Dries van Noten. The pieces are very elegant, very powerful in an extravagant way. I love clothes that make women feel powerful, like they could go out and conquer the world. Lanvin is another designer—again elegant, feminine and powerful. Also, Jil Sander—clean, refined, minimalist, architectural pieces. It’s simple, understated cool.”

How she describes Boston style: “There’s really no distinct look in Boston. The identity is a little confused, mostly due to the migratory student population. It’s very hit or miss when it comes to college students. Now that street fashion websites like Chictopia are growing, it seems like people are growing more aware of how they dress and how people around them dress. It’s like peer pressure for fashion.”

There’s a ton of urban, diverse, educated people in Boston—people that can really express themselves more. There’s a lot of potential. Each neighborhood has it’s own look. It’s kind of a game—depending on which area I’m preparing to go to, I find myself dressing a certain way.”

How her style has evolved through the years: “Back in undergraduate school, I was very unsure of who I was at the time. I’d wear whatever made me feel apart from the crowd. I also went through a punk rock phase. I feel like I can incorporate these phases now, in a more refined, more adult, more mature way. I’m more in tune with how I feel.

I’ve learned a lot about fashion over the years—I’ve studied the collections and the details. I’ve become more aware of what’s out there by studying aspects of design and the anatomy of pieces. It’s important to have a foundation of knowledge; once you have that, you can really have fun with it.