I ran into MORGAN, an art student at Virginia Commonwealth University, on the Downtown Mall wearing an oversized coat by Sessun paired with a dress she’d borrowed from a friend. Her outfit was grounded by Frye boots and accessorized with Academy jewelry by Rachel Albright, Karen Walker sunglasses, and a vintage Coach bag.

I loved her distinct look, including a close crop that she declared “kind of an accident,” but a happy nod to actress Carey Mulligan.

“I really like menswear,” said Morgan when asked about her unique coat. “This was the best menswear I could find that was a woman’s coat.” Morgan lists Chloe Sevigny as her style inspiration, and New York boutique Opening Ceremony as her favorite place to shop.

HELEN, a fiction writer, was chatting with some friends when I spotted her on Elliewood Avenue wearing a J.Jill tunic topped with a Cynthia Rowley cardigan. Her pants and bag are both Banana Republic, and her boots Matisse. Helen is inspired by “oddly juxtaposed colors,” despite the evidence to the contrary. Her gold necklace, a gift from her mother, is a tasteful complement to the deep aubergine of her top.

MIKAELA is an Urban Design student at Parsons in New York City. I spotted her on the Corner and literally gave chase as she slipped out of view into a parking lot. After managing to catch up with her, and apologize for popping out from behind a bush, I found out what she was wearing. “I really like basic things,” Mikaela said. “Stuff that can be used in multiple ways, and layering.”

Inspired by Woody Allen films and giving off “an Annie Hall vibe,” Mikaela wore a shirt from Anthropologie and a dress of Danish design with boots by Jenny B and a Michael Kors bag.