After the temperatures that hit on the day of the Puddle Jump, no one can deny winter has hit us with its best shot. Yet even in the bitter cold days of this winter wonderland weather, Orion McBean still manages to make her outfits one-of-a-kind.

Her gray Urban Outfitters coat drapes over her sheer Forever 21 cheetah print blouse. Gray H&M leg warmers are layered on top of black Forever 21 leather leggings while chestnut Asos boots make this outfit fit for the wintery snow. Fur, a black turban headband, and a graphic silver necklace complete this winter ensemble, making it uniquely Orion–chic with a little edge.

Even from a young age, McBean’s fashion combined articles that no one else had. When she was in elementary school, her mother would buy her clothing from small boutiques around New York City.
“Looking back,” says McBean, “I remember wanting to look like everyone else. But now, I’m glad my mother exposed me to other brands of clothing – I know have the mentality to not by things because of the brand, but because of the style!”

Although her overall fashion taste is “chic with a touch of edgy grunge,” McBean’s fashion really depends upon her mood and location. Usually a lover of dark and neutral earth tones such as gray, taupe, and brown, she has recently ventured over to the colorful side. She tries to brighten up her outfits with a hint of color with lipstick, nail polish, or hair accessories.

McBean is constantly changing locations from her home in NYC to the Bates campus, so she tries to incorporate both aspects into her everyday style. At Bates, she tries to embody the infamous flannel and Bean Boots, but never hesitates to jazz it up with her own accessories.

“I have to make my outfit me even when I’m in cold Maine,” states McBean. “My style is part of my identity and one of the ways I express how I feel, and largely who I am.”
This Batesie’s fashion icons are her mother and aunt for their simple, chic style and great quality of clothing. Her mother embodies classic and timeless pieces from vintage and thrift shops around the city, while her aunt always looks red-carpet ready with chunky jewelry and flawless make-up.

As for famous fashion idols, McBean admires Rihanna for her edgy sense of style, but she also loves the sleek and clean look of Kim Kardashian and model Chanel Iman for the neutral make-up that she sports off the runway.
McBean thinks style comes very easily to her and believes it has to be effortless.

“At the end of the day, I want to comfortable, so when I think too hard about my outfits, I don’t feel comfortable. So I try by best to just put on what I want.”
Her favorite fashion go-to is leggings.

“I have a curvy shape,” states McBean, “so sometimes it is hard for me to find the perfect fit pants.” She likes to wear leggings that have different patterns and embellishments, and she even adds spikes and studs to her old ones to spice them up for her everyday wear.

McBean often browses through the clothing racks in H&M, Forever 21, Necessary Clothing, Uniqlo and city thrift shops. She also is addicted to shopping online at Asos.com, Lulus.com and Vibejewels.com, her mother’s online boutique.

Looking to the future, McBean definitely thinks her style will evolve with the new trends, and with that, her viewpoint of fashion will mature. She hopes to experiment with different blouses, shoes, and pants but probably won’t until she returns to the city and get involved in her career. She looks forward to embracing her womanhood style and seeing where the new trends will take her.

Look out for Orion McBean embracing her ever-changing style of edgy chic, on the stage of Schaeffer Theater for Sankofa, Dynasty Step, and other dance productions. You can also hear what she has to say about fashion and other happenings around Bates through her articles in The Bates Student.