Woolly Fashion: Lillia Hammond and Peter Klisiwecz

My knowledge of fashion doesn’t go far past a couple of Project Runway seasons, but I know that it’s a valuable way for people to express various aspects of their identity. I grew up attending a small school in Ohio with a dress code. I adored my school, but self-expression through dress was far from a priority there. Since arriving at Amherst, I’ve been amazed by the different ways people have expressed themselves through their dress. I’ve seen how clothes can radiate confidence and other unseen aspects of our identity. I wanted to learn more.

To do this, I reached out to Lillia Hammond ’25 and Peter Klisiwecz ’25, two people who I find very stylish. They’re the co-presidents of Spectra, Amherst’s student-run physics and astronomy club. They exemplify how Amherst students can succeed in STEM while also maintaining their creativity and individuality.

Hammond describes her style as “cohesive and intentional.” She takes her time to make sure “everything [she] wears goes together, even down to [her] socks, jewelry, and other accessories.” Klisiwecz looks for clothes that fit a vibe his friends describe as “Northeast dad.” He describes it as “some combination of Americana with the occasional foray into classic menswear.” When he prepares his outfits, he thinks of it more simply: wearing clothes that feel “authentic” to him.

This vibe wasn’t as concrete for Klisiwecz in high school. He didn’t put as much thought into how he dressed back then. He wore chinos and quarter-zips because that was “just what [he] thought you wore if you wanted to look decent and put together.” During his sophomore year here, Klisiwecz started to get some fashion advice from creators on TikTok, which inspired him to buy a pair of “Wrangler Cowboy-Cut jeans.” These jeans feature prominently in his wardrobe today. They made him realize that clothes’ “fit and cut” really change how your silhouette looks. Those jeans pushed him toward his current style, which he says unintentionally emulated his (Northeast) dad.

For Hammond, fashion became “more meaningful” post-Covid. After spending months wearing “only sweatpants and hoodies,” she decided to make every outfit count when leaving the house. This is where that intentionality developed. Hammond started trying different styles to figure out what she liked and what combinations. This is something she still enjoys doing today.

Despite having different vibes and approaches, fashion means similar things to Klisiwecz and Hammond. Klisiwecz views fashion as self-expression — he tries to “get the vibe of what [he] is wearing to match the vibe of [himself] as a person.” He understands it’s impossible to completely control what others think of him, but notes that people “generally do not have very much trouble” guessing where he is from. He thinks that is because how he dresses successfully conveys his self-concept. Hammond similarly views fashion as a way to “tell the world a bit about who we are.” She uses it to play with the concept of femininity and display her creativity. Hammond is a talented photographer who has enjoyed emphasizing clothing in her portraits.

These are just two examples of what fashion means to Amherst students, but I think Hammond and Klisiwecz did a great job of encapsulating why it means so much to many. Amherst is a beautiful mix of diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We are all so different, and fashion is a perfect way for us to express our individuality.