The setting: A sparkling, late summer day at MICA, where rearranging style margins is a varsity sport.
Innovative MICA freshman Catherine Yard is in the running with black, cable-knit leg warmers worn on her arms, a black tank top and her superhero belted-and-laced suede boots worn over jeans.
It's a look that works in the painting studio and on the street, and can stand up to the highest standards of art-school chic.
Age: 18
Major: Illustration.
Hometown: Trenton, N.J.
Self-described look: "Gothic Lolita Punk or 'GLP.' It's a Japanese offshoot of whatever I can find.
The look: Black T-shirt, a necklace "that's Western, but hip," jeans, hair in a casual sweep, shoulder bag with chains and plaid skull applique.
Where it came from: Legwarmers from JC Penney. Boots from Famous Footwear. Necklace from Tomato in New York City. Shoulder bag a commission made by friend Shelby Day in West Virginia.
Love those boots: "You can wear them in any weather as long as it's not 500 degrees."
What's with the legwarmers on the arms? "It was cold one day and I wanted to wear short sleeves."
Favorite online source: "A vendor called Refuse to Be Usual on eBay. She has the most adorable skirts, corsets, hair extensions and socks."
stephanie.shapiro@baltsun.com