Haley Zaleski wore a silk cow-print skirt from Anthropologie, patchwork denim vest from American Eagle and bold red cowboy boots from TJ Maxx when we met. “I used my red cowboy boots as the staple piece for today’s outfit,” she said. “I love the Western vibe lately. It’s been a big inspiration for how I dress.”
Each element draws from a longer history. Cow print was popular in the 1960s and ’70s as part of the counterculture’s embrace of playful patterns. Denim jackets, a classic since the late 19th century when Levi Strauss first created durable workwear for miners and laborers, symbolize reinvention and timeless cool. Cowboy boots, designed in the 1800s for practicality on horseback, became icons of American pop culture and rebellious style. (If you are looking for cowboy boots, I saw beautiful pairs at the We Thieves at 1735 Massachusetts Ave., near Porter Square in Cambridge, that, fortunately for you, are not my size.)
Worn in Cambridge and Somerville today, these pieces carry history into a modern spirit of experimentation.
Haley, a visual merchandiser, is a Medford resident who knows the neighborhoods well – she worked in Cambridge and lived in Somerville – and sees the differences as central to fashion. “Somerville, especially around Davis Square, leans vintage and thrifted, lots of Y2K and eclectic looks,” she said. “Cambridge, with so many students and professionals, tends more toward business casual.” Her favorite spots include local institutions such as The Garment District in The Port in Cambridge and Buffalo Exchange in Somerville’s Davis Square, and Savers when she can grab a ride – the closest is in West Roxbury. She praises all for their affordability and variety.
The New England climate also shapes style choices. “A fun coat is perfect for showing different styles, colors and patterns while still being practical with the moody weather,” Haley said. She loves trench coats and camo outerwear.
Cambridge and Somerville fashion is “trend-driven, comfortable and athleisure-friendly,” Haley said, but she encourages newcomers to “not feel pressured to follow trends” – not when the area’s thrifting and vintage culture is so liberating. Like her own retailed outfit for the day, it encourages reimagining garments with long histories, adapting them to the needs and creativity of today.
A stronger
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