Paul wearing a jacket by Polo Ralph Lauren, thrifted sweater by Paul Frank, thrifted scarf by Burberry, pants by Standard Cloth from Urban Outfitters, and shoes by Bass

A senior at the University of California, Irvine, Paul’s been noticed for his distinctive campus style. He was awarded “Best Dressed” at his first job as a cashier at the university’s bookstore, wherein the combination of an American Apparel bow-tie and loosely fit khaki button-up from Polo was, he himself had deemed, his most memorable outfit. But that was four years ago when he was only a freshman, and since then his style has evolved into a solid uniform of hip minimalism.

We talked to Paul about his favorite things in fashion as of late, and why dressing well, to him, could affect our everyday lives.

What is your favorite item of clothing or accessory that you currently own?
Definitely my A.P.C. raw denims in petite standard. I’ve been wearing them a lot so now they fit me remarkably well. They wear like a custom-made pair of jeans, which is any denim-lover’s fantasy. When I first got them, they were (understandably) stiff!

What are some of your fashion aspirations?
I think once my A.P.C. denims wear out, I’d like to go for some more raw denim – it’d be nice to own multiple. More outerwear – like a pea coat, for instance – would also be nice. I’d like to have them at hand – just in case I ever go to the East Coast or something. Also, I think a guy could never own enough shoes. Red Wings, I have my eye on you.

Do you have an all-time favorite brand?
I don’t have an absolute favorite, but I think Zara is pretty amazing. I own a maroon varsity jacket from there, and it’s become a pretty solid staple in my closet. To me, fit is most important, and that’s why I’m such a sucker for Zara: their stuff happens to fit me incredibly well!

Since you mentioned staple items, do you have any others?
I have this pair of suede buck shoes that go with pretty much everything I wear. Not to mention, they add a nice lil’ something to my outfits. Other staples are my thick navy windbreaker jacket from Polo and my A.P.C. raw denims.

If you had to wear one outfit every day, what would you wear?
I’m really big on comfort, so I’d wear my A.P.C. jeans, a nice gray thermal, my black American Apparel hoodie (which is marvelously soft and comfy), and this green puffer vest from Uniqlo that’s a hand-me-down from my older brother. For shoes, suede bucks.

In what case would you buy an item that’s a little bit pricier than normal?
If a shirt or pair of jeans fit me like a mannequin, I’d invest in a heartbeat.

What trend do you think should never make a comeback?
Baggy JNCO jeans, which were pretty big in the ‘90s. Also, Ed Hardy. I saw a guy wearing an Ed Hardy hoodie with pajama pants at the mall yesterday – it wasn’t pretty.

If someone asked you for advice on style, what would be the first thing you’d tell them?
Try it on before handing over your money. It’s got to fit – and when I say fit I mean fit well.

Where do you get your style inspiration from? Any specific blogs or magazines?
I used to go on Lookbook, but not so much anymore. Right now, I’m really into this blog called the Midwestyle. Other than that, my style inspiration mostly comes from people-watching, and from there seeing what works and what doesn’t. If I see something that catches my eye, I’ll keep it in mind.

How would you describe the role fashion plays in your life?  How significant is it to you?
I’m convinced that fashion is interwoven with every aspect in life.  For the style-conscious, what you wear is an expression of who you are. How you present yourself shows how you want others to see you, which in turn says a lot about yourself. Plus, I think dressing up and being fashion-conscious is a great way to instill confidence and positivity into your life, because every day you’ll wake up thinking, “I’m going to look and feel awesome today.”

Paul is currently the director of the UCI Bookstore’s fashion and lifestyle blog, called Lifestyled. Check it out here.