Shop embroidered jeans, embellished blouses, and '90s-inspired skirts from $7
The Off Campus fever is no joke — whether you’re watching (perhaps re-watching) for the hockey action, on-screen romance, or delicious plot tropes, this series has taken the internet by storm.
Though I’m enjoying all of the above, I’ve been just as intrigued by the on-screen wardrobes of characters Hannah Wells and Allie Hayes — so I tapped the show’s costume designer, Charlene Akuamoah, for insight on these fashion choices.
“One thing I love to do in costumes is really have the clothes become a part of a memory or [...] the storyline that kind of weaves characters together,” Akuamoah exclusively tells PEOPLE, noting that she and her team were “very deliberate and intentional” about every look on the show.
From Hannah’s embroidered jeans and embellished knits to Allie’s dramatic takes on ’90s-inspired maxi skirts and denim jumpsuits, I’m unpacking Akuamoah’s favorite pieces of the season with details on her inspo for the (dare I say, blush-worthy) looks. Shop similar styles on Amazon starting at $7.
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Hannah’s Retro Cardigans
Zeagoo Button-Down Cardigan Jacket
Credit: Liane Hentscher/Prime; Amazon
Hannah dresses a bit more conservatively at the start of the show, an intentional choice by Akuamoah. “It’s kind of a symbolism of how she was feeling,” she says. “Internally, it’s when you are kind of going through things, or if there’s trauma that you haven’t resolved or worked through yet, there are pieces [or styles] of clothing that you kind of gravitate towards and re-wear over and over again because it makes you feel safe.”
Specifically, Hannah gravitates toward cardigans in bright colors and interesting knits — like a brightly-striped United Colors of Benetton sweater that Akuamoah calls “so cute” and a red-and-white Guest in Residence crocheted jacket, another favorite of the costume designer — along with openwork detailing and cable-knit textures. Get the look with a crocheted cardigan, multicolored open cardigan, or pink cardigan with faux pearl buttons, all of which have a decidedly Wellsy-like vibe.
Cozy Comfort
Akuamoah also wanted to showcase Hannah’s journey with trauma through her wardrobe. “One of the things we wanted to speak to is the safety in pieces of clothing that you own,” she says. “Whether it’s something that you bought weeks ago or something that you’ve had since childhood, it[…] reminds you that you’re safe and that you’re loved. And we wanted to kind of highlight that.”
Allie’s Fresh Take on Denim
Tankaneo Pleated Denim V-Neck Top
Credit: Prime Video; Amazon
While Hannah’s clothing choices are touched on in The Deal by Elle Kennedy, Allie’s required more imagination. “With Allie, it was kind of reading into who she was in the book and then moving from there and really making her the fashion-forward drama student that she is,” says Akuamoah. While her Drunk Shakespeare fairy look and Jennifer Lopez-inspired party dress are absolutely iconic, there are ways to add that drama into your life in a more utilitarian way, too.
If you want to punch up a boring denim style the way Allie might, look for fresh takes on classic pieces. In other words, aim higher than jeans. Try a dark blue denim corseted jacket, pairing it with a black mini skirt or wide-leg trousers. For jeans themselves, think major embellishments like pleats and corset ties. Allie doesn’t shy away from retro looks either — case in point, her form-fitting denim jumpsuit. Style a similar one with white sneakers for daytime wear or dress it up for the evening with strappy heels.
How the Outfits Came Together
Rather than working directly with fashion houses, Akuamoah mimicked how the characters themselves would shop when sourcing their outfits. “Where would Allie go to find her denim jumpsuit? Where would Hannah go to shop for her cardigan for Thanksgiving? That was kind of our strategy,” she says, noting that many clothes were pulled from thrift stores and purchased on sites like Poshmark.
Hannah and Allie’s Outerwear Moments
Utcoco Faux Leather Motorcycle Jacket
Since Off Campus takes place in the fall, Hannah and Allie layer up in a variety of jackets and coats on-screen. I personally love Hannah’s denim biker jacket, which she wears multiple times throughout the series, so I can’t wait to add this similar jacket and a Levi’s denim surplus jacket to my closet.
Her counterpart, however, makes bolder choices. “Allie, she’s just our fashion girl, and her outfits depend on her mood,” says Akuamoah. To copy her style, opt for layers like a dramatic long denim coat or boxy aviator jacket.
And, of course, we can’t forget Allie’s Lioness red jacket, which Hannah borrows, too. Get the look in a boxy motorcycle jacket with contrasting stitch detailing, which you can layer over a fitted tee and wide-leg jeans.
Best Supporting Role Goes to… *That* Red Jacket
While much of the clothing Hannah and Allie wore on Off Campus is completely sold out — which Akuamoah calls “such a beautiful feeling” — there’s one piece in particular that made major waves, and it’s the red Lioness jacket, currently unavailable everywhere. “I think that jacket was so perfect because it really sums up their friendship,” says Akuamoah. “We see Allie wearing [it] in the very first episode, and then we see it again on Hannah when she’s emotionally grown a lot more. That was kind of my favorite moment.”
Hannah’s Embroidered Jeans
Flamingals Floral-Embroidered Straight-Leg Jeans
Credit: Liane Hentscher/Prime; Amazon
Reusing pieces was a conscious choice for Akuamoah while sourcing outfits for the show. “I really wanted to highlight the fact that we’re not going to be wearing new clothes every single day,” she says. Specifically, she thought Hannah would gravitate toward pieces that made her “feel cute but also comfortable, safe, protected, and covered.” This is evident in her floral, embroidered jeans, which she wears on repeat.
Embroidered jeans are definitely having a moment, so this is the best opportunity to draw inspiration from Hannah’s closet. While her exact jeans are sold out, you can make a statement with subtly placed embroidery or by turning to this Madewell pair with tonal flowers.
Don’t Forget About Garrett
Yes, the major fashion moments happen with Hannah and Allie, but don’t overlook Garrett’s wardrobe either. “When we first see him, he’s in darker colors, he’s very moody, [and] his focus is on hockey,” Akuamoah says. After meeting Hannah, though, his clothes brighten up. “It really reflects what she meant to him and how she changed him and his outlook on life,” she explains.
Allie’s ’90s-Inspired Maxi Skirts
Scarlet Darkness Long Plaid Skirt
In the show, Allie’s obsessed with Hannah and Garrett’s plan to fake date, but I’m obsessed with her commitment to ’90s-inspired maxi skirts. They’re equal parts fashion-forward and comfortable, and they can easily lean more casual with a slouchy tee or be dressy with a silk blouse and heels. Play up the nostalgia with styles in white layered tulle or rich prints.
Confidence Is Key
For Akuamoah, the friendship between Hannah and Allie transcends the screen, in part due to their contrasting style: “I’m really proud of the huge discourse happening right now online, about fashion in general, because of this show, [...]about Hannah’s closet vs. Allie’s closet, and understanding that these looks are making young women feel more confident.”
Hannah’s Embellished Tops
Ivicoer Short-Sleeve V-Neck Sweater
Knits, knits, and more knits. As Hannah gains confidence, she starts choosing more fitted tops with embellished details. “We start her off as the cutesy girl, and she’s wearing cardigans and clogs,” says Akuamoah. “And then we move her into more of the sexier vibe as the episodes go along, and as she gets a little more liberated.”
No Hannah-inspired closet is complete without a knit top or two. Think a pretty green polo with a contrasting collar, fit-and-flare blouse with tied details, or ribbed-knit Henley with lace trim, all of which you can wear with a pair of straight-leg jeans.
Hannah’s Thanksgiving Outfit
For the Thanksgiving episode, Akuamoah put Hannah in a fitted cashmere cardigan and brown corduroy mini skirt that felt “cuddly and warm” and spoke to “safety and comfort.” She adds that the ensemble was “an extension, aesthetically,” of Hannah and Garrett’s hand squeeze moment in the car beforehand. “I wanted her to feel emotionally and physically like Garrett’s safe space,” she explains.