As someone who has an unhealthy obsession with shopping with a bad, bad case of what I like to call ‘Girl Math’ syndrome, I justify using my employee discount to buy clothes for whenever I want to cosplay as a History major at Barnard. 

In January of 2023, I decided to commit to listening to a financial literacy podcast consistently as my New Years’ resolution. Come summer, I decided to apply for a retail job. I found that in the six-months of budgeting, my shopping habits haven’t changed one bit. So, what better way to lower my spending than to apply for a retail job! To me and my Girl Math syndrome, if I work at my favorite retail store, I could then be blessed with the all-time honor: an employee discount. 

I work a couple days a week at Free People’s flagship store, so I see lots and lots of their clothing in our inventory. Because Free People and Barnard are the two things I love most in this world (I am exaggerating), I see clear similarities between Free People’s top-selling items and people/places on campus.

Starting off strong, the OG tank that put Free People on the map, the Love Letter Cami. If you wear this tank, you are either a History major with a concentration in Human Rights. You are from the Bay Area, and was Birdy’s top listener on Spotify in 2017. 

Next, a fan favorite. The Lady Lux layering top in any color. I am a fan of any person who is able to style this top. If you wear this, you are definitely a Political Science major, and your minor is either Art History or your concentration is Creative Writing. You are either from Long Island or a suburban town outside of Boston, and I more likely than not want to be your best friend. 

Lastly, we have the Low-Back Seamless Tee. If you wear this top on a night out, you are a Bio or Chem major. You are from Connecticut or New Jersey, and you have probably borrowed this top from me because we are definitely friends. 

These clothing items are the best-selling items at Free People, and I will continue to explore Barnard in the lens of my store’s popular inventory.

Staff Writer, Lauren Woodroffe, hard at work, captured by Internal Editor, Jessica Tsang