On most college campuses, you’ll find a strong sense of school pride — from students repping spirited hats and hoodies to drinking from water bottles donning university logos. But at NYU — where our campus is uniquely integrated into the trendy Greenwich VIllage, and many students dress to the nines just to eat at Downstein — it seems that school merch is often a no-go. The NYU Bookstore does, however, have a lot of school merchandise to sort through — some cute, some questionable. As a person with incredibly average style, I’ve used my expertise to sort through what’s hot and what’s not.
5. NYU tube top
This is atrocious, and the person who designed this piece of merch should pay for their crimes. This polyester-spandex tube top features a gaudy argyle pattern of purple and white diamonds. The icing on the ugly violet cake is the NYU logo slapped right in the center. I have to wonder how this piece of merch was approved by anyone. If I saw someone wearing this at an NYU basketball game, I’d root for the other team. It’s just plain ugly.
4. Stern baseball cap
Hats can be a brave accessory — sometimes a tasteful trucker hat can be the perfect addition to an outfit, but a hat can also be its very downfall. Can you guess which category this hat falls into? What’s worse than having a bright purple eye sore on your head? Having “Stern” printed on it. This very standard purple baseball cap might be perfect for the newly admitted NYU Sternie, but if worn on campus, you will likely turn heads for the wrong reason. Stern bros should stick to the suit and avoid this hat.
3. NYU tote bag
This is a peculiar accessory, and I’m torn on my thoughts. Covered in adorable purple doodles of the NYU bobcat mascot, Washington Square Park, the Eighth Street subway station and more, this canvas tote bag captures the quintessential NYU campus vibe. My only grievance is the color — as much as I respect the Violet pride, I wish the hue was a bit more subtle. Would I use this? No. If I saw someone with this, would I think it was cute? Maybe.
2. Taylor Swift’s NYU sweatshirt
You might remember when Taylor Swift wore this sweatshirt on an outing with Matty Healy in 2023. I wouldn’t be surprised if the news brought every Swiftie in New York City straight to the bookstore, stripping the shelves of this striped sweatshirt. There’s a reason Swift herself wore this item a full year after her NYU commencement speech — it’s just plain cute. Color blocked with a bright purple top and bottom and a gray middle section, this sweatshirt puts a retro twist on school spirit. It can be styled down with sweatpants or a pair of baggy jeans, or elevated with a black skirt to match “The Eras Tour” icon herself.
1. Classic NYU light gray hoodie
Yes, I do think the best piece of NYU merch is the most basic gray hoodie on the planet. What can I say? I’m a man. This hoodie has many things going for it — for one, it’s a neutral color and can be paired with many other types of clothing. Someone in my Spanish class layered this with a Carhartt jacket, and it looked fantastic. Like any good sweatshirt, this one is warm and soft. In addition, if you size up, it has a great oversized, comfy feel. A piece like this provides so many ways for students to rep their school but still look good while doing it. Am I ranking this sweatshirt first because I own it? Maybe. But its combination of adaptability and effortless school spirit might just make it the best item in the bookstore.
Contact Dylan Henschen at [email protected].