Family Style
For this Sudbury High School student, fashion education started early.
If there’s such a thing as a fashion gene, 16-year-old Aya Muramatsu was born with one. Mom, Dava, is the owner of the edgy, upscale Matsu boutique on Newbury Street, and Dad, Masayuki, imports Japanese modern-design products. “I’ve been brought up in a really high-style house,” explains the low-key junior at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School. But her wardrobe is strictly her own invention. “I’m trendy, but I only wear what looks good on me,” says Muramatsu, who mixes quirky, adventurous items with simpler, unfussy pieces. She also shuns bright hues, preferring a muddy palette that friends have dubbed “Aya colors.” Unlike most kids her age, Muramatsu isn’t impressed with designer labels. “They’re so overly advertised and commercial,” moans Muramatsu, who prefers a quieter, more personal approach to what she wears. Case in point: More than a year ago, Muramatsu’s boyfriend plucked a red string from a school locker and tied it around her wrist. She’s never taken it off.
Where She Shops
FOR COOL STUFF
Muramatsu hits Bloomingdale's (The Mall at Chestnut Hill, 617-630-6000, bloomingdales.com) for True Religion jeans and hip, contemporary lines, and she likes National Jean Company (34 Langley Road, Newton Centre, 617-969-2888, nationaljeancompany.com) for great jackets and layering pieces. And, of course, there's Mom's store, Matsu (259 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-266-9707, matsuboston.com).
FOR BARGAINS
"I go to Loehmann's [1290 Worcester Street, Natick, 508-650-0772, loehmanns.com] when I'm looking for nothing in particular," says Muramatsu. And, she says, "I'm good at finding designer bags and shoes at T.J. Maxx" (437 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, 978-443-7361, tjmaxx.com).
FOR INSPIRATION
Muramatsu is a big fan of window shopping and people watching on Newbury Street. She loves checking out the creative displays at Rugby by Ralph Lauren (342 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-247-2801, rugby.com) and Marc Jacobs (81 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-425-0707, marcjacobs.com), with a side trip to Barneys New York (Copley Place, Boston, 617-385-3300, barneys.com).
