There is no girl who knows how to style a simple pair of jeans quite like Jessica Alba knows how. She’s the girl next door; if the girl next door to you were to have an impeccable fashion sense and the confidence to go along with it. After all, how many girls do you know that can make denim look elegant? Living in Los Angeles, Alba manages to maintain a classic and feminine style while incorporating bohemian elements into her wardrobe.

One contributing factor to Alba’s style is its simplicity. Although she occasionally changes up her outfits, she still looks like the same Jessica we all know and love. And that’s a good thing! Nowadays, celebrities would do anything to get noticed around town and get the attention of the paparazzi. After all, how many times has Kim Kardashian worn a derivative of the same old bodycon skirt or dress to go “grocery shopping?” It gets really old, really fast. Alba’s fashion sense is relatable to girls all around the country, especially college students like us.

“She’s classy and sophisticated,” sophomore Anthony Maristany said. “Her style expresses elegance without losing sexiness.”

She stays comfortable without resorting to a sweatpants and T-shirt habit. One of her go-to outfit staples is the timeless cardigan. Regardless of the season, a cardigan can always be incorporated into a look. Alba strategically layers her outfits to look chic, while still remaining casual. Whenever she needs to look a little bit more professional or fancy, she can easily swap one of her cardigans for another of her staples: the blazer!

Sometimes, Alba changes up her look and takes fashion risks. One of these risks was a pair of electric blue harem pants. Many girls may shy away from such a trend because of its over-the-top feel, but Alba knew exactly how to style the pants in a way where they were still able to fit her style. She kept the rest of her outfit minimalistic by pairing the pants with a basic white tank top, but still played up the fun-feel with a pair of pointed flats. Another outfit Alba took a chance on was when she incorporated a knee-length, vintage denim skirt into her streetwear look. Some girls may shy away from a skirt like this because it is not short or tight enough for 2015, but Alba flawlessly styled the skirt by pairing it with a basic gray tank top, a skinny belt and some cute wedge sandals. The skirt could have easily looked like something Sandy in “Grease” would have worn, but Alba was able to modernize and pull it off.

“Her sartorial choices are high-fashion without being unnecessarily ostentatious, which is a rarity for celebrities,” sophomore Bancy Makavana said.

Jessica Alba is a trendsetter because her style is timeless. The seasons may change, and new trends will come and go, but Alba’s outfits will always be in style. She knows exactly how to maintain her fashion identity while experimenting with different looks; every girl could use her for inspiration.

words_katya bachorz. photo collage_yili wu.