Vandy’s most fashionable freshmen: Robbie Saskowski

If you’ve never been lucky enough to sit down and have a conversation with local legend Cape Guy, just know that you’ve been missing out. Robbie Saskowski is easily one of the sweetest, most humble and kind-hearted people you will ever meet.

If you, like most people, have yet to discover the secret to achieving genuine self confidence while ignoring the haters, just take a few pointers from someone who wears a green cape every day.

Tell me about your major and what you’re studying.

Well, technically, I’m undeclared, but I’m planning on triple majoring in engineering science, math, and physics.

*Already dumbfounded* That’s unreal. Where are you from? Give us some background.

Well, I was originally born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When I was one-and-a-half, my family moved to Nashville, so I’ve pretty much grown up here.

Do you like it here?

Oh, I love it here. It’s great. Nice weather. It’s one of two blue cities in a red state.

Tell me about the cape. You’re kind of a legend on Vanderbilt’s campus. It’s not a secret. When did you first introduce the cape into your wardrobe?

The MTAC, the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention, before this last year’s MTAC, I ended up buying the cape and I decided to start wearing it because, you know, I’m a nerd.

I don’t care if people see that. Nobody in my high school really said anything, so there was no discouragement not to. So, I mean, I just wore it. And then I came to Vanderbilt and I didn’t see a reason to stop wearing it.

Have people ever made fun of you for it?

I mean, sometimes. More so jokingly than seriously. It’s never been like, “Really? You wear a cape?” It’s more like, “Wow, you’re such a nerd,” but in a nice teasing way. I like being called a nerd. It’s true and it’s not a bad thing.

What message are you trying to send the world with what you wear?

I guess I’m sending the message that I’m a nerd and that I like anime and, I mean, it’s a good message to send. It’s a good way to find people who like anime because they’re not always the most extroverted. And then there are people who don’t want to talk to nerds and it’s like, “Ok, don’t talk to me.” Like, I’m a nerd, you’re going to find that out pretty quickly after meeting me anyway. No reason to hide it.

What do your parents think about the way you dress?

They like the fact that I dress independently, I guess. My parents love that I’m cape guy around campus. My mother ended up finding out without me telling her. She works here and she was interviewing a student for a position in the lab she works in and somehow mentioned that she had a son and showed a picture of me and the student went, “Oh, I know him. That’s Cape Guy!”

So, is this a fashion trend that you think should totally catch on and become a thing, or would you prefer that it just stay your own trademark?

I would absolutely love it if everyone started wearing capes. *Laughing* I somehow don’t see that happening. But I think it would be great. I mean, I’m not territorial over the cape thing. Occasionally, I’ll make a joke if someone else is wearing a cape like, “Oh, I’ve got competition now!”

But I really don’t mind, honestly. If everybody started wearing a cape, I would be very flattered.

What’s your least favorite guy’s fashion trend that you see around campus?

Saggy pants. I don’t really want to see half of a guy’s butt every time they bend over.

I don’t think a lot of people do.

At this point in the interview, I looked over to Chris, the photographer and last week’s most fashionable freshman, and asked, “Chris, how do you feel about saggy pants?”

He looked glum and admitted, “Yeah. I’m a culprit”

Have you gone through any significant fashion phases that you may or may not regret?

When I was a little kid, I would always wear around a pair of rubber boots everywhere.

Aw. That’s cute though! What’s wrong with that?

Nothing! But it’s one of those things that my mother’s friends still tease me about occasionally.

Would you ever consider trying out the frat boy look?

*Smirking* No.

Who are some of your fashion icons? They don’t even have to be people. Where do you draw inspiration from?

Anime.

I know literally nothing about anime. Are there any specific series you like in particular?

In terms of fashion? I mean, there’s Attack on Titan where the cape is from. I don’t know. The thing about anime fashion is that most of it’s not easy to wear. It’s either: A. School uniforms, which I don’t really want to wear, or stuff that’s completely impractical that’d be awesome to wear, but I’d be wearing like 20 belts and I’m just like, Nah.

It’s a lot of look.

I mean, I’d love to wear it, just not every day.

What is it about anime that you like so much?

*Eyes light up* I don’t know, I really just love the art style. I also just feel like the plot is really nice. A major part of my ideology on life is never giving up and that’s a very central idea in Japanese philosophy that ends up coming through in the anime. So, I can really connect to it.

And often times, it’s about people who are younger, like high school students and stuff. So, it’s more relatable than just a bunch of shows about adults.

Do you see your style evolving over the coming years or do you see yourself wearing the cape to future job interviews as a 25-year-old adult?

*Chuckling* I’m sure my style will evolve. I mean, hey, new animes will come out. Maybe I’ll wearing something from those. Gotta keep things fresh.

So, you can see yourself wearing anime outfits to a professional job interview?

Oh yeah. Have you seen how the physics department dresses? I’m planning on being a physicist. I wouldn’t stand out.

What is one thing that you’d like people to know about you that your clothing doesn’t already tell them?

That’s a tough one. Let’s see. Maybe that I play D & D.

What’s that?

Dungeons and Dragons.

Do you sleep with the cape on?

No. No, I don’t.

My roommate wanted to know.

No, I mean, it wouldn’t be good for the cape. It would kind of get ripped. It’s an article of clothing, not a physical part of me.

I think people probably think of it as a part of you.

I think they do, too. *Laughing* I don’t sleep in it. And I don’t shower in it.

You seem to have a pretty concrete sense of style that you’re really happy with. To someone who’s unsure or maybe just trying out what everyone else is doing, what advice would you give on finding their own style?

I’d probably say, don’t be afraid to wear something unique. If you think about it, you’d think, Oh, a guy in a cape. That’s not going to be particularly popular. But it is! You can’t be afraid to wear something that’s out of the box. Have your own style and don’t think, What’s everyone going to think about this? Just do it!

What would you say if someone were to laugh at you for looking different?

I don’t have anything that I’d really need to say to them. I guess I’d just chuckle a little and be on my way.

You have such an awesome attitude.

I mean, I’m wearing a cape. It was not originally like, Oh, I’m wearing this specifically to start a fashion trend. I just started wearing it and people seemed to like it. It was never intended to be like, I need to look amazing.

I really don’t need to make everybody think I look amazing. There are going to be people who will think, That’s lame. And they are free to think that! I don’t need to try and convince them otherwise.

Photo Credit: Christopher Bell – last week’s Most Fashionable Freshman