My name is Charlotte James and I will be your newest Style Guru for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. I am now in my second semester of sophomore year here at Hopkins. I am majoring in Latin American Studies with a minor in Anthropology and possibly Africana Studies as well. I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: a vibrant and passionate city full of interesting people. Aside from CollegeFashionista, I have a weekly radio show called GloBeat that focuses on highlighting exotic global music, and am a volunteer for the Baltimore City Health Department Needle Exchange. Otherwise, I fill my time with a campus job, homework and my friends who have become my family away from home.
As is obvious from my major/minor choices as well as my radio show, I have a true passion for absorbing foreign cultures. I am now a fluent Spanish speaker and am currently working on Portuguese so I can study abroad next year in both Brazil and Chile. My fascination with the rest of the world, especially Latin America, has greatly influenced my personal style. When broken down, my ensembles consist of the simplest pieces: jeans, lots of neutral tee shirts and sweaters and boots. I get most creative with my accessories and am always in search of unique pieces that will individualize my simplistic look. This is evident in the outfit I chose for my Style Guru bio; I have on lace up boots, jeans, a polka dot tiered neutral crop tank and a black cardigan. I top this off with an oversized burgundy scarf, my daily rings found in Argentina and Mexico and bronze and burgundy earrings, which tie the shirt and scarf together. I’m also wearing my favorite new Pendleton/Urban Outfitters fingerless gloves. I would not call my style “ethnic” or “tribal” because I believe those are ambiguous and incorrectly used terms, but I would say I have an eclectic taste that pulls from world-wide influences.
While I am not so into high fashion, I think street fashion is one of the best ways our generation expresses itself. An outfit can draw someone in or push them away but regardless of its effect, it can represent your personality and interests and intrigue someone to the point of conversation. I aim to wear conversation starters and am always excited to share the stories of my unique pieces. When it comes to basics, I am a true bargain shopper and am always proud to share my deals. I hope that this semester I am able to deliver some interesting cross-cultural trends that can be replicated on a dime. Stay posted!
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