I’m Flavia Stana, and I’m delighted to be reporting to you this summer as a Style Guru for McGill University. I was born in Romania, raised in the suburbs of Vancouver and I’m currently studying in the heart of beautiful downtown Montreal. I just finished my third year at McGill where I’m majoring in Physiology. But don’t let my science background fool you. Every girl has a guilty pleasure — mine happens to be fashion.
Although Vancouver has been hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it also happens to be a city where laidback comfort trumps style any day of the week. It wasn’t until I moved to Montreal that my love and knowledge of fashion was able to fully develop. Many look to fashion magazines for style ideas, but living in Montreal I often find that people-watching (another guilty pleasure of mine) is an excellent source of inspiration! Montreal’s combination of old cobblestone streets and tall glass skyscrapers is a statement in itself to the fashion world, showing that the classic and timeless can co-exist with the more modern and avant-garde.
I see fashion as more than just clothing; I see it as an invaluable form of expression that is granted to each of us, every day. Although I’m an avid reader of fashion magazines and keep up with the latest runway shows, I don’t believe in copying whole looks straight off the page of a magazine. Fashion is about taking risks and incorporating trends in a way that makes them your own. As Coco Chanel said “in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” My personal style is constantly changing, even on a day-to-day basis. I would describe it as feminine with an edge, as much as I love silk and lace, I also love leather and spikes. I’m an advocate of the idea that you can be both bold and beautiful at the same time.
Even in the bone-chilling winters, Montreal street style never ceases to impress, so I can’t wait to share with you the endless potential that summer brings to the trendsetters of this city. I hope that the student street style of Montreal and McGill will be able to inspire you this summer, as much as it has inspired me!
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