STYLE GURU BIO: Allaira Bartlett

Happy summer Fashionistas/os! I hope you’re all as excited as I am to spend this season relaxing with friends and family. But while I am thrilled to take a needed break, I couldn’t resist continuing my favorite internship into the summer! I started my time as a Style Guru this past spring at the University of Iowa. Along with blogging, I spent my freshman year at Iowa becoming involved within my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, joining fashion and advertising clubs and working as a designer and assistant producer for the Daily Iowan newspaper and Daily Iowan TV.

Now I am excited to be spending the summer at home in Portland, Oregon. Apart from working and catching up with old friends, you can find me hiking, indulging in gourmet donuts and sharing all that the Portland fashion scene has to offer.

Although I have spent the majority of my life in this rainy city, my style tends to be a bit different than the Portland fashion norm. Whereas many Portlanders prefer to wear more casual clothing, I gravitate towards outfits that are more polished and feminine. That said, I am often willing to experiment with different looks and try new styles. In the outfit pictured above, I took a step away from my usual polished style and went for a more casual vibe that is reflective of my city.

Given that summertime has not quite hit us here in the Pacific Northwest, this outfit has its roots in the chilly, relaxed days of a Portland spring. Black tuxedo pants provide the backdrop from which this outfit is built and pay homage to my usual polished vibe. The cropped length of my pants, T-shirt and sweater all nod to the seasons’ up-coming warmth, while the red of my shirt and lipstick give this outfit a summery pop of color. Despite the typical rules against mixing black and brown (I like to experiment, remember?) I chose to mix up a few shades to imitate the earthy palette that is so popular here in the Northwest. Suede wedges add some sass and a long gold necklace tops off the outfit while serving to break up the silhouette.

So whether it’s an earth-toned, casual outfit, or a look that is feminine and poised, when it comes to my wardrobe you’ll never know what look I’m serving up next. Thanks for reading and be sure to check in later for more!

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