STYLE GURU BIO: Allaira Bartlett

Let’s face it: we all have awkward stages. From the braces in middle school and side bangs in fifth grade, to the army of silly bands you wore on both wrists–these are all unfortunate parts of childhood that everyone (myself included) had to endure. That said, I was pretty unfortunate. Between the ‘80s haircut and neon jeans, photos of my middle school self never cease to crack me up. But instead of getting down on myself about my poor style choices, I choose to embrace it.

For a seventh grader, figuring out algebra is hard enough, let alone what your style is. The fact that I confidently wore whatever I felt like is a quality that I am proud of and one that I try to incorporate into every aspect of my life today. So if there is one thing to know about me, it’s that while I might be making a terrible fashion mistake (I’m looking at you mustard turtleneck), I’ll be confidently rocking it ‘till the end.

But anyways…

Hi! My name is Allaira Bartlett and I am freshman at the University of Iowa. I am studying journalism, but have always had a passion for fashion (rhyme intended), which is why I’m stoked to be joining the CollegeFashionista Style Guru team.

Things to know about my style: polish is everything. Whether I’m wearing a preppy dress or grungy leather jacket, I always try to look put together. I am often inspired by the outfits of others, and try to apply that inspiration to my own wardrobe. Because of this, my style is constantly evolving, though generally gravitating towards more feminine pieces.

Despite my feminine side, I’m not afraid to let my inner sass shine through. Above, I am wearing a denim bomber jacket, graphic T-shirt, black skinny jeans and tasseled booties. I finished it off with some gold bangles and my grandma’s silver ring. This is an outfit that I feel resonates with my style, despite not being overly girly.

Other things to know about me: I’m originally from Portland Oregon, drink copious amounts of bubble tea, have travelled the world from Bangkok to Paris and have far too many scarves. I am also a reporter for the Daily Iowan and a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.

So, here’s to a fashionable semester! Thank you for reading my bio, and be sure to check back in soon!

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