Style is an entity that continuously evolves, and my personal style is no exception. I remember the days when I didn’t care what I wore as long as it had a little moose somewhere on it. That apathy towards the garments I owned and blind devotion to a specific brand have both long since faded. These days, I plan my outfits meticulously. In fact, every Sunday afternoon my room becomes an explosion of clothes (my roommates can attest to this) in a frenzy to find a week’s worth of new outfit combinations.
I shop the racks of typical fast fashion stores, just like most people my age. I make sure to look out for the most unique pieces, whether it’s an interesting pattern, fabric or color that catches my eye. I also love to frequent thrift stores. Some of my most versatile (namely, my favorite black crossbody bag and patent leather oxfords) and fun pieces have been the result of me being in the right thrift store at the right time.
The evolution of my personal aesthetic from the moose-obsessed days to what it is now was a very gradual process. I owe a great homage to dELiA*s, since the catalogs they began to mail to my house back in 2009 undoubtedly sparked a sudden interest in style. I would read each catalog cover to cover, and circle the pieces that I loved the most. Although I eventually grew out of dELiA*s stylistically, I cannot deny the value their catalogs had to my overall fashion education. They taught me so much, from the names of different fits and cuts of jeans to terms like “peplum” and “empire waist.” Another big contributor was Tumblr. At age 16, I would spend hours browsing blogs and found myself awestruck by images that showed lots of bright color, crazy graphic patterns and metallics. To this day, I am still inspired by the same images I obsessed over at 16.
I firmly believe that fashion is one of the most important ways to convey individuality. Clothes should reflect who you are and putting on an outfit should always be a happy experience. I also believe that it is not necessary to be a slave to trends to be considered fashionable. If you like to wear it, wear it. Don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise. By carrying this mentality, I make the most out of shopping, out of wearing and out of living. I can only encourage others to do the same. That said, I am beyond excited to write for CollegeFashionista and share my take on fashion with the world.
