Back in the elementary school days, our hopes and dreams of growing up and landing our dream jobs seemed so plausible. Many of us hopeful fashion designers had dozens of notebooks full of sketches of outfits we hoped to one day make for the world. Fifth grade math class was personally my favorite time to draw up a storm—from dresses to heels to jewelry, my notebooks had it all. As I grew older, I realized I certainly did not have the talent to draw and envision beautiful clothes, and my stick figure drawings were not going to make it in a world full of Marc Jacobs and kate spades. Fortunately, there are people like McKenna Cotterman, who are talented individuals and are making a name for themselves. This talented student designer has been a fashion enthusiast for a long time and is pursuing her dreams of one day making it big in the industry.
Name: McKenna Cotterman
Role: Student Designer
CollegeFashionista: At what age did you start getting interested in fashion?
McKenna Cotterman: As silly as it may seem, it was when I was around 12 years old when I wanted to start shopping at Abercrombie & Fitch instead of Limited Too. Now I’m all about Free People, Anthropologie and T.J.Maxx! I’m definitely a maxxinista and have a real passion for fashion.
CF: Who are your biggest style icons and why?
MC: Without a doubt, Lauren Conrad and Olivia Pope. They’re sleek, sophisticated and classic, but they have a hint of sass. I love their looks and try to incorporate them into my own wardrobe.
CF: What are you enjoying most in school?
MC: I love all of the opportunities I have at Loyola University Chicago. I really enjoying being able to create and design my own future. I also think living in Chicago has opened up a lot of doors for me and has given me a chance to express myself and definitely try new things.
CF: What are you looking forward to most about becoming a fashion designer?
MC: I’m looking forward to actually holding my creations and for other people to see them one day. I want my pieces to look timeless and be things that you can wear today or even five years from now. I want everything to look trendy and classic at the same time.
Learn More: McKenna is finishing up her first year at Loyola and has an extremely bright future in the fashion industry. Make sure to keep an eye out for her upcoming designs.
