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STYLE GURU BIO: Alexandra Maland

January 17th, 2017 at 2:00am

Hello, readers! Thanks for clicking over to meet me. I’m Alexandra, a fourth year psychology major at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, and I am excited to be back as a Style Guru again this spring. Last term, I loved exploring both my own personal style and that of others. This term, I hope to continue discovering different styles while also refining my writing skills and building a portfolio that I can be proud of. Being a part of CollegeFashionista continues to enhance my ability to peel back the layers of an outfit and see those different pieces as part of a complete story. Being able to do so has made taking a walk across campus or downtown much more interesting and inspirational.

I would describe my personal style as evolving. What my eyes are drawn to and what I enjoy wearing seem to steadily ebb and flow. My Pinterest board at the moment would show you that I’ve been drawn to neutral palettes, simple pairings, and a mix of classic and retro pieces.

My biggest style inspiration—aside from Pinterest—is my environment. Last winter and spring, I studied abroad in Europe and found my style to slowly transform in response to the people and culture, like a kind of fashion sense osmosis. Now that I have been back in Canada for a full semester, I have watched my European-inspired looks transform to reflect a more relaxed and trendy North American style.

The outfit I’m wearing here may appear to be wishful thinking for a Canadian winter, but I refuse to give up on summer dresses simply because there’s snow on the ground. I like to adapt my personal style to fit the seasons by using pieces like this caramel knit sweater to layer up and bring the warmth to light weight dresses. By opting for a cropped cut, I’m able to show off the skirt’s pattern. With this outfit, my staple black faux-suede booties offer a bold contrast to the flared feminine dress. I enjoy mixing different types of pieces together—a floaty dress, thick sweater, black heels—until I find a combination that feels like “me.”

I hope that you’re keen to see and read about what Fashionista/os are wearing this term, because I look forward to sharing!

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