STYLE GURU BIO: Emma Baxendell

Hi there! My name is Emma Baxendell, and I’m so, so excited to be a CollegeFashionista Style Guru for fall 2016! I’m from Rochester, NY, but I’m currently living in Manhattan and attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, where I’m studying fashion design.

I’ve been interested in fashion ever since I can remember, but it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I seriously considered making a career out of my passion. I had been sewing since middle school, but I decided that I would need to sharpen my skills before launching into such a competitive field. In the summer of 2015, I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Rising Star program, a five-week program in which I took two college courses, fashion technology and sewing technology for accessory design. During those five weeks, I learned all sorts of advanced techniques which helped me further my portfolio.

Despite my amazing experience at SCAD, FIT had always been my top choice for college, so I was ecstatic beyond words when I received my acceptance letter. As my move-in date crept closer and closer, I became more and more nervous. Going to college itself was a big enough transition, let alone moving to the largest city in the country! There was a lot of panic, sadness and fear in my last few days at home, but now that I’m here I can’t wait to get started. It’s always been a dream of mine to live in NYC, and I’m going to arguably one of the best fashion schools in the world. Although it wasn’t easy to leave people and places behind, I believe in myself and my ability to thrive here.

I always have trouble summarizing my personal style, as it tends to differ depending on my mood. My outfits range from casual to formal, colorful to neutral, girly to grungy. Most often, I tend to gravitate towards garments that are comfortable and easy to wear, but without sacrificing style. For example, the shorts I’m wearing in this outfit are made of a flowy material and have an elastic waist, but the cutouts and scalloping create a fun, feminine look. Above all, I believe the clothes you wear should be something you like, regardless of what anyone else might have to say. Thanks for checking out my bio, and stay stylish!

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