STYLE GURU BIO: Libby Bartley

Fashion icon Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live and what is happening.”

I’ve lived my whole life experiencing the art of fashion in all aspects of my life. I believe that authentic confidence comes from the most sincere form of self expression, and that is fashion. As I’ve experimented with the idea of what fashion means to me over the years, I’ve discovered my sense of style exists most prominently through my love of music.

My passion for rock ‘n’ roll bands including Van Halen, Boston, Journey and Led Zeppelin is the heartbeat that pulses the energy of my edgy , rock ‘n’ roll-inspired look. From wearing excessive amounts of black pieces accompanied by accessories confiscated from my dad’s closet or my mother’s vanity, my interests and upbringing influence the version of myself that I put out in to the world.

To kick off my second semester with CollegeFashionista, I wanted to introduce this idea of fashion that fully encompasses who we are as individuals—fashion that extends beyond dresses and runways and models and instead serves as an interactive outlet that can be conquered through ideas, interests and a genuine sense of being. Today I’m rockin’ a vintage Led Zeppelin graphic T-shirt, white Chuck Taylors, my dad’s aviators from the ’70s and an old leather watch I found in my mother’s closet. All of these seemingly insignificant details of my outfit each convey a small statement about who I am and where I come from. And with that, this casual, everyday outfit translates as a way in which fashion becomes something more personal than merely the appearance of what I’m wearing.

I’m looking forward to bringing you all authentic fashion inspiration that is rooted in strong, confident women using their sense of style to convey the most positive message of themselves directly to the world. Here’s to a semester of blog posts that become love letters, outfits that become armor and everyday women who become extraordinary trendsetters.

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