I Had A Personal Styling Session With GARAGE At Creators Loft — Here's What I Learned

College Fashionista x GARAGE

Every September, fashion girlies hit the streets of NYC to celebrate fashion’s biggest week. It’s the ultimate time to flaunt your hottest fits and get some *major* inspo from runways, celebs, content creators, and brands alike. And ICYMI, it’s also the time when College Fashionista heads to the Big Apple for Creators Loft, an exclusive, two-day event packed with networking opportunities, amazing speakers, and, of course, all the style inspiration you need for the new season.

This year, College Fashionista teamed up with GARAGE to bring the GARAGE Dream Closet to Creators Loft, where attendees could check out the latest fall pieces and get personalized styling sessions with a GARAGE stylist. (P.S. You can shop all of GARAGE’s new fall drops here!) Then, they got to show off their looks with a professional photoshoot on the streets of NYC. Sounds like a dream, right? 

I had the chance to visit the GARAGE Dream Closet at Creators Loft for my own styling session with the GARAGE team, and let me tell you, they understood the assignment. Not only did I get to try on some fire fits, but the stylist I worked with gave me *so* many great fashion tips — and I’m sharing everything I learned below.

1. Show Off What Makes You Feel Your Best 

Showing off what makes you feel hot is always in. When it comes to my outfits, I tend to stick to basics like crewneck tees and chunky sweaters; but when I met with my GARAGE stylist, she immediately pulled out a fitted, off-the-shoulder top.

I tried it on and was amazed at how confident I felt — it perfectly hugged my curves while showing off my shoulders. It’s safe to say I will definitely be adding more unique tops (like open-back sweaters and curve-hugging bustiers) to my closet for fall so I can play up my fave parts of myself.

Apron Back Sweater, $40

See on GARAGE

Sabrina Peek-A-Boo Bustier Top, $50

See on GARAGE

2. Don't Be Afraid To Mix & Match Vibes

When you’re choosing what to wear, there’s no need to stick to one aesthetic. In fact, some of the best looks happen when you mix and match styles you wouldn’t normally think to put together! During my styling session, my stylist encouraged me to mix edgy and feminine pieces like faux leather pleated skirts and lacy, flyaway tops. Contrasting vibes are a super easy way to make your outfits feel extra unique and stylish.

Pleated Faux Leather Skort, $60

See on GARAGE

Flyaway Lace Rib Top, $40

See on GARAGE

3. Level Up Your Look With Layers

Never underestimate the power of outerwear to elevate an outfit. Once I’d picked my favorite top and bottom combo — a dark red, off-the-shoulder crop top and gray low-rise jeans — it was time to accessorize. My stylist suggested adding outerwear to complete the look, and as a fall girlie, I was totally on board.

While my outfit was gorg on its own, the outerwear brought it to another level. So, the next time you’re getting dressed for a night out with the girlies or a coffee date with your crush, don’t forget to complete your fit with a cute puffer vest or oversized leather jacket (which are super on-trend this season, BTW).

Faux Leather Worker Jacket, $90

See on GARAGE

Perfect Puffer Vest, $80

See on GARAGE

4. You Can Rock *Any* Look

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t sure I could pull off some of the sexy, edgy pieces on display in the Dream Closet. One style I was unsure about in particular was low-rise denim. I’ve seen baggy, low-waisted jeans everywhere this year, but I’ve been a little hesitant to step out of my high-waisted comfort zone. My styling session was the perfect opportunity to try something new, especially because low-rise jeans (and jeans in general, TBH) are a GARAGE specialty.

Spoiler alert: I fell in love with the low-rise jeans I tried on (I like them even more than my usual high-rise styles, I fear) — and I’m more excited than ever to try other trending styles like ultra-loose jeans, barrel cargo pants, and wide-leg sweats. The moral of the story? Don’t count out a specific clothing piece or vibe just because you think you can’t pull it off. With a little confidence, you can rock any look, no matter how far out of your comfort zone it might be.

Mega Jeans, Rosie Blue, $80

See on GARAGE

Ashton Barrel Cargo Pants, $75

See on GARAGE

UltraFleece Mega Wide Leg Sweatpants, $60

See on GARAGE

My experience at the GARAGE Dream Closet left me feeling so confident and inspired. I can’t wait to recreate some of the iconic looks I saw and incorporate the styling tips I received into my everyday routine. 

Want to start building your own dream closet this fall? Head to garageclothing.com to shop the hottest styles for the season!

This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from College Fashionista.