Hey everybody! My name is Eliana Rodgers, but everyone calls me Ellie because I’ve always found Eliana to be too long and too fancy for my taste. After having a long-term love affair with New York City and all the culture, art and fashion it has to offer, I found myself a first year at Columbia University in the fall of 2014, which was a dream I had had since I was a little girl, dressing American Girl dolls in clothing I had designed and sewed. I am either double-majoring in Visual Arts and Economics, or majoring in Visual Arts and double-concentrating in Business Management and Economics. I have yet to decide, but is that not the joy of college—changing your major and your ideal career every two days? I have, however, known I have wanted to be a fashion designer and own an art gallery for almost as long as I have loved New York City. I am so excited to start my internship with CollegeFashionista and I cannot wait to share all the beautiful outfits of my classmates with you all.
New York City is one of the fashion capitals of the world—there is no question about that. One of the things I love most about New York City’s fashion is that there is no defining style. The bohemian, comfortable clothing of SoHo and Greenwich Village; the large glasses, perfect bed-head hair, and chunky knee socks of Brooklyn; the streamlined, black chicness of the Financial District; the opulent furs and jewel-toned dresses of the Upper East and West Sides. So many styles are prevalent in the city and I feel that my style follows along this definition.
Some days, I want to wear only black and look slightly tough— like the cool, punk looks of Helmut Lang and Valentino. On occasion, the funky brights of alice + olivia are what appeal to me. Other days, I just want to curl up in over-sized, cable knit sweaters and drink tea all day, or feel like a princess in sparkly, delicate-toned dresses (à la Elie Saab). My style is always changing—it reflects my constantly different moods—and it cannot be defined by just a few trends and colors. Style to me is whatever makes you feel beautiful.
Even though Columbia is uptown (between the Upper West Side and Harlem for those of you who know your NYC neighborhoods), the eclectic, beautiful, fashionable trends of the city still find their way on to our camps. Whether we are going to class, an interview, or a local bar, we are a well-dressed student body. I am excited to share with you the fashionable, creative outfits of Columbia’s students.
