Bonjour! My name is Briana Martinez, but feel free to call me Bri. I am entering my final year at Portland State University where I am majoring in both Marketing and Advertising, minoring in French and earning a certificate in Sport and Outdoor Industry. This fall is my first term with CollegeFashionista and it’s pretty RAD! I am honored to share the eclectic styles of Portland with the rest of the world. Believe it or not, we aren’t all coffee-loving “hipsters.”
I’m from a teeny-tiny town called Butteville, Oregon. I think there’s more cows than people. Naturally, I ventured off into the unknown and found myself falling in love with all things city and all things Portland. Portland’s famous slogan, “Keep Portland Weird” is the perfect way to express the beloved city. Portland is home to unique styles and fashion trends. We are also home to many very famous athletic companies…cough, cough…Nike, adidas, Columbia Sportswear and soon to be Under Armour. Keep your eyes open for some up-close looks on these companies and their evolving trends.
Speaking of evolving, that’s the way I like to address my personal sense of fashion. Like my personality, my fashion sense is adventurous and willing to take on the unknown and uncharted. Fashion is a way of expressing oneself—it’s a form of art. It’s breathtaking to get a glimpse of someone’s mind without hearing them say a single word. One of my favorite Designers, Rebecca Minkoff, associated herself with the phrase “The Downtown Romantic.” If I had to a specific phrase to express my style, that would be it. It’s soft and sultry, yet edgy and fierce all at once.
For this look, I paired one of my favorite trends right now—the ultimate T-shirt dress—with a neutral-colored high-low, side-slit, long-line vest. I’m a firm believer that an outfit is never complete until it’s paired with the perfect pair of shoes. To create a more edgy style, I wore my chunky black booties with a black fedora and some all-black Ray-Bans to match. Lastly, I topped off this look with my favorite part—the accessories. Pair a body chain with any T-shirt dress to add some subtle spice to your outfit. Tying in with the body chain is the gold band around the top of the fedora, some gold bangles and gold rings to finish the outfit. Don’t forget to stay golden!
Follow me on Instagram or Pinterest at @BriMartinezz to see more on the latest trends through the eyes of a young Portlander.
