Hey, my fellow fashion enthusiasts!
My name is Abigail Cherubin, and I’m a journalism major at the University of Florida. This is my first semester as a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista!
I first fell in love with fashion through fashion magazines. At the age of 10, I became hooked on my mom’s collection of Vogue. It was one of those issues—the January 1996 issue, to be specific—that always stuck with me. It was a stunning model with skin like rich chocolate wearing a long green and brown dress with a vine print. I remember at a young age thinking, “How could these two things that didn’t match look so good together?” I was also so enthralled to see a woman who looked like me wearing such beautiful clothes. I would envision myself in them. The models weren’t just sitting there, looking pretty—they had a purpose. They seemed in control. These spreads, to me, embodied the power of the woman and the power of this exquisite art form we call fashion.
My aesthetic is having multiple aesthetics. I seek inspiration from style icons such as Rihanna, Solange Knowles, Alexa Chung, Tavi Gevinson, Audrey Hepburn, Chloë Sevigny, and Pharrell Williams. I love glamor but stripped down to create a cleaner, refined look. My staple pieces in my closet are my collection of boots, oversized jackets, turtleneck sweaters, mom jeans, and slip dresses. About half of my closet is borrowed from my mom’s wardrobe circa 1980s/early ’90s. This attests to my love for vintage pieces. I can spend hours on end at thrift stores, and I have found so many gems in the process.
For this article, I paired a side-split midi dress with a white T-shirt, both purchased at Topshop. To complete the look, I layered my dress with a beautifully embroidered denim jacket from River Island and Bordeaux patent leather boots from Public Desire.
Fashion, among many other beautiful mediums, inspires me to think about the way I see myself in the world in invigorating ways. These magazines were and still are like these fantasies to me, and when I descend back to earth, I try to turn them into experiences that enhance the woman I’m becoming. Fashion is a way to use my voice and, sometimes, I can be quite loud.
