Hey Fashionistas/os! My name is Alyssa Poplaski and I’m a junior at SUNY Oneonta who is majoring in Fashion Design and minoring in Journalism. This is my first semester as a Style Guru for CollegeFashionista and I couldn’t be more excited. Fashion is something I enjoy so much that I can’t wait to start reporting the latest trends from my campus to you all this semester.
I owe it to several factors for giving me my love for fashion; my upbringing, my interests, and my family. I grew up in northern New Jersey in a town with four major shopping malls that lies extremely close to New York City. Both of these factors influenced me tremendously. At any given moment I could go shopping for the newest trends anywhere in my town to my convenience. Also, living so close to a city like New York gives me so much inspiration just from the people walking the streets everyday.
Growing up I also always had an interest in art, photography and once, I reached middle school, sewing. Freshman year of high school I took a fashion design class and that class was when I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I loved the feeling of turning nothing, into something. Fashion is a way for people to express themselves, and I thought what better way to spend my time than making others feel beautiful through it?
My family also gave me an interest in fashion. When I was little my Nana showed me how to create fashion figures using the “S shape” method and I became mesmerized at her ability to create a beautiful fashion design on a napkin in 30 seconds while we were out to eat. She designed for fun and I wanted to be able to create clothing just like she did.
My style adapts with my mood. I’ve always worn what I liked even if the trends weren’t totally accepted or viewed as normal. I love the color black, but also love wearing neutral colors. My favorite seasons to dress in are fall and winter; I love earth tones, layering, and experimenting with different textures. My favorite pieces that I usually gravitate towards are my Free People slips, beanies and leather jackets. Some days I like getting dressed up, and others you’ll see me trudging across campus in leggings, a band T-shirt, Vans and an oversized sweater. Come along with me this semester as I show you all of the rad styles my peers have to offer.
