Hey! The name’s Brigid. This is my first semester as a Style Guru but my third in college. If you want to infer that that means a sophomore, I won’t stop you.
I’ve never seen the show Green Acres, but I think that I understand the gist. Girl lives in big city. Girl falls in love with country boy. Girl moves to country with boy and deals with the endearing challenges that come with a change of pace. And I think that I relate. Except that I was raised in medium-sized Louisville and not the Big Apple. And there is no boy. And the only reason I’m in the country is because of a school I never imagined myself attending. No, I don’t have a ready supply of urban backdrops—or even a Target—but what I do have is the kindest small town in America and an inclusive student body.
The campus in question is Murray State University and it is located in the far western reaches of Kentucky. For geographical reference, it’s a stone’s throw away from the towns of Monkey’s Eyebrow and Possum Trot.
I quickly found out that our university isn’t just a place for the Southern student. It has set up an exceptional international student program, making our relatively small campus a multinational cross-section of students. Every morning, the main drag of academic buildings is transformed into a bizarre and flavorful mix of students ready to blaze trails through forests or on runways. Peers from Seoul are known to indulge in trendy trenches and have covetable sneaker collections. Anything from Hermès loafers to Merell hiking boots to Zara flatforms are spotted navigating their way from class to class. Patagonia pullovers and Chacos are well imbedded into the Southern students vernacular, and their interpretation among a Murray student’s wardrobe is impressive.
This makes for a fashion challenge I never expected: How will I manifest my hunter friend’s flannel shirt into my own style; or interpret a Saudi Arabian friend’s love of tennis whites; or my Chicago friends’ monochromatic ensembles? As I delve into my CollegeFashionista internship, I am excited to see how it all plays out.
I am so excited to represent Murray State and share the experience with everyone on CollegeFashionista. This site offers an incredible catalyst for sharing our unique brand of university style. My mission is to illuminate our corner of Kentucky and help shed the cobwebs of its less-than-stellar stigmas. Not only do we wear shoes in Murray, Kentucky, but they are pretty freaking cute.
