Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Lively, and I am a freshman at Kent State University (Go Flashes!). I’m currently majoring in fashion merchandising, which is pretty cool. Not to brag, but Kent State’s fashion program is ranked number four nationally and number one in the Midwest. Okay, fine, I’m totally bragging. I’m very fortunate that Kent is only an hour away from home. My family is very important to me, so I’m thankful that I can study something I love while being close to them. By the way, home for me is a small town called New Castle. I guess you can say I’m the classic “small town girl with big city dreams” kind of person.
My love for fashion started early. I grew up with tons of boys, so I’m not exactly sure how I ended up so girly. I was constantly playing dress up, running around in sequined tutus and plastic high heels, complete with clip on earrings and lipstick. As I got older, I realized that fashion is way more than just clothes. Fashion is wearable art—art that becomes a part of a person. Fashion is a powerful thing. It’s is something that can be used to create an identity; it’s a form of self expression. “What do I feel like wearing today?” The answer is simple: whatever I want. I can dress to be whoever and whatever I want to be.
In fact, I have a closet full of different personas. I’m feeling moody and maybe a bit rebellious, so I shimmy into my black skinny jeans and leather boots. On other days, I might opt for a skirt paired with flats to reveal my feminine, flirty side. Occasionally, it’s essential to bust out the red lipstick and a little, black dress; it’s chic, fierce and timeless. Miuccia Prada once said, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”
Another passion of mine is English. I’m obsessed with reading, and I have always been quite the little bookworm. Additionally, I’m sort of fascinated with words and the millions of ways you can string them together. Words are so beautiful and powerful, and I like the control that writing gives me.
In this look, I’m wearing a patterned top that I got at Forever 21 paired with dark skinny jeans from American Eagle Outfitters. My boots are Madden Girl, and I accessorized with a long, gold, arrow necklace from Charlotte Russe and a dainty mixed metal ring that I got from a local shop in downtown Kent, similar to this one.
I’m looking forward to an amazing semester! I hope you come back and check out my articles.
