Hello! I’m Katrina, but most people call me Kat. I grew up near Milwaukee, Wisconsin in a rural town of about 5,000 people. I love my hometown; the people are great and the close community is comforting. Although I’m from a small town and a close family, I’m also very independent and adventurous so I decided to move across the country (twice) for school. My freshman year was spent at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, but I transferred to Iowa State University to finish out the next three years in Apparel Design.
When I was about five years old, I made a little baby quilt out of old scrap fabrics my aunt had given me. That project sparked something in me because I haven’t stopped sewing since. I would lock myself in my room for hours either cutting up old jeans and transforming them into purses, or whipping up simple circle skirts and even designing costumes for my elementary school acting group. My ideas became more complex during high school when I designed and draped my senior prom dress. It’s safe to say I knew my calling from a young age, and there’s nothing that feels as good as knowing that I am moving in the exact direction I was destined to be.
However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t struggled along the way. I think the biggest issue I’ve faced with myself is knowing my personal style. In high school I conformed to the “norm” and really didn’t push my boundaries. Last year, I fell deeply in love with the bohemian look: bell sleeves, floral prints, vintage finds and stacked jewelry. Now I find myself striving to stand out by sporting a little bit of an edgier look with black, strong pieces and a taste of minimalism. I love my black zippered jumper because it is very versatile and can be worn many different ways; for example with a long sleeve crop, cute ruffle socks and a pair of combat booties. Now that I’ve discovered what I want my “look” to be, and after spending about a year and a half in fashion school so far, I’ve realized that fashion is for you. It’s not wearing clothing because you know other people will think it looks good on you or conforming to trends because you don’t want to be looked at as different. Fashion is for you because it should make you feel good, it should make you feel confident and it should be a way to outwardly express everything that you are on the inside. I’m so excited to dig around campus for the Fashionistas that dress for themselves and not for others. I want to use their attitudes and their styles as inspiration and I hope my discoveries will inspire you, too.
