Hello there, fellows fashion lovers! My name is Kayla, and I am a Journalism student at Columbia College Chicago. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, so moving to the city this year has been a scary yet exciting leap. I came here to for a deeper relationship with culture and art, and so far, that is exactly what I have found.
Clothes have always been a big part of my life and one of my favorite forms of expression. I really like to be unique with my style as I feel it expresses who I am on the inside. I have always admired people who take their style to a new level and surpass the norm (i.e. David Bowie, Rihanna, Tavi Gevinson and so on). This is my first semester as a Style Guru, and I love the idea of being able to showcase all of the great style I see at my school. I am so thrilled to be apart of a community that celebrates people’s individual styles. In Chicago, (especially in the Arts Corridor of the South Loop) it is impossible to walk even a block and not see a head-turning outfit. I am really drawn to daring looks. Whether it is a wild bold printed shirt or an odd thrifted hat, I feel like adding at least one unique element to your outfit brings it all together. I also like to wear stuff that reminds me of certain people, places or things. Style is all about showing who you are and where life has taken you.
I have always been a lover of vintage. There is just something so special and dear to me about finding clothes that were once rejected but given another chance. This also plays into the fact that my style is mostly inspired by past decades, particularly the ’60s and ’90s. I like to mix it all up though. I don’t exactly have a distinctive style, but I gravitate more towards a grungy worn-in look with a girly or modern twist to it. From velvet skirts to a thrifted flannels, or my dad’s old baseball cap to my aunt’s vintage, customized Tommy Hilfiger denim jacket, my style is very polarized. I like to have contrast and versatility because it resonates with who I am. As a Style Guru at CollegeFashionista, my goal is to celebrate and encourage individuality through clothing.
As Yves Saint Laurent himself said, “Dressing is a way of life.”
