Hello my fellow Fashionistas/os! Happy summer! I am Mackenzie Hanlon, and I am beyond ecstatic to be a part of the CollegeFashionista team and community as a whole. I have been a lover since my days of modeling in ads for Gymboree and rocking the hats and oversized bows my mom picked out for me. In fact, my fashion idol growing up was Stacy London from TLC’s What Not to Wear.
In the way of the American dream and living a Carrie Bradshaw-like life, I moved to the electrifying city of Chicago to attend school at Loyola University of Chicago. I spend my time at this amazing institution working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a Degree Distinction in Classical Studies and a minor in Italian Language and Literature. Furthermore, I am a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority which has allowed me to to take part in philanthropy work raising awareness and funds for victims of domestic violence. Being a student at Loyola has opened doors to unbelievable opportunities, and the University’s perfect location in Chicago allows me to use the city as my own playground.
Leaving small town Ohio for the shadows of intrigue in the Windy City has opened my eyes to a whole new world of fashion and style. One aspect of Chicago that I enjoy most is that people use the city streets as their own personal runways. Strutting down the numerous neighborhoods such as: Wicker Park, the West Loop, River North, Boystown or Lincoln Park, there is no telling what one may find. Emerging trends and new styles are around every corner. Chicago itself is a mini mecca of fashion. It is comprised of students at the many Universities contained in the city that jumpstart the styles and trends of tomorrow’s fashion.
As I was preparing to head off to college I recall the mocking of my family and friends insisting that my “dressed up” style would be out of place on a college campus where most of my fellow classmates would be wearing sweats and pajamas to class. Of great surprise to me, thankfully, I found my peers to don unique, preppy and high fashion attire. It is because of this that I find my sense of style to seamlessly blend into the compendium of different trends, while simultaneously setting me apart.
I am looking forward to this semester as a Style Guru and all that it has to offer. I am so excited to see what my fellow Style Guru’s are writing about as well as anticipating where this semester will take us as a community.
