Oh, the joys of high school. There are so many memories, dances, football games and, for me, detentions. Don’t worry, I wasn’t a bad kid…I just undeniably loathed my uniform! For four years straight, I wore a freshly pressed grey plaid skirt and a crisp collared maroon or navy polo. Well, I was supposed to. However, despite the uniform code, I found myself sneaking in any bit of my personality into my outfit that I could. Printed tights and funky cardigans over my polo were my two favorite ways to break the uniform code. Every so often, if I felt brave enough, I would come to school completely out of uniform. Though all the girls complimented my outfit choice, Sister Linda would slip a detention notice into my mailbox at the end of the day.
Maybe my style choices were a little too much for my single sex private school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (pronounced: Wiscaaaansin). Where daily loungewear means a Miller Lite T-shirt or Aaron Rodgers jersey paired with a cheesehead hat, my choice of leather shorts and black platform sandals definitely stand out. As a faithful Green Bay Packers fan, of course I have a Rodgers hanging in my closet, but instead I reach for a Guns N’ Roses graphic T-shirt and a classic flannel. Even though I have a Rodgers jersey, I can’t say that I have a cheesehead hat hanging on my coat rack. Hope the Packer gods know that my heart is still with them. Instead, my stack of rings has become a signature accessory of mine. It makes accessorizing in the morning a lot easier, because I never take them off. And it also gives a few more minutes of sleep, something every college girl needs.
When I made the decision to leave good ol’ Wisconsin and travel to Kent State University for Fashion Design, not one person was surprised. I have always been the creative type, the most successful masterpieces are manufactured out of nothing. As every young girl plays dress up, I would take a big scarf and twist it around my body until it was suitable to strut around in my newly formed dress. I still love to strut around campus in the outfits I have built from thrift finds and hand-me-downs. Let’s be honest, were all Fashionistas ballin’ on a budget, there is only so much we can afford. Instead I observe the RAD Fashionistas here on campus. There are a multitude of girls who step outside the box and create an outfit that portrays her unique personality. I find it so inspiring and I can’t wait to report on the RAD styles I find this semester!
