Hi there all! My name is Michaela Conklin, and I am a sophomore at Iowa State University where I am studying creative and technical apparel design. I am very excited to join the CollegeFashionista family as this is one of my first experiences in fashion journalism. I grew up in a very small town where opportunities to flourish in the apparel industry were limited. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved anything that sparkles, shines, and takes your breath away at a glance. As I aged this lust never faded, so here I am, seeking out all of you Fashionistas and Fashionistos showing off your shine!
The common misconception that I have seen when I tell people I am going to school to be a fashion designer is that I am always going to be polished and posh. Don’t get me wrong, I love dressing up and trying new trends, but my favorite go-to look is comfy and casual with a bit of shine. You can see me out and about daily in a range of athleisure and cozy “cabin wear.” I love thrift shopping and finding worn-in, oversize flannels and sweaters, then turning around and pairing these with a basic shirt and leggings. For nights out, wedges and chunky heels are my favorite way to dress up a T-shirt dress or flowy top and jeans. My beliefs are very firm when it comes to accessories making or breaking an outfit and confidence being key.
In the look above, I feature a few of my favorite pieces. I am head over heels for this oversize flannel that I found on one of my thrifting trips, but you can find a similar one here! As for the chunky-heeled, thigh-high boots, they are definitely one of my most worn winter pairs of shoes due to the versatility and ability to be worn with summer and fall dresses well into the negative temperatures that Iowa tends to reach in winter. This faux fur jacket was a real steal for me (only $20!) when I found it on clearance at Target this past season. With this outfit including many of my favorites, it will be one of my most featured on Instagram for sure!
Thanks for checking in for my very first article, and be sure to stay tuned for the rest of the semester. Let your inner Fashionista/o out and let the world see your shine!
