My name is Molly, and I am a sophomore at Virginia Tech. Upon leaving my small town bubble, I was faced with a challenge. Living in the middle of Virginia surrounded by mountains was not something I would have ever seen myself committing to. After a rough first week of adjusting and finding out what it truly means to miss- people, places, things- I was able to find my nitch at Tech; I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
I am unable to pinpoint an exact time or incident when I first fell in love with fashion, but rather find inspiration in many aspects of my life. Aside from anxiously awaiting the arrival of Vogue in the mail each month, I would say that a huge part of my style inspiration comes from my experience growing up in a tiny beach town, as well as idolizing a fashion expert in my favorite TV series.
During my first semester of school, I quickly realized that my style was different than those around me. My new friends would often refer to my outfits and say, “You’re such a beach girl”. It was weird for me, because the most enjoyment I found in high school was getting to pick out my outfits each day. When I walked into my first lecture of 400 students all dressed in sweatpants and sweatshirts, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I, instead, had put on my favorite dress and sandals, accessorized head to toe. It was then that I realized there is an overall appreciation and fascination of fashion in my homey little town.
While I owe most of my love of style to my beach town, I must also mention my utmost admiration of Carrie Bradshaw. Yes, I know, she is a fictional character simply playing the role of a young woman growing up in the big city. However, when people (like me) watch every episode more than once, it is easy to become absorbed in her captivating lifestyle. She beautifully depicts cutting-edge fashion, as well as current trends and the ways in which young women, like myself, can use clothing and style to express themselves when words cannot. Carrie’s exotic outfits and passionate love for shoes has showed me the reason why I love fashion most: it has an ability to communicate without speaking.
I find it particularly difficult to describe my style, because I find that it depends on different factors. The best way I can explain it would be a little bit of beach and Boho, with a taste of sophistication and class. To give you a peek into my wardrobe, I layered a few of my favorite pieces: an off-white lacey layer over a knit drop-waist dress, topped with a fur-lined denim jacket. To pair with my favorite black booties, I chose a gray pair of knitted knee socks. I layered three separate necklaces to bring the look together, added silver rings, a studded wrap bracelet and a carved leather clutch.
I look forward to finding inspiration in others and sharing their unique styles. Be sure to check out my monthly posts about Fashionistas on my campus!
