Hello Fashionistas/os! I’m reporting live from the big ATL where the peaches are sweet, but the styles are even sweeter. My name is Nevika Shah and this is my first semester writing for CollegeFashionista. I am a freshman at the Georgia Institute of Technology and I am pursuing a degree in business with a concentration in information technology. I’m so excited to see what kind of style and spunk my little eyes will spy on campus and what the upcoming fall trends will bring!
As cheesy as it sounds, I was born a fashion addict. While the average toddler was forced into whatever clothes her mother put on her, after I started talking, mom did not even bother trying. My typical preschool outfit consisted of a chiffon cap sleeve flower girl dress, an old Mardi Gras necklace, any hair clip I could get my hands on and a half eaten Ring Pop. Needless to say, I cared more about what I was wearing than how straight the sides of my triangle were.
One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was slaving over my new sewing machine on a hot summer day eager to finish a shirt made of a crocheted bust, pantyhose sleeves and tablecloth-lace ruffles. After endless YouTube videos, eHow articles and library books, my love for sewing blossomed into transformed clothing, school skirts, prom dresses and more.
Like many things in my life, my greatest inspirations come from my cultural background of knowledge from all of the travelling I have done in my 18 years of living. From sewing dresses made of old Indian “saris” to knitting Peruvian ponchos to messing with jewelry making from African beads, my fashion forward perspective changes every time I visit a new country. Not only do I take note of indigenous styles and trends, but I also look at modern day apparel and how culture and tradition has developed “today’s outfit.” I always say that only once you truly understand a country can you properly appreciate the fashion.
In this STYLE GURU BIO, I’m wearing a pair of hand-tailored Paloma pants from Baroda, India, a white Free People seamless tank, a few silver bangles and black eyelet mock espadrilles. Textures and patterns are my true weakness; my eyes are always drawn to leathers, furs, plaids, glitter, velvet and crochet. Some of my staple pieces include my acid-washed studded boyfriend jeans, my knee high lace-up riding boots and my chiffon infinity scarves.
Coming from New Jersey and the tri-state area, Georgia has been a huge change for me. The city, the people, the food, everything is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced. Of course, with new territory come new trends. While I used to think spotting the latest styles would be tough at a tech school, let me tell you these engineers really can work a calculator as an accessory. As one of two Style Gurus on campus, I’ll be giving you another pair of eyes on the hottest looks in the great city of Hotlanta.
I can’t wait to share my fashion finds with you from Tech, so be sure to check back for my articles in the middle of each month!
