Oscar Wilde wrote “be yourself; everyone else is already taken” and to be honest, I never really understood the full impact of this quote until I started college. You know when you hear a word or a phrase so much it eventually loses its meaning? Well initially, this quote did just that until I actually took the time and comprehended the meaning behind it. Hi, my name is Rayno Kivo and I am one of the newest fall Style Guru interns here at CollegeFashionista. I am a rising sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst for short) and Wilde’s quote is the reason I am the person I am today.
You’ve heard it a million times, “college is the place where you can re-invent yourself or just unveil who you have been your entire life” but what they don’t tell you is that it is a lot easier said than done. You have inspiration being thrown at you from a million different angles and it is up to you to decide which ones fit best to your personality. Personally, at first I found it difficult to digest so many different ideas in one gulp. Finding yourself is not a one-stop shop that happens overnight; it is a journey, but an exciting one at that. I have learned to take bits and pieces of things I like and morph them to create something of my own. This is how I have created my style.
I grew up in the suburbs just outside of Los Angeles, California. Being that L.A. is considered one of the fashion capitals of the world (shoutout to all the America’s Next Top Model fans out there), I learned a few things about clothing. I consider my style to be boho/vintage/indie/with a splash of 90s flair. I like to keep things simple without being boring but also unique to who I am. I figure skated competitively until I was about 13 and then transitioned to volleyball. I played on my high school team as well as club teams and plan on continuing playing throughout my time at UMass. I’d like to thank my athletic background for helping me create a comfy but chic persona in regards to how I dress. When it comes to colors, neutrals and solid colors are my best friends. In the pictures above, I am sporting a distressed jean jacket that serves as my main statement piece. Under, I paired the jacket with a solid, red crop top and a lace, halter bralette from Urban Outfitters (my all time favorite store).
As I continue my journey at a school 3,000 miles away from home, I am excited to explore East Coast fashion from a West Coast perspective and share it with all of you! Experiencing another side of the country has opened my eyes to the tons of different styles, trends and lifestyles and I hope what I write serves as inspiration to display your own individuality through clothing! Stay stylish, stay you.
