“Everyday we choose who we are by how we define ourselves.” In this quote by Angelina Jolie, she perfectly sums up the mantra that I live each and every day by. My name is Sandra Reese, and I am entering my Sophomore year at SUNY Cortland. I am working towards my degree in Communications and am on a mission to one day work in the field of public relations for a major fashion house. This is my first year as a member of the CollegeFashionista team, and I am so excited to share my style and love for fashion with all of you!
My interest in fashion officially took off when I first came across Winnie Harlow in the pages of Vogue magazine. Winnie, an international model, is quickly becoming one of the biggest names in fashion today and has the look and style to back it up. But the thing about Winnie that really drew my attention was something that I never expected from a model: she has Vitiligo. This really hit home for me because I too have the unique skin condition called Vitiligo. The beauty, grace, and confidence that Winnie exuded even despite her condition helped me to come to one of the greatest realizations of my life: that true beauty comes from our imperfections. From then on Winnie has become an inspiration for me, and I’ve decided that I want to follow in her footsteps by showing the world what it really means to be beautiful. Through my articles and individual style, I hope to give people a sense of who I truly am. For example, I love bold prints and colors. I feel that they match my personality and tell the world that I’m really outgoing and fun! My closet is a mess, but some of the things that I absolutely LOVE to wear are bold printed palazzo pants, button-downs, pastels, rompers, jumpsuits and, most importantly, gladiator sandals. Printed pants are probably my number one favorite thing to wear, which is why I chose to wear them in my photographs. My favorite stores to shop at are Forever 21, Tobi, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters and different boutiques.
I love all aspects of fashion; whether it be bridal, runway, ready-to-wear or couture, I’m always keeping up to date with the latest trends. Every designer has a unique style that is all their own, and every piece that they create contributes significantly to enhancing the world of fashion. Because of this, it’s easy to find something out there that fits perfectly with any style. Some of my favorite names in fashion (just to name a few) are Givenchy, Valentino, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Fendi, Desigual and Prada. When I walk into a store, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by their products. I am definitely a shopaholic, but when you love fashion, it’s hard not to be!
Watch out for my future articles that will be published this semester on the latest trends that are happening on my campus! I can’t wait to show you what I’m all about!
