Hi there, my name is Trina Cardamone. I am so thrilled to be writing for CollegeFashionista again after taking a break during this past summer and fall. I originally hail from Nashua, New Hampshire, but I attend school in the beautiful Hudson River Valley at Marist College. At Marist, I am a Fashion Merchandising major with dual Business and Product Development minors. Fashion has interested me since I was a young girl. I grew up dancing and was enamored with all things sequined, dramatic and colorful. I was constantly looking for ways to express myself and communicate. With the vivid influences of the dance world, I embraced fashion as another form of expression.
I like to think that I inherited my fashion sense and courage to play with my style from my mother. She was constantly encouraging me to be true to myself and express my feelings, personality and emotions in positive ways. No matter how crazy the outfit, she would let me wear it. Because of this, I developed my own style and began to take a genuine interest in the fashion industry, which led me to where I am today—about to graduate from Marist in the spring and take on the world!
My own style is constantly shifting. As a girl with a big personality and a lot to bring to the table, I utilize different aesthetics to represent how I am feeling all the time. One day I might throw on a feminine floral dress and heels, and the next day I could be in patchwork jeans and a distressed T-shirt. My inspiration ranges from a myriad of things like different eras, such as the ’60s and ’70s, my favorite style icons, such as Patti Smith and Emma Stone, as well as a myriad of pop culture influences from television shows and movies, to music and art. I grew up appreciating Wayne’s World as much as Roman Holiday and that sense always comes across in the way I dress.
This particular outfit perfectly typifies my style. I am wearing my Ramones T-shirt, which is undoubtedly one of my most loved items in my closet. I have washed it so many times that it is perfectly worn in and faded. I threw a delightfully vintage-inspired Urban Outfitters skirt on over it. To keep with the slightly punk, slightly retro appeal, I added knee socks, Frye Chelsea boots and a mixture of some of my favorite jewelry. It mixes femininity with grunge in a way that represents my occasionally off-kilter personality. Stay tuned as I scout out Fashionistas on campus this semester who love expressing their personalities through amazing fashion.
