Hello Fashionistas! My name is Mariah Harrison, and I am a rising sophomore at the Virginia Commonwealth University. As I am currently a mass communications major with a focus in creative advertising, I plan to further my studies next year upon being accepted into my university’s fashion merchandising program. So, a little bit about me? My skin is sun-stained—yes, sun-STAINED not sun-KISSED, but I would not have it any other way. My hair is sun-bleached from ceaselessly dousing in the Atlantic Ocean upon discovering a few hours of free time and on the average day, salty water is flowing through my veins; I am convinced I would not breathe in its absence. Raised by the beaches and influenced by the millions of venture seeking personalities that crave to experience them every year, I grew up exposed to people and fashions that came from all ends of the world and, luckily for myself, desired to find their way to the same sands as I, which sparked my curiosity and adoration for fashion as an expression of every individual.
I am easily inspired: by the weather, by a song, by a stranger’s way of wearing a scarf or even by the way an “ugly” piece of clothing hangs from a hanger because I tilt my head and see the potential that it has to be turned into a statement piece with a little bit of help. Filled with ideas and mental mood boards in my head, I have always found it hard to claim a single style. This use to really frustrate me because I soon became discouraged and began questioning myself, “If you cannot even figure out your own style, how are you supposed to figure out who you are?” However, I answered my own question. My style is a mixture of all styles—ECLECTIC! I cannot bind myself to dressing a single way every single day, for it bores me and destroys my fashionably knowing edge. I would rather be inspired by all and inspire all.
In my mind, fashion drives the day and style is self-seizing. I am a strong believer that the better you dress the better you feel. Everyone likes to look good, so I find fashion to be vital in a successful day. The vitality of fashion is not limited to simply what you wear, but how you wear it and accessorize. A single piece of clothing can be sold in millions of stores, but a single accessory can take the outfit from representing a brand’s image to representing your own image.
Today I am wearing a floral lace up top that I recently purchased from Urban Outfitters, and I paired this loose, feminine top with a pair of mock leather pants that I bought from T.J. Maxx. I am also wearing my favorite shoes from Chinese Laundry. This look is edgy yet feminine, and is perfectly appropriate for this on again off again summer/fall weather that has yet to make up its mind.
