It is so easy to get caught up in the mundane school week, and a lot of us get up in the morning and throw on whatever is nearest to us. But these women, some Furman Fashionistas, carefully craft their outfits and use them to express who they are and how they are feeling.
Natalie Wolf(Photo courtesy of Natalie Wolf)
How would you describe your style?
Honestly, I don’t really have a specific style. My clothes totally depend on my mood. Some days it’s pajamas and slippers to class, other days it leans more bohemian, and some days it’s strictly athleisure.
Who is your style icon?
Olivia Jade. I love her mix of street style with sleek, sexy classic pieces. Her outfits work perfectly for day or night.
What is your signature piece in your closet?
Leather jacket (faux of course). So easy to pair with jeans and heels for a night out.
Where is your favorite place to shop?
I prefer online shopping, but recently Princess Polly has been my absolute favorite.
Why do you like fashion?
I always feel more confident when I like my outfit. I don’t really ever have a reason to explain why I like fashion, because it’s more of a feeling for me. I smile whenever I try on clothes I love. I love finding new ways to pair new pieces with old pieces and push myself out of my comfort zone.
Bailey Pierson
(Photo courtesy of Bailey Pierson)
How would you describe your style?
The best way I can describe my style would be: just my own. People often ask, “how do you wear stuff like that?” and honestly, the answer is that I wear what I like. When I pick out clothes and accessories it’s for me more than it is for other people. So my style reflects my personality. Each day is different and however I’m feeling will inspire my creativity when putting together that day’s outfit. So when people say to me, “only you could wear that”, I take it as a compliment because they are right and I am happy with being me and letting my style speak for itself.
Who is your style icon?
Surprisingly, I do not have any one style icon. Of course, I appreciate the many styles that are out there. And while I enjoy watching red carpet events and seeing the styles of fashion week, I am not the type to follow bloggers or model my outfits after someone else. I may get ideas from various places like instagram and online sites, but in the end, I like to create my own style. I will shoutout Carly Broome (@carlybroome), another Chi Omega from the College of Charleston that I met, because I loved the way she styled her outfits.
What is your signature piece in your closet?
Hands down my cheetah print fur coat. I know that print and fur jackets have been blowing up over the year, but I have had my cheetah jacket since before the trend hit. I saw it on a rack years ago and knew I had to have it. I love its versatility because I can wear it casually to class or wear it to dress up on special occasions. And for $15 all those years ago, it has proven to be one of my greatest additions to my closet.
Where is your favorite place to shop?
If you looked through my closet, you’d find that there is no consistent name brand. This is because I like to consider myself a ’boutique hopper’. Don’t get me wrong, I also love a good trip to Free People, Anthropologie, or Nordstrom, but I have found that most of my ‘go-to’ outfits and pieces that people often ask “where did you get that?” have come from smaller shops and boutiques that I have found along the way in my shopping adventures. One of my favorite finds is a place called “The Black Market”. I know the name makes it sound a bit sketchy, but this shop offers clothes that you won’t find anywhere else. I love discovering unique clothes because that’s my style sense. So, for me personally, I like the lesser known places, like local boutiques, because they offer items you can’t really find anywhere else that can make a bigger statement than a bigger, well known name brand.
Why do you like fashion?
Some of my earliest memories when I was a little kid were of me playing dress up and planning the perfect outfits. The most exciting days were when my grandma would take me to go shopping after school. My mom would give me her input on my clothing choices as I grew up, but I have always been fascinated by patterns, colors, and the structural design of clothes ever since I could pick them out on my own. Over the years, it has grown into a passion for me because fashion is constantly changing, shopping is a stress relieving comfort to me, and it is a way to express myself and feel confident about who I am each day.
Lydia Fink
(Photo courtesy of Lydia Fink)
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as urban chic. It just really depends on my mood and vibe of the day.
Who is your style icon?
My style icon isn’t necessarily one individual but rather everything that I encounter day to day. I am inspired by my friends and their unique styles, sunsets, Stevie Knicks, some days Kylie Jenner. My surroundings are my style icons.
What is your signature piece in your closet?
I would have to say my signature piece of clothing are my high waisted black skinny jeans. They go with mostly everything, can be dressed up or down and just and have the absolute best fit to them
Where is your favorite place to shop?
For online shopping my favorite places to browse are Nasty Gal and Missguided but if I’m shopping in store I absolutely adore a trip to Zara or TopShop.
Why do you like fashion?
I like fashion because it genuinely makes me feel good about myself. I thrive on being able to translate my mood into the clothes and accessories I am wearing. It’s a way to express all versions of myself. Am I a punk rocker vibe today or am I channeling a more 70’s groovy Cher vibe? That versatility is just addicting.
Claudia Leslie
(Photo courtesy of @juan_nuala)
How would you describe your style?
My style changes and evolves constantly. I just wear what I feel sexy/comfortable in that day. That being said, right now I would describe my style as Atlanta streetwear, mixed with a lot of femininity.
Who is your style icon?
My style icon is instagram. I spend so much time on the explore page in my “style” tab, synthesizing what I see and thinking about outfit ideas or getting inspired.
Some instagram accounts I obsess with:
@blvckd0pe
@lissyroddyy
@x_carms
What is your signature piece in your closet?
My signature piece is a pair of Porsche design sunglasses. They make me feel glamorous no matter what I’m wearing, and the lenses can be changed out- I love any piece that’s versatile. Clothing-wise my signature piece would either be a custom jacket from Kendall Hawthorne’s (former Furman student’s) Ken Creates, or a black vinyl mini skirt from House of CB. Both of these are super versatile- I say my Ken Creates jacket because I can put it over any outfit, and it makes that outfit unique to me. Likewise while the House of CB skirt isn’t unique or custom, I like how adaptable it is to whatever vibe I’m feeling. I can wear it with a pair of AF1s and make it street, or put diamond pumps and a diamond purse with it and make it chic and glam.
Where is your favorite place to shop?
My favorite place to shop.. shopping is actually really hard for me. I am so picky, I’ll spend all day in stores and not find anything I like. Especially in Greenville, it can be really hard to shop for my style-type, so I rarely do so. I’ll shop online for clothing at places like Missguided or Pretty Little Thing. I like to have occasional pieces from Gucci, Alyx Studio, Supreme, (vintage) Kappa, and Commes des Garcons which I’ll get in New York, LA or Atlanta.
Why do like fashion?
The question “why do you like fashion?” is huge. Fashion does a lot for me. It gives me an outlet to physically create the images in my mind. It’s cathartic in that way. It allows me to represent who I am, my confidence, my personality, and how I’m feeling, while simultaneously helping me control how I feel. If I’m dripping in a ‘fit, I automatically feel more like myself, more confident, more complete. I actually feel incomplete without fashion and without creating my minds vision. I won’t want to see people, or talk as much as normal unless I’m using that outlet. As a natural creative, fashion completes me.
Molly Finnan
(Photo courtesy of Molly Finnan)
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as feminine tomboy. I love to pair oversized sweatshirts with some cute jeans and some boots. I love the classic dress and sneakers look too. If it is comfortable I will probably wear it. My go to piece right now is a boyfriend blazer.
Who is your style icon?
Either Jackie Kennedy or Hailey Baldwin
What is your signature piece in your closet?
My Michael Kors leather jacket (my lifesaver)
Where is your favorite place to shop?
I love Zara as well as Topshop.
Why do you like fashion?
I love fashion because it allows everyone and anyone to express themselves in any way they want. It is always evolving and ever-changing which is so unique. I love that you can take one piece of clothing and tailor it to anyone’s style.
These are the women that I look forward to seeing around campus to check out their outfits. They inspire us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace each of our own interpretations of what fashion is.