Name: Courtney Kim
Home Town: Charlottesville, VA
Class of: 2015
Courtney Kim is a freshman who always has a sparkle in her style that matches the twinkle in her smile, so who else would be better to ask for fashion advice right as this Valentine’s Day rolls around? Most of you out there have a particular stance towards February 14th, but whether you plan on showering your friends with sugar and roses or scorning the Hallmark holiday, there’s nothing wrong with turning it into an excuse to add a little spunk to your outfit just to brighten your day!
AH: So, how do you feel about Valentine’s Day?
CK: I love every holiday! Anything that’s an excuse for me to dress up!
AH: Is that your favorite part about it?
CK: I love when there are decorations around. Right now, at the mall, there are so many hearts and everything is pink and red. I don’t even care if I’m single or in a relationship, I just love seeing so much happiness around! Everything is sparky and bright. It’s just another reason to dress up and feel good about the day!
AH: How do you dress up for it?
CK: Well, it depends on whom I’m hanging out with. I feel like if I were hanging out with a guy, I’d tone it down a little, whereas if I’m with girls I’ll just wear crazy stuff, because they’d understand! But least for this Valentine’s Day, I’ll probably just watch a movie or have a girls’ night in because I have a Chem test, so I’ll probably be in my PJ’s this Tuesday night.
AH: Oh, that’s rough. But your outfit today looks like it’s in the holiday spirit! What are you currently wearing?
CK: I’m wearing a black and gold ribbon headband, which is from J. Crew, and my heart necklace and my bracelet are both from Tiffany’s. I have my rings on, a black jacket from Billabong, and two dresses. The lacey dress on top is from H&M, and the tight dress underneath is from American Apparel. Also, I’m wearing my favorite Jeffery Campbell Litas!
AH: You’re also holding a tiara right now – do you like wearing lots shiny things?
CK: Yeah, I got it from Big/Little week, but I love tiaras! On my birthday you’ll see me just casually wearing it. On May 4th, if you see anyone walking around in a tiara it will be me! I just like to make myself feel special!
AH: Is there anything that you wear every day?
CK:My rings! I wear an elephant ring and a rosary ring. I don’t really pray with it but it calms me down before tests and anything stressful.
AH: Okay, so in general, how would you describe your style?
CK: That’s a really hard question. I love bright colors, and I’d rather wear a weird outfit that people look at than a boring monotone outfit that no one notices.
AH: I can see that! Do you have anyone who has inspired your style choices?
CK: Hmmm. Well first, for celebrities, I love Alexa Chung and Rachel Zoe. But I’m obsessed with Youtube channels, like Clothes Encounters. They do a lot of things, like call videos, which is where they talk about what clothes they got. They answer viewers’ questions sometimes, like “Oh, what do you wear with this or that?” Usually they do outfits, like how to use the same piece for different events. They kind of do photo shoots with videos about what they’re wearing, and they have brand names and prices up for everything.
AH: So all in all, what does style mean to you?
CK:I feel like so many people have said this already, but it is a way to express myself. And I would love to major in art, but I’m majoring in Biochemistry. It’s also a conversation starter; whenever I see someone wearing a cute outfit I go and talk to them and we usually end up becoming friends! Like some of my best friends became my friends because of my shoes or their shoes. It’s a way to spend time with people you like and it’s just fun. It calms me down; getting dressed and putting on my makeup in the morning relaxes me and gets me ready for the day.