Name: Nora Walker
Major: English Education
Year: Senior
Q: First and foremost, what does fashion mean to you?
A: Fashion is definitely an expression of oneself! For me, fashion is an expression of my confidence. When I love what I'm wearing, I feel so powerful and self-assured.
Q: Where do you find the inspiration for your outfits?
A: I love fashion bloggers! My favorite by far is Sammi Maria on Youtube; I seriously worship her lookbooks. Her style is so simple and chic and she also makes fashion so accessible. She puts outfits together and I'm like, "Why didn't I think of that?!"
Also, I want to give a shout-out to Valerie Sanders. She's an Iowa State student that I found on Instagram and I find a lot of inspiration from her posts.
Q: What is a typical "school" outfit for you?
A: My school outfits are usually really simple but chic (hopefully). A typical outfit you'd see me in would be skinny jeans with ripped knees, a plain white t-shirt, a leather jacket and some sort of boot (like Doc Martens, black booties, Timberlands) or Birkenstocks for warmer days.
Q: With fall coming up, how do you plan on updating your look for the new season?
A: I'm obsessed with the sportswear fashion trend, like rocking a Nike jersey as a dress with sneakers, wearing joggers and anything Adidas. To update my look for fall, I'd love to experiment with more sportswear. The challenge is making it look feminine and chic.
Another trend I'm loving is hats on women, I've been too scared to try it though! But whenever I see a girl on campus rocking a brimmed hat I'm like, you go girl. I think they are so cute for fall.
I love the transition to fall because I get to wear a lot of dark colors, jackets, boots, and oversized clothing, which are all of my favorite things.
Q: What's your fashion must-have and why?
A: A great white t-shirt that fits perfectly (I prefer them slightly oversized). Sounds so simple, but a good white t-shirt is essential in my wardrobe because I can use it as a base for so many different outfits.
Q: What is your biggest style catastrophe?
A: The first thing that comes to mind is my 5th grade self wearing a bright blue cardigan with blue fur sleeves and a blue fur collar. It was awful, but at least I was experimental with fashion, right?
Q: Any advice for people who are lost when it comes to fashion?
A: My advice would be to start with the staples. A great pair of skinny jeans, a plain t-shirt, a good jacket and shoes that go with everything, like neutral boots or sandals. From there, you can start adding pieces that fit your own personal style, like a statement bag, jewelry, scarves and other accessories. If you start out buying random pieces that you find stylish or unique, you'll end up with a closet full of random pieces of clothing and accessories that don't go together to create a complete outfit.
Once you get comfortable with experimentation, you can start buying more pieces that work and create your unique style. This was my experience with developing my fashion and sense of style, and I think it's the best way to start. Also, most importantly, be yourself! Don't be afraid to wear what you want. Own it.
Nora is sure to turn heads on campus with her fashion sense! If you know an Iowa State fashionista that should be recognized, then please email me at liverson@iastate.edu.
