Looks on Campus: Sierra – University of Notre Dame

Sierra knows the ropes of city style.

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Sierra’s outfit is a cool mix of colors and patterns, plus her crop top caught my attention from a mile away. 

We met at a fashion industry event in NYC and after talking to her, I learned that she is a fashion blogger and summer intern in the city. Sierra knows the ropes of summer style. 

College style in NYC: Notre Dame student Sierra wears a vertical striped mini skirt, off-the-shoulder palm print crop top in navy and green, and gray Nike sneakers

Sierra 101

Name: Sierra

Year: Junior

School: University of Notre Dame

Major: American Studies

Hometown: Birmingham, MI

Let’s Talk Fashion 

Who or what inspires your style? “Right now I feel most inspired by strangers. Living in New York, there’s inspiration on every corner and I am always sneaking glances at those around me and stealing their [looks]. When I’m at school at Notre Dame, I get my inspiration from some amazing bloggers on my Instagram feed… most of whom are in NYC and making me homesick.”

Where do you like to shop? “Since I work at 3.1 Phillip Lim, I am always splurging on his stuff because I’m surrounded by it all day! I try to hit the thrift stores when I can. Zara is definitely my guilty pleasure.”

How would you describe your sense of style? “My sense of style is very protean. I go from edgy to girly so quickly [that] it’s really hard to pinpoint! I went to prep school but I listen to Nirvana, so I like to describe it as ‘preppy-grunge’ sometimes. I wear lots of band shirts and if I ever wear makeup, it’s very minimal so that definitely feeds into the grunge aspect.”

Why did you choose this particular outfit? “I had just bought this 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt and fell in love with it. Zara was having their huge sale and I spent time looking through tops until I found this one. I was lucky enough to find it the moment I walked in.” 

What fashion advice would you give to other students looking to improve their style? “Read! Fashionista and Business of Fashion are my go-to’s. Being involved in this industry isn’t just about looking pretty! It’s about knowing everything so I read the fashion newsletters daily.”

What are your favorite trends right now? Monochrome is so hot right now. It’s an easy way to say ‘I know how to put a look together.’ I also love millennial pink and I used to hate that color. Red is also a color that I’ve been growing into lately.”

Do you have any favorite fashion designers? “Besides Phillip… I have to say YSL. Especially this season; the sequins, black, and denim blew me away. It was so New York.”

What do you do for fun – do you have any unique hobbies or interests? “Outside of fashion and blogging, I sing, play guitar, and love hanging out with friends.”

If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be, and why? “Camille Rowe! She’s a French-American model with such a cool taste and a great vintage collection.”

Elements of Sierra’s Outfit

1. Belted Skirt

College student style in NYC: Student Sierra wears an off the shoulder ruffle crop top in green and navy palm print, a pendant necklace, a simple black and gold watch, and a white and green vertical striped mini skirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim

One can never go wrong wearing vertical stripes, no matter the season – they’re both flattering and classic. These stripes are mismatched widths, making this belted skirt unique and eye-catching. Plus, who doesn’t love a skirt with pockets?

2. Crop Top 

College student fashion: Notre Dame student wears a vertical striped high waisted white mini skirt and a navy and green one-shoulder ruffle crop top and holds a pair of sunglasses

This top is versatility at its finest! Sierra’s cropped style could be worn either on or off-the-shoulder. Her skirt is high-waisted enough to only show a touch of skin to keep her look rather modest.

3. Sneakers

College student fashion trends: Classic gray Nike sneakers

I love that Sierra paired comfortable sneakers with her eye-popping outfit. Casual comfort is an important part of a look, especially when you’re in the city, and she nailed it.

Are you a fan of crop tops?

Would you wear her gorgeous skirt? Comment below and share your thoughts with us!

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