The Style Diaries
The Style Diaries: Chi For Chi Huynh, a UW-Madison junior from Rockford Illinois, clothes are not just items in her wardrobe; rather they are memories and reminders of her best friends from home. In high school, Chi and her closets friends gained an appreciation for dressing up, even on the simplest occasions. “How you dress is how you feel� became a motto for them, and it encouraged them to embrace their style every day. Though her friends are now scattered around the country at different schools, Chi always thinks of them when she opts for a nice dress over sweatpants in the morning. She lives a busy life between balancing academics, a job and an internship, but Chi stays on top of everything with a wardrobe that is feminine and chic. Written By: Victoria Fok Photographed By: Roberto Leon
Monday: Sweater Weather While it’s important to Chi that she starts her week strong, she has to work at the Financial Aid Office on Mondays at 7:45 AM, so she often reaches for an ensemble that possesses an element of comfort. Her favorite white dress paired with a cozy pink sweater does just the trick. A good sweater is a must for Chi as the climate in the financial aid office is often quite cold. This particular knit also has a special meaning to her as it was a present she received from a friend from high school at an annual Secret Santa Christmas gift exchange.
Tuesday: Polished Professional On Tuesdays, Chi interns at a research company downtown, making it important for her to dress professionally. Chi achieves this by wearing a printed blue blouse and simple white pants with shiny gold flats that complete her outfit. While translucent apparel is not necessarily Chi’s cup of tea, she loves shine in accessories, especially in her shoes. Flats are Chi’s go-to shoes, not only for their comfort, but also because it is extremely difficult for her to find a pair of heels that properly fit her size five and a half feet. With her favorite cross-body in tow, Chi is ready to take on a long day of school and work.
Wednesday: Borrowed from the Boys
On Wednesdays, Chi has another early morning, so she’s quick to reach for her favorite piece of clothing: a red men’s sweatshirt given to her by her boyfriend. A three dollar bargain find from Maxwell Street Days, this piece is a comfortable gem that she wears as often as possible. Chi also enjoys layering and mixing different prints and colors. As such, a colorful, blue floral print skirt with her red sweatshirt is an obvious paring, and her black Converses tie the look together flawlessly.
Thursday: Lovely Lace Chi’s friends have always described her style as cute and adorable, which is seems fitting because she is often drawn to dainty details like lace and crochet. From her white crochet shorts to her teal tank and pink oxfords, each piece in Chi’s ensemble utilizes one of these ultra-feminine textiles. Most notably, Chi’s pink oxfords have lace detailing on the sides, making these the most colorful and unique pair of shoes that she owns.
Friday: Sporty Prints With the weekend finally approaching, it’s time for Chi to relax and have some fun. To reflect this mood, she usually gravitates toward a more fun outfit on Fridays. This unique printed skirt is actually a thrifted tennis skirt. When looking for different patterns, Chi tries to search for something eccentric as she is constantly on the hunt to find items that will fit her unique style. This playful incorporation of athleticinspired apparel allows Chi to easily transition from a day at school to relaxing with her friends without resorting to a look that’s too casual.
MODA