The Style Diaries
Written By: Victoria Fok Photographed By: Roberto Leon Layout by: Jesse Tovar
NICOLE With her fiery hair and eclectic style, it’s obvious that Nicole Nelson stands out in the crowd. After discovering her love for theatre in high school, Nicole’s style evolved to become more diverse as she embraced her artistic side. Inevitably, she realized that she didn’t have to wear the same type of clothing as everyone else, and after she recognized this, she dressed bolder by wearing lipstick and black combat boots. Now in college, Nicole continues to channel her creative side, not only through being involved in Optima dance and theatre courses, but also through her uniquely edgy style.
Monday: “Lazy” Layers Mondays are a notoriously difficult day to dress for, as it is the start of a long week. To cope with this, Nicole will reach for basics and her go-to color – black. A romper is a natural pick, as its one-piece nature creates an effortless ensemble. Paired with this base, her oversized grey sweater is her “lazy day” must-have as it provides warmth that helps to transition her summery piece to fall. Black sneakers paired with black socks over black tights create an interesting layer of monochromatic texture, adding intrigue to an otherwise simple ensemble.
Tuesday: Childish Whismy
Nicole has always been obsessed with the Little Mermaid. With Ariel being her favorite Disney princess since she was a little girl, she credits the fictional character as her inspiration for dying her hair red. Thus, when Nicole saw this swimsuit on Amazon while textbook shopping, she knew she needed this funny piece in her wardrobe. Nicole juxtaposes the whimsical, quirky piece with grungy staples by donning a red flannel and looser-fit jeans.
Wednesday: Dancer’s Attire Leggings are reserved for Wednesdays as Nicole has dance class during the day and dance practice with Optima at night. Leggings allow her to easily transition from a day from classes to dance practice. To brighten up her simple outfit, Nicole throws on a fun oversized windbreaker that she purchased from Ragstock. Drawn to the colors and the quirky grape print, the jacket adds Nicole’s signature whimsical touch to her darker and edgier ensemble.
Thursday: Fit to be Tied Without any classes on Fridays, Thursday is Nicole’s unofficial start to the weekend. Usually Thursday nights are reserved for date nights with her boyfriend, so Nicole needs an ensemble that can transition from class to night. Her cropped black top paired with a pair of slouchy boyfriend jeans is elegant yet causal enough for the daytime. The tighter cropped top balances out the looser bottom, while the sweater tied around her waist adds a nice break of color in her ensemble. Nicole loves tying sweaters and flannels around her waist as it adds an interesting element to her look as well as ensuring she’ll always have enough layers during the erratic fall weather.
Friday: Quirky Edge
With her weekend officially in full-swing, Nicole likes to have fun with her style on Fridays. Nicole pairs a black leather skirt and jacket with a colorful, printed crop top. Nicole loves to experiment with different textures and leather is one of her favorites, as it is understated but adds a touch of edge to any ensemble. Her fun graphic crop top adds an air of excitement and Nicole’s signature old-school sneakers with tube socks and beanie put a quirky twist on her ensemble. Altogether, this look exemplifies Nicole’s personal style the most, as it incorporates whimsical items with simplistic yet edgy pieces.
MODA