The Style Diaries
Maya Campbell Crediting her ever-changing style to a fast-paced childhood in New York City, Maya Campbell is quick to admit that she doesn’t have a distinct look. Growing up she had the vast diversity of a bustling city at her fingertips, which introduced her to a wide array of styles on a day-to-day basis. Maya was inspired by the varying color combinations she spotted around the city and by the way street walkers utilized different fashion pieces to complement their individual style. Unlike the strictly college-aged atmosphere we relish in at UW, Maya’s commutes around New York City have exposed her to the fashions of not just her peers, but the powerful businessman hustling to his Wall Street, the freespirited hippie engaging in her daily spiritual cleanse and the young model grabbing a cup of coffee before heading to a photo shoot. These unique experiences in the city have molded her wardrobe into a style Maya quaintly describes as “quite traditional with feminine accents.” Written By: Alyssa Sage Photographed By: Roberto Leon
monday: dressed-up denim
Since becoming accustomed to the laid-back lifestyle of the Midwest, Maya has learned to experiment with a once-foreign style element: comfort. Ironically, Maya resorts to a pair of denim jeans for ultimate ease. She spent the majority of her adolescence donning an assortment of dresses and skirts, so for Maya, learning to embrace denim has been a turning point in her style. Much of her Midwestern shopping expeditions have concluded with a new pair of jeans to add to her ever-growing stack—a collection she shamelessly admits to be totaling at 25 pairs. Though she’s learned to integrate comfort into her wardrobe, Maya certainly hasn’t abandoned the signature, investment pieces from her teenage years. Now she pairs those items with simple pieces to achieve a look that conveys put-togetherness without being too over-the-top.
tuesday: all about accessories
As for accessories, Maya’s stylistic approach changes with the turn of the seasons. As far as jewelry goes, she tends to reach for a classic statement necklace over any other type of jewelry. Being in dangerously close proximity to the Urban Outfitters on State Street has certainly fed her addiction for necklaces, particularly the delicate assortment on Urban’s jewelry stands. Maya also resorts to a classic, structured designer handbag for an accessories fix. “If I splurge on anything, it’s definitely a bag,” she admits. As every bona fide fashionista has a lavish wish list, Maya currently has her sights set on Chanel’s Executive Cerf Tote and Saint Laurent’s Sac Du Jour.
wednesday: a clash-course in chic
While mixing prints is a style technique that many fashionistas approach with caution, Maya relishes in experimenting with clashing fashion patterns, particularly floral and crisp nautical stripes. When she’s playing with differing designs, she admits to often second guessing herself, but once she has the outfit she can immediately tell if she has chosen prints that amount to a fashionable clash. “I’m a strong believer in having fun with fashion and taking risks, so I try to push back against any reservations I may have about mixing prints,” she says.
thursday: rebellious edge
While many young girls’ passion for fashion spawns from flipping through countless issues of Teen Vogue or Seventeen Magazine, Maya’s was fostered through her desire to reject her mother’s idea of appropriate attire. It was by no means an attempt to understand fashion or be fashionable, just simply a teenage-level rebellion against the fashion choices her mother saw fit for her. During this period, which Maya coins as her rebellious stage, she was able to subconsciously experiment with fashion. Maya credits this rebellious stage—which she admits resulted in a “regretful track of mini and mini-er skirts”—for developing her eventual interest in fashion. “I’m definitely glad it happened, though my mom,” she adds “probably is not.”
friday: statement-worthy comfort
Typically gravitating toward louder, more vibrant pieces, Maya often slacks when it comes to building her collection of long-lasting basics. One classic piece that she was able to adopt into her wardrobe was this cream, cable-knit sweater. Due to its versatility, it has quickly become one of the staple items in her closet. Maxi skirts are another one of Maya’s go-to clothing pieces, especially during the spring and summer months. She loves how maxi skirts can function as not only a comfortable, breezy bottom, but also as an eye-catching statement piece.
MODA