Mavens of Style - The Students

There’s much to be said about the ways of the fashion world, but when the mirror gets turned toward Charlottesville, VA - not necessarily considered the fashion capital of–well–anywhere - it was a pleasant surprise to find that even in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, people are not marking the passing of the season with a cookie cutter look they bought head-to-toe off the mannequin at their hometown department store. Students, especially.

No, my friends, in fact quite the contrary. Last week, two members of my team set out on the task of finding those who “dared” to have their own style. Not those, as you are probably imagining, with an aggressive sensibility - but people you see across the room and want to get to know - dare I say - want to be.

This go around, I asked the ladies to focus on the transient sector of the community. The students. Thinking that they, if anyone, would serve as trend-spotters for the town, as they arrive from near and far to start the academic year again.

So now, I introduce you to those I affectionately refer to as Mavens of Style - those that embrace the art of fashion and wear it with an ownership-of-self that is enviable, and I can only hope, contagious.

I understand that at the University of Virginia, freshman are not freshman but “first-years”…and let me speak to the gentleman out there when I tell you that you are so lucky to be in the presence of a first-year like this:

Hampton, a first-year from Greenwich, CT is the first to be crowned one of my Mavens of Style…no explanation necessary, she looks cooler than most. Her style is straight off the runway, but appropriate for a casual dinner out with friends. (And from what I hear, she was spotted with several other attractive friends.) She stands out without having to do a thing, and that is why she gets the honor of being our first.

Kendall, a fourth-year from Fairfax, VA caught our team’s attention for his street preppy style, that although comprised of components fairly typical for any college town, USA - it is his personal styling that branded him the next Maven of Style.

Molly, oh, Molly - like a spiked Shirley Temple - her style reads strong and sweet. Although like many other students, she is a third-year from Northern Virginia, Molly caught our eye through her ability to translate two of this season’s hottest trends - menswear and high-waisted silhouettes - into a look appropriate for everyday. For that -we dub her a Maven of Style.

We’re sure Barack would approve of this message, sent by our newest Maven of Style, Colleen, a fourth-year from Maryland. What our team admired about her may or may not have been dictated by what her shirt had to say - as much as the power she displayed in her ability to wear it so well. At the end of the day, it is more that you vote at all, than who you choose to vote for - thanks Colleen for standing for something, we are proud to induct you into our party.

Smith, is our international addition this round. A first-year from Ethiopia, he shared with us, his own interpretation of streetwear. A bold look made of one part Ed Hardy and one part a-la Smith himself, we applaud his ability to pull off a look that most people get dead wrong. Smith joins our Mavens of Style, because he shows us how to wear the updated version of the outdated term “bling.”

And while we’re mentioning eye-catching style, allow me to introduce the last of this edition’s Mavens of Style, a sassy law school student named Elizabeth. It wasn’t just her birthday smile that caught our team’s attention - but her ability to mix demure and dazzling. Neck to ankles - understated, but then there were those shoes! Balance is the key for styles like these, and it was her fashion intuition that said she wasn’t going to let anything else outshine her dancing feet.

So ask yourself next time you walk out the door - are you a Maven of Style or are you a sheep following the common-er flock?

Don’t despair if your photo wasn’t selected to join the ranks for this edition. My team of spotters will be out and about, all over town, and maybe next time - the newest Maven of Style could be you.