The Lance’s Fashion Student of the Month is published monthly to spotlight NVOT students whose individual style has been inspired by their love for fashion. This June, we recognize Joyce Park as Fashion Student of the Month. 

Sophomore Joyce Park was born with a passion for fashion. “Fashion has always piqued my interest since I was young, since I used to play dress up games and draw a lot,” she said. However, she became more interested in her fashion journey recently. “I really got into fashion last year when I was a freshman. I started expanding my closet and looking into different styles,” Park shared.

Fearing others’ opinions is a common struggle among emerging fashionistas. Park admitted that in the early stages of her fashion journey, she struggled with that fear as well. However, “I stopped caring about fitting in as I knew I would’ve been happier being myself and dressing differently than wearing what was popular.” She added, “I noticed that everyone wanted to get through the day and most of the worries were in my own head.”

Describing her style as “a mix of many,” Park shared that she does not put a label on it. Her favorite things to wear are “silver jewelry, tank tops with embroidered designs, and my Ugg sneakers.” She enjoys shopping at Zona Libre, Hollister, Lucky, and Abercrombie; they “still have timeless pieces around today,” she explained. Most of Park’s closet features vintage Hollister and Abercrombie garments, though one of her favorite pairs of jeans is from the brand Lucky. 

Park draws inspiration from fashion designer Vivienne Westwood due to her influence on the 1970s punk era and because of her “approach to fashion with her patterns.” Park also looks up to her dad’s streetwear style. “I like to wear my dad’s clothes as it shows our relationship. We both bond over fashion and music and are very close,” she described. 

In addition to clothing, Park uses her makeup style to express herself, wearing “big lashes and eyeliner while spiking the bottom of [her] lashes.” She explained that her makeup is a product of experimentation. “I never really chose a style of makeup,” she explained. “I started to incorporate different styles of makeup into one and ended up with my makeup routine now.” Park accredited her makeup routine for helping “tie the outfit together.”

Furthermore, she is dedicated to the world of fashion. “I upcycle clothes I don’t wear into bracelets or new clothes,” Park said. She also donates her old clothes to shelters and thrift stores “because it recycles clothing and doesn’t end up as landfill. Also, it gives a new use out of clothing I don’t use.”

The sophomore described her favorite trend as “seeing people experiment with different fabrics or clothes that shouldn’t go together,” and claimed that her least favorite fashion trend “is people making fun of a style because it’s ‘outdated.’”

As someone who knows how challenging breaking out into the world of fashion is, Park advised beginner fashionistas to “Buy basics first and staple pieces last, don’t care what other people think, and wear what you like, not what’s trending.” As a rising junior, Joyce Park is a trailblazer to follow with her takes on self expression; whether it be finding confidence or developing unique mediums to convey her creativity, she is devoted to her fashion journey.