Be Unique

Red Light Off: Hoping to get another interview before spring break, I “people watched” before my 2 pm class. As students were funneling out of lecture halls, I took notice in all aspects of style, from hair to shoes. Only about 15 or 10 minutes were left until I would have to give up and walk into Soc100. However, fortunately enough, I spotted a sweet and spunky student. After racing to her to ask if she had time for an interview she kindly agreed and we walked over to the nearest place to have a seat…


Shoes & Sweater/Zipper dress (from mom), Leggings from new store on 4th (next to Imonni), Cabi Jacket (Carol Anderson By Invitation), Belt


Red Light On: From her short pixie cut to her colorful ensemble, Chelsea Knights, a Fashion Merchandizing major, exudes the essence of individuality. Knights loves jewelry, and gets creative designing her own ceramic pieces. She is inspired by animals and nature when using hand formed clay to make one-of-a-kind necklaces. Although they take a great amount of time to complete, she enjoys the detail work she puts into them.

Knights likes to work her outfits around her jewelry, and usually wears vintage or stylish finds from her mom’s closet. Maybe fashion is in her genes, she mentions that her mother was a fashion designer in the 80’s and gets most of her unique clothing from her. When it comes to shopping, Knights ventures to “Retro Row” in Long Beach off 4th and Cherry Street. Where she explores various vintage shops, including such stores as Meow and Imonni. Although vintage is primarily her style she also finds great staples at Anthropologie and Free People. “I like to get quality pieces that I can wear different ways…it’s worth it,” Knights says. The value of clothing outweighs it’s price, she believes spending good money on a lasting item is more important than getting a one time use for something low cost.

Her favorite fashion designers include the colorful flare of Betsey Johnson and the high end style of Alexander McQueen, “Theirs no one that can design like him, its like so different, it was a unique vision,” Knights says. She cannot live without her jewelry, and deems her crocodile necklace her favorite self made creation. The necklace contains two overlapping crocodiles with tails that curl around the neck.

She believes people should stand out rather than blend in when it comes to style. Knights advice to you is to make your outfit different, not getting mixed up in the same old t-shirt and jeans. “Try to be unique, and look for pieces that aren’t what everybody else is wearing.”

Photos/written by: Alexis Sparks

Fierce Fashion

Red Light Off: Unfortunately due to conflicting schedules I was unable to directly record my next fashionista. However with the use of technology we were able to link up via email and share my style questions along with her descriptive and witty responses.


Floral leggings from Forever21 (20$), Boots, Sweater, & Top from Urban Outfitters, Socks from Free People, Hat from Goodwill (5$), Scarf (gift from a friend) from H&M, Favorite Michael Kors watch



Danielle Janowicz, a journalism major and fashion merchandising minor, delivers great style with her well-polished looks. Although the San Diego native says her style changes everyday, she is greatly influenced by hippie and vintage looks. “I love looking at what other people wear for inspiration. I am one of those people that check other people out…” she says. She dresses according to her mood and will throw on leggings and an oversized sweater, if feeling a little out of sorts that day.

Janowicz considers herself a “newbie” to thrift shopping but is enamored with the hidden gems she discovers, “I am like a kid in a candy store.” She enjoys venturing off into Goodwill, and recently picked up eight items she calls amazing (including the hat she is photographed in above). She says she loves when people ask her what she is wearing and replies with Goodwill “…their faces are always in shock.” Although she adores the great quality and low cost of thrifting, she also likes to shop at pricier clothing stores such as Urban Outfitters and Free People. Luckily enough, she is an employee for Free People and benefits from her discount.

Her recent purchase of Jeffrey Campbell platforms has her gleaming, Janowicz goes into detail about the 70’s inspired crème tee straps, “I look like a tall monster in them but I am obsessed. If I could wear them everyday, I would!” Her fashion icons include actress Chloe Sevigny and fashion blogger Rumi Neely (Fashiontoast). “I look at her blog at least twice a day,” Janowicz says. On to her Fashion don’ts, Janowicz adds to the list of people who despise the daily strut of Ugg boots. “In my eyes, Uggs are lounging footwear and are meant to be worn with pajamas or just around the house, or maybe if you are in the snow, but we are in California and it does not snow here haha” she says jokingly. She also hates when guys wear running shoes or flip flops with jeans, “it just bugs me.”

Janowicz believes people should dress for comfort, and should not be afraid to mix and match. “Make fashion statements, if your clothing is boring, add some accessories, socks, jewelry, it all goes a long way.” Her best style tip is to make sure you feel “fierce” in whatever you are wearing, and make sure to “rock it.”


Photos/Written by: Alexis Sparks

Free Spirit

Red Light off: [In class] I anxiously waited to ask my next interviewee if she would be a part of this project. I went up to her and without any hesitation she agreed to talk with me about style and her own free spirit. As we walked to our designated interviewing location [a CSULB stone bench], my interviewee passed several of her acquaintances even stopping to discuss a “renegade party” where she delivered the idea of dressing up like Frida Kahlo, a well-known Mexican painter. Her choice alone gave me an idea of what would now be recorded…



Roomate’s scarf, Skirt from Venice $20, Shirt given to her by a roommate, Black fringe jacket


Red Light on: Kylee Delgadillo, a journalism major and creative writing minor, moves to the beat of her own drum. The Fresno native was originally set to attend school in San Francisco to play basketball. However, due to a foot injury she decided to travel to SoCal and soak up the luxuries of living near Mickey Mouse. “I’m a Disney freak…I’ve had a pass for the last four years.” Delgadillo says her time in Long Beach has given her the opportunity for self-expansion. “I never would have looked like this if I was in High School.” “I used to wear, you know $200 dollar jeans and $100 t-shirt,” she says. “I can get a $2 jacket and wear it all the time, people love it.”

She is not a stranger to thrift and vintage clothing, and on occasion likes to borrow hand-me-downs her friends pick out for her. “I like to be more of a free flow, I like to wear things that breathe.” Delgadillo says. She dresses for comfort rather than be restricted in tight or revealing clothing. She incorporates colors into her outfits including muted and earthy tones. Gypsy and hippie looks are among her favorite styles. She gets most of her items from thrift stores, La Bomba and Replay in Long Beach [off fourth street and cherry]. As well as Out of the Closet and Jet Rag in Los Angeles. For those bargain shoppers, Delgadillo informs, Jet Rag’s great deals every Sunday with all items marked at a dollar. “Dig a little bit and have some fun,” she says.

“My hair would dread-lock itself, it tries to.”

On to her long curly tresses with ends kissed by the sun, Delgadillo has beads along braided strands of her hair. She has had them off and on for a couple years, but her recent ones have been in for about nine months. She admits her hair can be a pain to wash and waits about a week or so to attend to it. She also notes the non-essential everyday use of water. Delgadillo gives pride to curly haired women who struggle with the unique and sometimes unmanageable texture. “I used to be self conscious about my hair, because it is very different,” she says. “I really embraced the way I’m different.”

The free spirit has experimented with various piercings and has three tattoos. Her tattoos include an Egyptian Ankh, which is a symbol for the key to life [on the foot she broke], the words “desire, passion, love” between her shoulders, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers’s lyrics “there’s a love that knows the way.” Her favorite item in her closet at the moment are fringe boots by designer Sam Edelman. The designer’s mother actually gave her the shoes for free at a fashion show she recently attended. Delgadillo says she definitely “pounced on the opportunity.”
She says, “You can have a different look everyday…if you throw something on and you just feel kinda weird about it, then change.” Her number one advice for style is, “Just be yourself.”


Photos/Written by: Alexis Sparks