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Create a Marker- Study Tour

During today's Study Tour, we visited Create a Marker, and spoke to the founder and CEO, Paul Cavazza. Paul has worked with over 200 different brands and works with them on perfecting their size grading scale for their upcoming collections. Size grading is different based on gender, size, and age. It was really interesting to learn about the different markets, such as the plus-size bridal market, and how there aren't enough designers catering to that market. Designers who focus on women's sizes 2-6 are very saturated and there's a ton of competition. A great market to go into is the plus-size ready-to-wear, and plus-size bridal market because there are not enough designers who are pursuing that field and there is a ton of success and growth opportunities within that sector. In addition, he explained the difference between 0-3-6-12-24 months, & 2T-3T-4T-5T sizing. What was interesting about 24M and 2T sizing is that, mothers will switch to 2T after their child is potty trained, because 24M is designed to fit over diapers, so there is extra circumference in the fabric. It is suggested that designers choose a sample size somewhere in the middle to build off of the bigger and smaller sizes, adding either 1 1/2 or 2 inches to the seams.

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Study Tour- Betelguese

Over Thanksgiving Break, my coworker and I went to go see the broadway show Betelgeuse in Times Square. We got great seats, and the show was incredibly hilarious, and perfect for both the older and younger generations that know and love the iconic Betelgeuse fandom, a cult classic. The show was also serving Betelguese themed beverages and snacks at the theatre, which was very fun to enjoy during the show. Lydia, the main girl actor, had a beautiful voice, she could most definitely record and produce her own music in the future. In addition, the broadway play was having a special guest, Trisha Paytas who is an internet influencer and sensation on YouTube. She has a very big and comedic personality on youtube and she had a good performance during the play.

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Kleinfeld- Study Tour Blog

On this weeks Study Tour we visited the Iconic Kleinfeld Bridal. Kleinfeld is popular amongst TLC for their hit television series "Say Yes to the Dress!".

During this study tour we we're shown the main dressing room of Kleinfeld Bridal, and "room 22" the dressing room that is constantly featured on the hit television series. Our tour guide, Caitlyn, came from an untraditional college background and had worked in a customer service roll for sports and the New York Yankees, it was really interesting to hear how she landed a job at Kleinfeld Bridal. In addition she showed us the storage room where they keep all of their wedding dresses in back stock, and talked about how the trend and buying team go to trunk shows at least twice a year and purchase collections from at least 25 designers each time. For this years trend is bridal, the 90s are back in, so buyers and designers are seeing a lot of lace and beaded details back in trend.

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Study Tour- IHL Group

This week we visited the IHL Group. Arden Rose Neff was our speaker, and she was the Head of HR at IHL Group. What I found was interesting about her story and position was that when she started the job, her boss built HR team around her, because she is so passionate about connecting with others and helping them. She also brought in Kent State Alumni who now work for the their company, and it was so cool to see my peers who I once had classes with thrive in the fashion industry as recent graduates. They were both taking on projects in the design realm, and working of different design partnerships, one for example was kidswear for Paris Hiltons collection. Arden also brought it two more of her colleagues, one of which specialized in designing sweaters, and the other worked in the sales department. Everyone seemed very passionate and excited about their jobs and the projects they were working on. In addition, the work culture seemed very positive, and that everyone is able to bring something to the table, whether thats in a creative way, or analytical trend forecasting way. All hands are on deck to contribute in the company, and many growth opportunities within the company.

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NY Embroidery Studio

This week we went to NY Embroidery Studio. We learned about all of the different embroidery machines and the different stitches that they provide. Some of which are gemstones, carpet stitch, pleated stitch, smocked stitch, and embossed fabric. We also learned about the various 3D printed fabric that they provide on the garments, such as this 3D Ariana Grande Wicked Swatch. In addition, we learned about the digital prints they can put on fabric and how you can design your own artwork to be printed onto a garment. We were also shown the 1800s sewing machines, which are very vintage and antique. They still use them occasionally when they want a specific stitch that only the antique sewing machines from Paris can provide. They have many designers come in such as Mark Jacobs, etc. Recently, they were designing. shirt for Harry Styles which was really cool.

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Cotton Incorporated- Study Tour

This week we went to Cotton Incorporated and spoke to Lauren Williams, Trend Forecaster, at NYC Cotton Incorporated office. We learned a bit about their cotton farm in North Carolina and what the farmers do for the company. In addition, we learned about the trend forecasting position at Cotton Inc. They travel all over the world, going to different markets, stores, and tradeshows to find the newest upcoming future trends. Cotton Incorporated focuses on trend forecasting for cotton-rich fabrics and apparel. The platform highlights upcoming trends in color, texture, and sustainability, helping designers and brands stay ahead of consumer preferences. Overall, Cotton Incorporated helps bridge the gap between fashion creativity and sustainable textile development.

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Museum of Broadway- study tour

This past week we went to the museum of Broadway for our study tour. It was really interesting as each room was dedicated to a different Broadway musical that is iconic for its own reasons. The Museum of Broadway, on 145 West 45th Street in Times Square, is the first permanent museum dedicated to documenting the history and experience of Broadway theatre and its profound influence upon shaping Midtown Manhattan Times Square, and New York City. Each room had orginal costumes from the Broadway show, as well as some of its playwrights plastered to the walls. In addition, each room had the sound track from the musical playing overhead, and each room had props, statues, and memorabilia from the musical. There were 3 floors worth of memorabilia from iconic Broadway shows, some in particular that stood out to me were Wicked, Hamilton, The Lion King, The Muppets, West Side Story, and many, many more.

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Fifth Avenue Woman Study Tour

This week, we went to Fifth Avenue Woman and spoke to the owner and founder, Sophie. Sophie is an immigrant from Asia who transformed her life and became a businesswoman in NYC. She has curated a very successful jewelry business with factories overseas. In the past, she has sold jewelry to department stores such as Saks5thAvenue, JCPenney, and many more. At those stores she talked about how she sold a lot of quality costume jewelry in bulk. Sophie also taught us about the different stones such as, Jade, Hematite, Rose Quartz, and the different colors and qualities they come in, as well as the meanings behind those stones. Some symbolize the beliefs in love, peace, protection, and intuition. In addition, she showed us the ivory jewelry she has that is made out of Elephant tusks. Ivory import is banned in the U.S due to its animal cruelty. Therefore, it is considered rare, unique, and of value.

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Ross- Dress for less- Study Tour

Today for study tour we went to the Ross headquarters in NYC, and spoke to the college intern recruiter, Jenny Mejia, about job opportunities and brand values at ROSS. We also heard from Jennifer Darienzo, who is the talent Acquisition specialist at ROSS. Ross Stores Inc. is the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States. They have a long history of success because they pursue excellence while learning, evolving, and providing a supportive environment. They are a part of the Fortune 500 companies, and have a revenue of $21.1 Billion as of 2024. Ross is committed to building diverse teams and an inclusive culture that respects, values, and celebrates the diversity of backgrounds, identities, and ideas of those who work and shop at Ross. They focus on career development, mentorship, training, and growth opportunities. We learned about their Buying positions, as well as Planning positions at Ross, and a little bit about what they involve. Ross has a sister brand attached to them called DD’s which has younger, lower price points and is geared towards moderate incomes. I liked Ross because their employees preached about good work culture, and so much opportunity for growth throughout the company. They support you, and want you to grow within their company and build relationships with colleagues and connections.

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THE MET

This week, we went to the MET and saw the Superfine Tailoring Black Style exhibit, which focuses on African American style and the history of fashion. Superfine focused on various stereotypes and their wardrobes, this included tight colorful garments, exaggerated accessories and affected manners. The exhibition also had artifacts of historic garments worn by significant figures during that time of history. There were many different silhouettes included in the exhibit that had cultural meaning, such as a US dollar stitched into the pocket of a pin-striped suit, which implied a sense of deprivation or dispossession. A quote that stood out to me during the exhibition was “designers of African descent often reference their diverse heritages and personal journeys in their work, taking inspiration from amplifying forgotten or overlooked histories of Black people in the process.”

[oliviashall]

The MET

This week, we went to the MET and saw the Superfine Tailoring Black Style exhibit, which focuses on African American style and the history of fashion. Superfine focused on various stereotypes and their wardrobes, this included tight colorful garments, exaggerated accessories and affected manners. The exhibition also had artifacts of historic garments worn by significant figures during that time of history. There were many different silhouettes included in the exhibit that had cultural meaning, such as a US dollar stitched into the pocket of a pin-striped suit, which implied a sense of deprivation or dispossession. A quote that stood out to me during the exhibition was “designers of African descent often reference their diverse heritages and personal journeys in their work, taking inspiration from amplifying forgotten or overlooked histories of Black people in the process.”

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Rockefeller Center Blog- 9/16

During this week's study tour, We visited the Rockefeller Center and watched the Livestream of the Coterie fashion show. The Coterie Fashion show is on what is considered the last day of New York Fashion Week. The livestream was set up outside on big screen TVs for the public to watch for free from 10am to 4pm on Fifth Avenue. We were only able to watch the first thirty minutes of the show before the livestream was disconnected on screen; However, the screen began replaying previous runaway shows from years past. The shows from last year were quite a different setup, as it seemed the Models were lined up outside and were walking around during the evening over gravel rocks rather than a stage or carpet. Towards the end of class, I explored the stores on Fifth Avenue. I didn’t know it was known for its luxury stores that are lined up and down the streets of Manhattan. A friend and I walked into a few of the luxury market stores such as Prada and Vivian Westwood. We also saw the Louis Vuitton building that is wrapped up and identical to their Louis Vuitton Trunk. It was really neat to see that, considering pictures of it have gone viral all over social media and the internet. We also saw the other Louis Vuitton store across the street, which featured a giant sculpture of giraffes and other jungle-themed sculptures pasted on the front of the building. I it is very colorful and eye-catching, compared to its other location across the street, which is designed like Louis Vuitton Trunk. 

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Harry Potter Flagship- Study Tour

During this week's study tour we visited the Harry Potter Flagship store on 23rd street. It is the first flagship store to open in the United States, and since its opening four years ago, and second location has been opened in Chicago. The store itself was a personalized experience as it displayed merchandise from all of the houses, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Griffindor, Hufflepuffs. Something that I thought was really cool was that they displayed actual props used in the movies throughout the store, such as Harry Potter's birthday cake that is featured in the very first movie of the series. The store was decorated with a lot of inspiration from the visual designers of the Harry Potter Movie, Eduardo Lima and Miraphora Mina. Many of their graphic design and stationary merchandise were out for sale in the store. In addition, they designed the interior of some of the rooms in the store to fit a specific theme from the movies. There were many scultpures throughout the store that displayed the iconic mythical characters and animals from the movie series.

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Street Style Photography

The experience was eye-opening and inspiring, noticing how people choose to express themselves with all the different types of fashion. Walking down the street, I noticed a lot of spring/summer wear still around the city. There were many skirts and dresses, as well as a jean mini skirts. There was a good variety of bright colors and neutrals: red, yellow, dark blue, pink, and orange are some popular vibrant colors that I captured on the street. High-contrast pieces, such as black and white, dark blue and white, were popular combinations that I saw on the street. As for patterns and prints, stripes, ruffles, polka dots, and accents or statement pieces of a gingham print have been popular in hats, skirts, or blouses. I am very drawn to polka dots recently, for example, the red polka dot dress I photographed is such a cute, eye-catching summer dress. Especially paired with the brown boots, she can layer it for the upcoming fall season. As for shoes, I’m seeing a variety of tall brown leather boots for the late summer and fall season. In addition, I saw many ballet flats, such as tabbies, in rotation with long skirts and jeans. 

As for accessories, mini shoulder purses are still widely used; however, cross-body purses are making a resurgence. Solid and patterned leather, such as animal print, or accents of suede, embellished within the leather, is something that I’ve noticed as a trend. In addition, long metal necklaces with unique pendants make for a statement piece and spice up an outfit. A long necklace allows for a fun layering moment, with multiple necklaces and different metals or gem pendants coinciding with each other for the ultimate chic look. Another fun necklace component is layering with beaded stone necklaces, such as the vibrant turquoise necklace that is featured with the lady wearing a bright yellow dress. As for belts, leather belts with unique metal belt buckles layered over a skirt, or tucked over a pair of jeans, have been a common accessory that I have seen styled. 

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Nordstrom Rack- Jamie Seiden

Jamie started at Home merchandise assistant (2015), then Beauty Assistant Digital Merchandiser (2016-2017), Shoes Assistant Digital Merchandiser (2017-2020),  Shoes Digital Merchandiser (2020-2021), Marketing Project Manager (2021-Present).

“Going, Going, Gone” Promotion on Nordstrom's website is a GIF. The "Deals On Now" is the headline and film strip that Jamie and her team worked on. They were able to create a trend, for example, the Western Trend up to 60% off they have on their website. They’re focusing on specific brands instead of flash events.

Jamie's life balance is tough, she works East coast hours, but Nordstrom rack is set on the West Coast, so there is a large time difference between the company and the areas where her team lives. Jamie has realized that she has to make a linear move to a different position, otherwise she has felt stuck taking the same position. She used to be in Digital Marketing but now works in Project Management, which has been a completely different field of work compared to Digital Marketing, and it has allowed her to grow professionally and personally in this new field of work. She uses Microsoft AI to help curate a formula that may help solve a problem in her position. In addition, she has used AI to help her formulate a proper email, or practice with interview questions. 

Marketing trends that Jamie is seeing currently are targeting Gen Z with TikTok marketing. In addition, they target email marketing and shortening emails. Jamie and her team research their competitors' emails, for example, do they have banners at the top of their emails, do the emails sound promotional or un-promotional? Something she’s noticed is that every brand has a discount code; for example, American Eagle has a discount nearly every day. In addition, the back and forth between Gap and American Eagle has been going back to the early 2000s. She has to shop for competition and observe what other brands are doing with their emails and marketing tactics. Companies are investing in a marketing trend where an AD pops up on TikTok for a brand that the user had just recently been on their website. 

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M&S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers

M&S Schmalberg is America's last fabric flower factory. It has been around since 1916, and flourished in the heart of New York's Garment District. They specialize in handmade fabric flowers for the world's most creative industries. Over the years, they have acquired an impressive clientele, including Beyoncé, Drew Barrymore, etc. They work with many celebrities, stylists, creative directors, movie producers, and events like runway shows, the Kentucky Derby, red carpet events, fundraisers, movie sets & costume designs, etc. M&S Schmalberg was founded by Morris and Sam Schmalberg; however is now led by Warren and Adam Brand, due to their father and grandfather, Harold Brand, who has carried on the legacy. Harold Brand became a part of the business after he survived the Holocaust. He befriended an American soldier who connected him with his uncles who lived in the United States, and he fled to build the start of a new life for himself. Since then, Warren and Adam Brand have been 3rd and 4th generation artisans who have mastered the craft of hand-making flowers in NYC with one-of-a-kind vintage tools.

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My Favorite Fashion Media

#1- Influencer: Olivia Anna-Catharina T

Instagram @oliviatps

Olivia is a social media influencer who posts her outfit inspiration to her viewers on Instagram. She has gained traction and popularity for her ability to curate unique-fashion forward outfits. Olivia is part of a social media marketing and content creation website called Storeach that allows her to further promote her creator content. She also has her own ShopLTK link where she posts where her pieces are from, which allows her social media community to purchase the same OOTD, “outfit of the day”,  pieces she has if they wish. 

I am inspired by Olivia’s fashion persona, by how she beautifully blends classic silhouettes with bold colors and innovative styles. Because of her ability to captivate her community with her daily looks of sophisticated, vibrant outfits, she has been invited to events like Copenhagen Fashion Week. Olivia has curated an authentic style that has inspired +503K people over social media, and with her talent, she made it a lifestyle and her brand. Let this be an aspiration for others, as they can also create a brand out of their interests and market their lifestyle to their community.

sources:

“Créateurs Uniques et Passionnés .” Storeach, www.storeach.be/talents?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafGa4REH3K6Uc2b9DlSkltBnypmA9aO2h1wL-3hZUTkmzkVwyv3K2ShqK9z_Q_aem_SrgzsHCeNzTEVadgapbhKA. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Olivia Anna-Catharina T on Instagram: ‘Copenhagen Fashion Week: Seven Days Full of Emotions, Friends, Chaos, All Lot of Fashion, and Too Much Coffee. Exhausted? Absolutely. Worth It? Every Second. #CPHFW 💗.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNLpdcNsJIE/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Olivia Anna-Catharina T on Instagram: ‘Copenhagen Madness Be like 🤌🏽.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNBS3qmsp_R/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

 “Olivia Anna-Catharina T on Instagram: ‘Cow Print Details Never Dissapoint 🖤 Who Else Agrees? 🤭.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNdtPNoMpUo/?img_index=4. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Olivia Anna-Catharina T on Instagram: ‘Summer Is Summering 🍋🥂🐬🌴.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DMPhsIqsE8K/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Olivia Anna-Catharina T on Instagram: ‘Sweet Dreams Are Made of These ☁️☁️☁️.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DMalJwWMARZ/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Oliviatps on LTK.” LTK, www.shopltk.com/explore/oliviatps?tab=products. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

 

#2- Designer/Influencer: Matilda Djerf

Instagram @djerfavenue, @matildadjerf

Matilda Djerf is an influencer and fashion designer behind her brand, Djerf Avenue.

Djerf Avenue is known for its women’s Business Casual, Picnic Attire, and Loungewear offerings. Her brand appeals to young women in their 20s to 30s who thrive in a working and aspirational atmosphere. I love Matilda Djerf and her brand Djerf Avenue for her timeless and long-lasting pieces. I have purchased a few of her pieces myself, and every time I style them, I feel confident and chic for an on-the-go look. Something that I find inspiring about Matilda Djerf's brand is that she allows her community to post their own blogs on her website, called Angels Avenue. 

Angels Avenue allows her community to post their fashion content using Matilda Djerf's pieces, and allows them the create style boards and style pins using their outfit of the day styles that are inspired by Djerf Avenue. 

Matilda Djerf was caught in a scandal that involved a poor representation of her brand's work culture and a toxic work environment for her employees. According to an article from Glamour.com, Matilda Djerf was bullying employees, calling a plus-sized model “fat”, and once allegedly demanding that an employee clean her toilet. 

As a viewer, we could learn to treat our employees with respect in the workplace. In addition, Matilda has inspired a new wave of business casual that brings in a bright and airy color pallet to her silhouettes and patterns. I believe that we will continue to see this persist in future trends.

Sources:

“Matilda Djerf on Instagram: ‘Things I’ve Worn This Week ☀️🌧️.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNtQ44mUCCQ/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Matilda Djerf on Instagram: ‘August 🧺🤍☕️🏠new Styles Coming This Month @djerfavenue Advertisement.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNEFdKuIFAK/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Matilda Djerf on Instagram: ‘August Night 💌.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNWFQ0yIhlV/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Matilda Djerf on Instagram: ‘☔️🧸☕️.’” Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DNQ7Kp7IbOf/?hl=en&img_index=1. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

RemixMagazine. “Meet Scandinavian Sweetheart, Matilda Djerf.” Remix Magazine, 11 May 2023, www.remixmagazine.com/lifestyle/meet-scandinavian-sweetheart-matilda-djerf/. 

#3- Influencer: Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain is a social media personality, model, and businesswoman. Her rise of fame started on Youtube, through her relatable and witty vlogs where her supporters felt like they could connect with her on a more personal level. I grew up watching Emma Chamberlain through my teenage years, I loved watching how she navigated life, friends and all the accomplishments she made along the way. She has inspired thousands of people to be their authentic selves, as a result of her dedication and expressing her own style she has had so many incredible opportunities. Some of her accomplishments include being featured in Harpers Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue Australia. Her relatable persona has attracted high-end luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, and Lancome, which have lead to celebrity guest invites to fashion shows such as New York Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week. In addition, she has taken her own love for coffee and turned it into her own brand, Chamberlain Coffee, which is sold in store fronts all over the country. She is a fabulous business woman by how she is able to take what inspires, and makes it her own, and then is able to sell it to those that are also inspired by it- she creates a market that reflect her own inspirations. Emma Chamberlain has received some bad press concerning her social media behavior. In addition, Chamberlain Coffee received backlash for their coffee products being considered overpriced. As her career has evolved some of her fans have accused her of being inauthentic and less relatable as she has veered away from her regular youtube vlogs, and accepted opportunities in high fashion brand deals. 

I believe Emma Chamberlain was the blueprint in the new wave of upcycled and thrifting fashion. As a young girl, myself and so many others were greatly influenced by her style. Even clothing brands began to catch on to how the targeted audience were being influenced by Emmas fashion style. Emma Chamberlain brought back styles from the 70’s and 80’s and created new trends inspired by that era of fashion. She created a brand by being authentically herself, I think that anyone can do that if they have enough dedication and passion to pursue their aspirations

sources:

Emma Chamberlain, Cartier’s Newest Ambassador, Drips in Diamonds on the Met Gala Red Carpet, www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/a39881840/emma-chamberlain-cartier-ambassador-met-gala-2022/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Emma Chamberlain: Bof 500: The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry.” The Business of Fashion, www.businessoffashion.com/people/emma-chamberlain/#:~:text=The%20content%20creator%20is%20one,with%20Louis%20Vuitton%20and%20Cartier.&text=Emma%20Chamberlain%20is%20a%20content%20creator%20and%20YouTuber. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

LaPlaca, Anna. “The One Thing Every Gen z’er Wears Because of Emma Chamberlain.” Who What Wear, Who What Wear, 30 Oct. 2020, www.whowhatwear.com/emma-chamberlain-style.

Phillipp, Charlotte. “Emma Chamberlain Shows Side Boob in Daringly Low Backless Dress at the 2025 Met Gala.” People.Com, PEOPLE, 5 May 2025, people.com/met-gala-2025-emma-chamberlain-backless-dress-photo-11717150.

Winters, Caitlin. “Emma Chamberlain’s Style: Fashion Inspo Outfits, Emma Chamberlain Outfits, Outfits.” Pinterest, 15 Aug. 2020, ca.pinterest.com/pin/emma-chamberlains-style--1055599901548220/.