ALINA FLAWAU

Brand Ambassador // Fashion

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thevividvida: First off, tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Alina Flawau, I'm 20, attend the University of Hawaii West Oahu, and my major is Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I'm currently the Marketing Manager & a counter employee at a local business here on O'ahu. I enjoy blogging, fashion, trying and learning new things, leading an overall healthy/balanced lifestyle, listening to music (love me some Frank Ocean), driving around, and looove going to the beach. Of all of my interests, post-college I hope to go into the fashion industry; which is something I've wanted since I was little! - Alina

thevividvida: What is fashion to you?

A passion since forever & something that leads/inspires my life everyday (i.e. I love putting together everyday outfits, shopping (of course), was the interest that sparked the beginning of my blog "Threaded Flower", and I am constantly watching or reading fashion related content). I'm also big into pushing sustainability in the fashion industry, while uncovering the issues with fast fashion. - Alina

thevividvida : You're an undergraduate student now who is working and passionately interested in fashion. Do you have any future plans that involve fashion?

Oops, I kinda gave it away above! However, I hope to grow into the fashion industry with the help of my marketing degree. When I was younger, I reeeally wanted to go into fashion design. I used to have notebooks filled with my "designs", professionally scribbled with crayons of course (haha). Through high school, I started taking business courses that introduced me to more potential positions. Now that I'm in college, I feel confident that I want to specifically pursue marketing. It's a mix of both my love for business and thinking creatively. - Alina

thevividvida : IMAGINE THIS. Somebody stops you on the street and says, "Wow! I love your style. I'd love to get into fashion and be more experimental with my looks but I have no clue where to even begin. What would you recommend I do to get inspiration?"

Social media is a continuously growing source as we know it. I recommend just following the individuals your style might align with, who you adore most, and whoever's content inspires you. When I first began my journey into fashion, magazines and blogs were my biggest source. Today, I search for inspo on Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest the most. - Alina - Alina

thevividvida : What inspires your personal style?

The 2 C's I keep repeating: Comfy & confident! I have to feel both in anything I'm wearing or before I purchase a clothing item. - Alina

thevividvida : Who are your style icons of the moment?

Vanessa Hudgens, Rihanna, Aaliyah and Jeanne Grey (@thegreylayers on IG) - Alina

thevividvida : What clothing item are you most likely to splurge on?

Anything denim, a jacket or jeans. I love a good non-stretch denim that you can pair a million ways.

thevividvida : If you could bring back any past fashion trend, what would it be?

Doc Martens. They've gone in and out the past few years, and I'm starting to see them pop up again. I have a black pair that I haven't worn in forever, and even though I can't wear them here in Hawaii, I hope they stick around because they're such a high-quality shoe. - Alina

thevividvida : If you could be personally styled by anybody in the world for an entire week, who would it be and why?

Mel Ottenberg (Rihanna's stylist) or Matthew Henson (ASAP Rocky's stylist)... I admire both of their clients and their styles so much. Probably two of my favorite celebrity street styles ever. - Alina

thevividvida : Anybody who has tried to change up their style and experiment with different looks knows that sometimes it can be as easy as adding a new accessory or as difficult as going store to store for specific items. What advice would you give to anybody looking to step out of their comfort zone and try something new?

Thrift, thrift, thrift. I'm not lying when I say a majority of my closet are cumulated from different thrift shops. A lot of the current trends are previous ones coming back in style (that were given away when they died out); experimenting with fashion and different styles doesn't have to break your bank. Disclaimer: Thrifting takes a lot of patience. If you want to thrift without going in-store, I recommend consignment apps such as Depop (I found my favorite pair of vintage jeans on there). - Alina

thevividvida : QUICK!! Before it ends, tell us a fun fact about yourself (and maybe your guilty pleasure TV show atm)

I can't whistle! & Right now, Riverdale and Insecure. I also love watching Shark Tank

thevividvida : Okay, back to the serious stuff. What advice would you give to others who are interested in pursuing fashion or experiment with it?

Fashion is a form of art. There's definitely no right or wrong way to pursue it, just make it "you". Your personal style makes you unique; do and wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident! - Alina

thevividvida : At the end of your feature here on thevividvida, what do you hope readers and viewers take away?

1. Being comfortable and confident are key 2. Both you and your style are works of art - Don't forget to enjoy your personal evolution and journey - Alina