Her Style: Asymmetry with Kayla Omsberg
Her Style is a bi-weekly article on Southern New Yorker, showcasing one fashionable woman styling a current trend of her choice, accompanied by an interview with her on fashion, beauty, career, and more!
Kayla Maryly Omsberg is an FIT Fashion Design graduate and Assistant Designer at Grey State Apparel. She’s lived all over the country--from Virgina, to New Jersey, to California before settling in NYC. She’s an incredible fashion sketch artist, and one of the most genuinely kind people I know! She loves hunting for vintage finds, painting watercolor, halo top ice cream, and listening to 60's music (especially Brigitte Bardot).
Kayla was actually one of my suite mates freshman year at FIT, and while I miss having 24/7 access to her stunning closet, I’m lucky to have had such great gals like her that first year!
Read on to learn more about Kayla:
How would you describe your style?
It's so hard to nail down style with a couple descriptors, but I'll do my best! If I had to pick, I'd describe my style as sophisticated, feminine, and a bit playful. I did inherit a love for classic lines from my mother, so I usually try to keep core neutral pieces to maintain a classic look. Recently I've been having a bit of fun with color--I think it's so important to keep things a little playful and relaxed when it comes to style!
Did you always want to go into fashion design? What drew you to it?
Short answer yes, long answer no! I had always loved fashion design and illustration, drawn to it by the creativity the industry encompasses. But, I had viewed it as nothing more than a dream for awhile—It wasn’t until I took a fashion merchandising class at my high school that I realized it could actually be a reality. After that, I was set on design, and only applied to colleges with fashion design programs!
What do you do to pull yourself out of a creative rut?
Oof, those are the worst. The best thing for me is to not force anything! I find if I can mentally take a break and focus on something non-creative for a day or two, inspiration will find me in one way or another. If its a truly *dire* situation, looking at old work can help spark something new. Sometimes you find something you had abandoned years ago you realize actually has potential.
What are some of your favorite emerging trends?
I love the uber-feminine look thats been everywhere recently. There’s something empowering about being able to walk around in puffy sleeves and an embellished headband and still be taken just as seriously as if you were wearing a powersuit. Asymmetry and pattern mixing are fun too—and a way to bring a playful aspect to your looks.
What’s a piece of style advice you’d give to your younger self?
If I could travel back in time, I would tell younger me to just wear whatever the heck you want! I definitely had a period in elementary and middle school where I was wearing all those abercrombie and hollister graphic tees because everyone else was—despite having no interest in doing so. Hindsight is 20/20 though—so just have to laugh and hope no-one blackmails me with the photos!
I hope you loved seeing how Kayla and I styled the asymmetry trend, and learning more about her! If you want Her Style delivered to your inbox, you can get it here!
xoxo,
Audra
