A passion for fashion

Nathalia Martinez, a junior and immigrant from El Salvador, has loved fashion from an early age. She moved to America when she was eight and has lived in Silver Spring ever since. Sometimes Martinez misses the people and things she left behind in El Salvador, "I miss my house and family, because I have family still in El Salvador, and I miss my pets," Martinez says wistfully. Martinez has a dog, cat, three turtles, parakeets and chickens. She doesn't name any of her pets because she doesn't want to get too attached.

Her fashion choices are motivated by the friends and family that she sees everyday, "People around me inspire how I dress because when I see something that I like I find something close to it and make that outfit my own,” Martinez explains. She finds her clothes from anywhere and everywhere. Martinez buys pieces that pique her interest from H&M, Zara, Urban Outfitters and thrifts to find original pieces. Sometimes she gets clothes from El Salvador when she goes to visit her family.

Her favorite piece include thrifted striped blue and white pants, red high heel boots that she got from Forever 21 and an orange off-the-shoulder dress from H&M.

Martinez gets compliments for her fashion and people always ask her where she gets her clothes, though she has never considered herself to be stylish. She is taking Blair's Drawing and Design class this year to learn the basics of fashion illustration, and plans to take the Fashion Drawing and Design class next year. "If I had to describe my fashion in a few words they would be quirky, fun, and unexpected,” she smiles.