Fashion student to compete in styling contest to win internship

Senior Sarah Roberts may not have a personal stylist, but she does have a roommate with an extensive wardrobe and sense of style.

Her roommate, senior Breanne Palmieri, a fashion merchandising major, has been named a "most fashionable college student" by Marie Claire magazine and will compete as one of four stylists in their "Front Row Challenge."

"Basically every night we go out I am in her closet," Roberts said.

Palmieri and the other three finalists from University of Texas, Penn State University and University of Alabama will style four outfits for a fashion show at each of their campuses. One student will win an internship with Marie Claire magazine, LOFT and Rimmel London next summer.

Roberts said Palmieri is dressed fashionably each day.

"When she is outside the house she is always dressed nicely," Roberts said.  "She never just wears sweatpants."  

The fashion show, scheduled for Tuesday night in Mitchell Hall, will feature more than a dozen outfits from the LOFT clothing line, including the four styled by Palmieri.

Palmieri said she looks forward to meeting Nina Garcia, a panelist on Lifetime's "Project Runway" and fashion director for Marie Claire magazine, who will be one of the judges evaluating the four outfits she designed.

Palmieri and the other finalists traveled to New York City in August to tour the magazine's offices and explore the magazine's fashion closet. Palmieri said the experience was one of her trip's highlights.

"It had the most ridiculous designers with shoes, clothes, bags, jewelry, accessories just everywhere," Palmieri said.    

Since August, Palmieri has worked on producing the fashion show, which has involved finding models to securing advertising around campus. She has also been finalizing hair and make-up for all 14 models who will appear at the event.

Despite some pre-show nerves, Palmieri said she is happy the date of her show has finally arrived.  

"I have been doing it for so many months, and to have it all put together finally, I am just really excited to see it," Palmieri said.

Palmieri, who originally came to the university with a scholarship to study art, said the fashion industry allows her to be creative. She said her art background has influenced the way she styles clothing, particularly how she mixes different colors and lines.

Palmieri said her wardrobe includes many vintage-style pieces, and she likes to mix colors and textures, like chiffon and leather. 

She does not, however, like when clothing is too coordinated.  

"I hate matchy-matchy." Palmieri said. "That's a huge pet-peeve of mine."

Palmieri's mother, Joan, said her daughter has always followed her own path when it comes to her fashion sense and never puts pieces together the way they appear in stores.  

Joan said she knew her daughter had an artistic flare even when she was in pre-school.  

"She would tell me what colors she wanted to wear, and it was never the predictable little girl stuff," Joan said.  "She never just wanted to wear pink."

Kelly Cobb, an instructor in the fashion and apparel design department, said she noticed Breanne's interest in fashion journalism when she was in Cobb's class on fashion and sustainability.  She said she admires Breanne's confidence in her design choices.        

"Breanne has her own opinion and sticks to it," Cobb said.