River City Fashion
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River City Fashion *
Everything I’ve learned while working for my University’s Fashion Magazine
I have been working with River City Fashion, a magazine run through my university's student media center, for the past three years. As a sophomore, I began writing articles to accompany photoshoots. My first piece explored "ballet-core"—an aesthetic based on the dance style that romanticizes femininity through baby pink hues, bunched leg warmers, and an art form balancing immense strength with delicacy. I was immediately captivated by attending the shoot, watching models and photographers move in their own choreography, then weaving the resulting imagery with research and storytelling.
Magazine journalism is uniquely versatile—allowing writers to report on current events, deeply analyze culture and fashion history, and build worlds based on personal perspective and lived experience. Having experience in both hard news (with its extensive rules) and magazine journalism, I've come to deeply appreciate the creative freedom our magazine offers. Whether exploring why Gen Z—the generation championing body positivity—is reviving heroin chic, examining college students' relationships with Latin heritage through cultural dress, or tracing how rave culture fashion has evolved in recent years, the opportunities for compelling storytelling are limitless.
Since joining, I've progressed from contributing writer to Junior Editor-in-Chief to Editor-in-Chief. I'm incredibly proud of our magazine's evolution—from launching our first print publication in 2024 to now working on our third issue, we're continuously innovating in content quality and graphic design. This year, as head of the magazine, I'm especially proud of the team we've built. To boost student involvement in creative work, increase engagement, and enhance visibility, we've expanded our executive team from 9 to 13 members, strengthening our social media presence and giving more students hands-on experience organizing and executing photoshoots. I've also made a concerted effort to prepare our junior staff for leadership by involving them in behind-the-scenes planning and creating a collaborative vision for the organization's future improvements.
River City Fashion has introduced me to wildly talented individuals, like our Creative Director Kristina Wise. Her multidisciplinary background has reinforced how collaboration across diverse perspectives strengthens creative work. Working with her has taught me the importance of trust—both in my own capabilities and in my team—and prepared me to handle complex situations, from navigating team conflict to tailoring a skirt for a model during hair and makeup. While the organization has taught me innumerable lessons about leadership, organization, and innovation, one of its most precious gifts has been the relationships I've built along the way.
Moving forward, this experience has made me excited to pursue a career in creative communication and eager to watch the journey of my team after graduation!