Julia McNicol is a Sophomore at Lasell majoring in Fashion Media and Marketing and minoring in Journalism. She is a very hardworking, organized, and passionate individual and I was recently able to sit down and ask her a few questions. McNicol deserves to be recognized for Women’s History Month and her talents and motivation should be shared with the world!
Q. What is something you’re excited about for the future?
A. “This is in the near future, but I am very excited to study abroad in London in the fall. I will be attending the London College of Fashion to continue my education in Fashion Media and Marketing. I have always wanted to travel and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to for a semester.”
Q. What do you want to do after college?
A. “After college, I envision myself living in the city whether it is New York City or Boston. I want to start a career in the fashion industry, maybe working in editorial with a fashion magazine or working on content creation/marketing, and social media.”
Q. Why are you so passionate about fashion?
A. “I love how fashion is so personal and individual. Everyone has their own unique sense of style and certain pieces that they gravitate towards that inspire them. For me, it is when I wear bright bold colors that I feel my most confident and at my best. I can instantly improve my mood, my productivity, and more by changing what I wear. Size inclusivity is something I am very passionate about in fashion. Wherever I end up in my career I know I want to play a part in highlighting designers and businesses who are excelling in their size range. I want to make it a priority to help everyone feel good in what they wear and confident in themselves.”
Q. What do you wish the world knew more about regarding the fashion industry?
A. “I do wish more people outside of those of us in the fashion industry knew about the amount of waste fast fashion creates and how harmful it can really be. This is why it is so important to shop sustainably and avoid purchasing from places like Shein even though it might be cute and trendy. There are many people working in countries like Bangladesh who are not getting paid fair wages and working in unsafe conditions. I believe more people need to be aware of this so it would deter people from supporting fast fashion businesses who contribute to it.”
Q. Who is your favorite fashion influencer and why?
A. “Definitely Delaney Childs! She is based in California, but I absolutely love her style. She has a little bit of edge to what she wears and I always find myself wanting to purchase everything she shares. She really does her research on trends and I believe is knowledgeable about the industry so I trust what she has to say. She not only posts about fashion, but she shares a lot about mental health supporting the Black community, the LGBTQ+ community, and more.”
Q. Can you tell me a little about your fashion Instagram account and why you started that/why you love it?
A. “I started a fashion-specific Instagram account @juliashannonxoxo in 2018 when I was in high school. It started as a way to just document different outfits I was wearing and keep track for myself of things I have worn. Now I have still been actively posting on the account and connecting with influencers who are local and some from all over the country. I love that I get to share my own content and it can be whatever I want. On my feed, I share my love for fashion, places I’ve been, and outfits I’ve been wearing. In my story, I like to share little highlights from my day, resharing posts from other creators, and anything regarding positivity and mental health.”
Q. What activities are you involved in on campus?
A. “On campus, I am involved in Her Campus as one of their writers and part of the TikTok team. I am a member of the Fashion Styling and Photography Club. I also am the Social Media Director and Communications Lead for Lasell’s student run-retail store, studio1851. Last semester I also was able to write some freelance pieces for our school newspaper, the 1851 Chronicle.”
Q. Which club/activity is your favorite?
A. “Studio1851 would be my favorite activity I am involved in as I feel I have gained so much experience and valuable skills I can take with me post-college. I have been able to dip my toes into a few different areas and aspects of what goes into running a retail business and now I found what I enjoy doing the most. Currently, I write monthly newsletters for them, direct our social media platforms and create content, I work in management and scheduling, contribute to our stores’ website, and work with talent from across campus as a part of our Spotlight Artist program.”