Quirk is the founder of the fashion blog “What I Wore” and led a presentation Wednesday in the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni ?Center.
Her presentation covered three main points: dress codes, workplace fashion mistakes and how to build a functioning, ?professional wardrobe.
“You don’t want to be swallowed by your clothes as much as you don’t want to stuff yourself into ?them,” Quirk said.
Quirk is an IU alumna who graduated in 2005 with a degree in apparel merchandising. After working in New York City for five years as a fashion designer, Quirk decided to quit her job during the recession and make blogging her full time gig, she said.
“Its sort of a full circle; I started at IU, and I ended up back here,” Quirk said.
Quirk teaches fashion illustration at IU as an adjunct faculty member while maintaining her blog as a full time job. Quirk’s fashion blog has more than one million followers on ?Tumblr.
Quirk’s presentation included tips on tailoring clothes as well as where to find affordable, long-lasting pieces for most ?professional positions.
“Tailoring is a great way you can take a Target skirt that costs 20 bucks, tailor it to your body and it looks like you bought it on Michigan Avenue. Everything is super dependent on your workplace,” Quirk said. “Look at your boss, see what he or she is wearing and take cues from them.”
Emma Green is a 21-year-old Spanish major who said she came to Quirk’s presentation because a good wardrobe can improve positive goals.
“Through work attire, you can build confidence in yourself; it improves the work that you do,” Green said. “Your appearance can really benefit or have a negative impact on your day and how you feel about yourself.”
Quirk said she believes if you feel good in what you wear and how you take care of yourself, you can be more confident in the ?professional world.
“Beyond all of this, the reason I care about fashion is because when you take a little time and put it into yourself, it can make a difference in your day,” Quirk said. “You should look in the mirror and be like, ‘Hey, I like myself today.’ Then you feel good and you do better work.”
Quirk’s fashion cookbook, also titled “What I Wore,” can be found on amazon.com. All her social media handles can be found using the key words “What I Wore.”
