It’s a cloudy afternoon, classical music plays softly in the background as Fanni Miettinen rummages through her closet drawers, determined to find the perfect piece to layer on her outfit. Her eyes brighten as she finally spots it—a ruffled blouse. Carefully, she pairs it with a long skirt and a delicate hat, creating an outfit inspired by the 1900s, a “period piece” as she would call it. Feeling satisfied with her outfit, she snaps a couple of photos; holding still with a unique pose as the camera shutters. As she scrolls through her gallery, picking the best photos to keep, and proudly admiring her outfit, it’s clear that fashion is a huge part of Miettinen’s life.
Fashion is Miettinen’s breathing form of self-expression, displaying her creativity and individuality through the outfits she chooses to wear. Her outfits often reflect her mood, hobbies, and inspirations. Through trial and error, she has built a wardrobe that has all sustainability, individuality, and creativity, showing how fashion can be both deeply personal and dynamic.
Since childhood, Miettinen has had a strong connection to fashion. “I think I’ve always liked clothes, but when I was little, it was more about wearing comfortable things. Even so, my mom said I would always style myself,” she said. Over the past few years, her style evolved as she began exploring new aspects of fashion while still reflecting on how her earlier outfit choices shaped her current style.
Miettinen’s passion for fashion was initially restricted by her middle school’s strict dress code; however, quarantine sparked her path of self-expression in a way she hadn’t explored before. Staying home every day, Miettinen always found herself having time to experiment. Being at home allowed her to try bold and unique outfits without having any judgment from anyone, ultimately helping her refine her style.
Throughout her life, Miettinen experimented with various styles, some of which she looks back on with mixed feelings. “I think I’ve had a lot of awkward phases, which I think most people go through when they’re dabbling in fashion,” she said. These phases included an ‘alt’ period where she explored darker, more alternative styles—often seen as trends on TikTok—though she admits they weren’t always her favorite looks. There were bumps along the way—not every outfit turned out the way she envisioned. Her fashion journey has been about experimenting and learning, from her ‘alt’ phase to discovering styles that genuinely reflect her personality. According to Miettinen, there was never a direct turning point in her fashion journey; instead, it’s been a slow, steady process of simply building on and refining her previous styles as she learned more about herself.
Miettinen’s day-to-day agenda plays a big role in her fashion choices. On some days, she has dance, and on others, she doesn’t. As a member of the Groove Initiative, one of Lowell’s dance clubs, her style shifts dramatically from fancy and unique outfits to comfortable, baggy outfits, reminiscent of the 2000s when she is dancing. This shift highlights the way Miettinen’s fashion adapts to what she has planned that day, based on the interests and the activities she’s engaged in; highlighting how her style is an expression of both her inner world and her lifestyle.
Miettenen’s starting points for outfits are always a mood, a movie character from a movie she’s watched, or the music she’s listening to. This approach ties her outfits directly to her feelings and influences of the moment. Sometimes, she even creates outfits inspired by social media influencers like Maria Roy, Timothée, or even her peers. She often comes across inspiration through her Explore page on Instagram. Inspired by one of Maria Roy’s outfits, Miettinen created one of her favorite looks to date, incorporating patriotic colors and lots of layering—something she emphasizes in her style.
Hats also play a notable role in completing her looks, often serving as both a signature piece and the finishing touch to her outfits. “A lot of people have noticed that I have a lot of different hats,” she said. “I think I want to add more to my collection. I have tiny hats, regular hats, and I’ll base outfits around them.”
Miettinen emphasizes sustainability in her fashion choices, finding ways to reuse and revisit old clothing rather than throwing it away. In the past, she frequently resold clothing at thrift stores or gave it away to friends, but now, she often reuses pieces for other outfits. When she has no use for certain clothing, she repurposes it as fabric for her art—another hobby of hers. “Now, I’ve just stopped throwing things away. If I do, I’ll put them in a box somewhere in my room because I know I’ll revisit them later.” By prioritizing sustainability, she seamlessly combines practicality with creativity in her evolving style.
By her junior year, Miettinen had nailed down the skill of layering, experimenting with various kinds of outfit combinations to reflect her never-ending evolving of style. “A fashion tip that I have is to learn to layer and also just find a style that you love, I think,” she said. This mindset lets her keep her style creative and personal, always evolving while still expressing who she always was.
Experiencing ups and downs, throughout the years, Miettinen refined her style, finding confidence in outfits that truly represent her. As her fashion taste continues to change and advance, she embraces fashion as a huge journey, where she explores new inspirations. Miettinen believes that the key to fashion is simply being yourself and wearing what feels right, rather than trying to fit into someone else’s idea of style.
