Photo Credits: Allison Teng

Self-proclaimed curvy girl Allison Teng has been a major inspiration for me ever since I can remember. She makes glamorous looks that are effortlessly California cool—and pulls all of them off with confidence that I hope to channel in my own everyday style. No matter your size, I guarantee Curvy Girl Chic will be your next blog obsession!

Here, Allison talks about why she started her blog, how to be stylish on a college budget, and shares her best styling tips!

The Interview:

College Fashion: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Allison Teng: I’m Allison and I blog about plus size fashion and personal style over at my blog, CurvyGirlChic.com! I’m a born-and-raised Southern Californian, but I got my Bachelors’ Degree in Business Management from Boston University. (Go Terriers! :P) I still firmly believe the West Coast is the best coast though!

CF: How would you define your style?

AT: Growing up in SoCal definitely had a big impact on my personal style. I gravitate toward flowy, beachy items like maxi dresses and sandals, and denim cutoffs are definitely a summer staple for me. However, the 4 years I spent in Boston (and, let’s face it, half my weekends were spent shopping in NYC), also influenced the way I dress—I love dark colors, leather, and punky details like studs and exposed zippers. My style is definitely a mix of those two!

CF: How did you find your style? 

AT: I’m not sure, but I’ve been an avid shopper for most of my life. I can’t really remember a time when I didn’t care about clothes! My mom used to take me and my sister to Nordstrom all the time, though back then, I used to hide in the clothing racks and play with the embellishments on the clothes. I guess having an early start and spending a lot of time in stores helped me develop an opinion on what I liked and what I didn’t!