Sammy Brodsky is a sophomore in college mastering the art of juggling between studying for class, writing her blog A La Mode and working for Two.One.Five Magazine. Wondering how she manages to do all this and “time travel through clothing?” Read on! 

GO TRY IT ON: Where are you from?

SAMMY: The suburbs of Philadelphia.

GO TRY IT ON: When and why did you start your blog, A La Mode?

SAMMY: I started my blog in January 2008 (around my 16^th birthday). Growing up in a town where everyone looked and dressed the same it was hard to connect with people who shared my love and appreciation for fashion, so I started my blog or as I call it, my fashion diary. And now, four years later, I can connect with people who share my interests, while finding ways opportunities to further my career as a fashion writer. And I appreciate every moment of it.

GO TRY IT ON: You’re currently writing for Two.One.Five Magazine. Can you elaborate on your job with them? 

SAMMY: I was recently hired to write for Two.One.Five Magazine’s style section to cover my an event on 1/26. Philly is a city with an amazing creative legacy, filled with talented people across industries and Two.One.Five is an online lifestyle magazine reflective of the true creative culture of Philadelphia, specifically music, style & events.

GO TRY IT ON: Being a student, how do you juggle your blog, work for Two.One.Five and class work?

SAMMY: I am a sophomore at Drexel University, and school comes first. Did I quote you there correctly mom? I try to complete my work/studying before blogging. Being a fashion blogger is definitely not easy, but juggling has become second nature. 

GO TRY IT ON: Do your peers on campus take an interest in fashion, too? What inspires you?

SAMMY: Very few of my classmates share the same interest in fashion as I do. As far as what inspires me, a hat from the 1940’s does as much as an artist is inspired by a rocking chair. The hat and the rocking chair are the centerpiece that helps illustrate the larger and cohesive look, idea, and concept. Fashion is a form of art because it is an external, and aesthetically pleasing manifestation of self-expression. So I to get back to your question, my outfits tend to be vintage-inspired with a modern twist. I like to mix and match decades to create various and fun ensembles. When you think about it… how cool is that? You can time travel through clothing!

GO TRY IT ON: Where online do you find inspiration?

SAMMY: Refinery29 and StumbleUpon.

GO TRY IT ON: What are your favorite places to shop online? 

SAMMY: Etsy, ModCloth, ShopRushe, Pixie Market, Bona Drag and Thread Sense. 

GO TRY IT ON: What are your favorite places to shop offline?

SAMMY: There are a few cute thrift stores here in Philly like Bella Boutique, Retrospect, and Aids Thrift. I also really like Urban Outfitters and H&M because you either leave with nothing or something super cute hidden on the sales rack worth digging around for.

GO TRY IT ON: What is the biggest challenge, according to you, for people your age? How do you overcome it?

SAMMY: I’m at an age when people expect you to be an adult but treat you like a kid. On 1/31, I’ll turn 20 and  while I am young, it’s scary because I am not a teenager anymore. The biggest challenge my age group seems to face is the overwhelming pressure to decide what to major in so you can graduate, get a good job, have a steady income. So, everyday I wake up and say to myself “never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about”.