There’s a lot we love about the South: real BBQ, magnolias, whiskey… Our latest obsession is Rachel Martino, a New York-via-Nashville blogger whose Southern charm makes her stand out like a floral sundress in a sea of LBDs.
Martino kept her style sense mostly under wraps growing up, thanks to the button-down-and-plaid mandate of her Catholic school. Instead, makeup was how she expressed herself — at least, until she could experiment with fashion in college, where she landed on her unique blend of retro pin-up meets Brooklyn hipster. In 2013, she morphed her 4-year-old YouTube beauty channel into a full-blown fashion site that reaches millions of loyal followers.
Martino ditched the land of cowboy hats, but hasn’t forgotten her roots: Her true-to-self ‘tude is a breath of fresh air in a sometimes serious fashion world. "I want to show that you can have this New York edge but still be sweet," says Martino. "Fashion should be welcoming!" Her knack for making any trend seem
wearable is why we had her put together fool-proof summer outfits with this season's standout pieces from T.J.Maxx. Ahead, guilt-free shopping nirvana awaits.
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