By: Ava C. Green, Editor-in-Chief
That’s right, this week’s Griff-Fit actually is @actually.sandra_! Sandra Dunia, or you may know about her from the Instagram handle, @jonastyles_, where she promotes her styling services. Not only does she pop off in posts like this one from her account, Sandra also told The Griffin about being a stylist who upcycles fashion to uplift others as well as herself.
“I always tell people that my hair is an accessory too,” she says. “I’ve really been trying to embrace my hair so it’s the biggest accessory for me. Now, I think of it as my crown, so I have all these little gold details in my hair that go with the outfit. Embracing my hair was the first step. I started embracing my face, my features, and eventually my style. I tell people, ‘embrace your roots,’ but, literally, your hair roots and where you’re from.”
Sandra adds, “The reason I like this outfit – the reason the caption on the post is ‘A product of poverty,’ – is because growing up I had to get creative. I had to work with what I had to express myself. It’s that ‘unfinished’ look I love. Once I get more serious and get my business out there, it’ll be more polished; but right now, the looks that I put together are that ‘unfinished,’ relaxed look because I’m freelance modeling – I’m still underground. I’m unfinished. I used to dress pretty girly. Super average, Nothing crazy. Then, I posted pictures of this outfit and that’s when people were like ‘Oh, what the heck is going on with her? What’s she doing?,’ but I was like, ‘I’m finding myself. I’m doing me.’ That’s when I knew I found the vibe. It was a turning point for me and I started to push it more. Finding my style has helped me get to know myself even more.”
PC: On top, Dunia wears a pair of ripped jeans from Rainbow that she upcycled into a denim jacket. Under it is a cropped denim halter top with gold eyelets, and she added hair accessories to match the small gold hoops. Her jeans and the skirt layered on top are thrifted locally. She also sports her favorite black platform Converse. Not pictured is a mini denim purse with “END SYSTEMIC RACISM” embroidered on the side in white.
As someone who's always been fascinated by personal style as a form of self-expression, I find Sandra's journey and philosophy incredibly inspiring. Her approach to fashion, embracing her roots and creating a unique "unfinished" aesthetic, really resonates with the idea of authenticity in personal style. I'm particularly intrigued by her upcycling techniques - transforming ripped jeans into a denim jacket is so creative! I wonder how she learned these skills and if she has any tips for others looking to upcycle their own clothes. The connection she makes between her style evolution and personal growth is powerful. I'm curious about how her clients react to her unconventional approach to styling. Has anyone else experimented with upcycling or incorporating cultural elements…