Living in New York, if anyone crosses the street or heads to the bodega, their individualistic style is either good or bad. Especially if you’re a FIT student like Sierra Rena, the city pushes its new and current residents to break the boundaries of fashion. The 22-year-old moved to NYC to attend college from Silver Spring, Maryland, an area not hip to street style.
“[In my opinion] Maryland is not a fashion hub. I feel like it’s a lot more like athleisure,” Rena tells ESSENCE. She goes on to explain that her hometown is synonymous with laid-back style. “People are often seen in skinny jeans and hoodies. [With my choices, I’m] able to take myself out of [my] comfort zone and do something a bit different from what everyone else is doing.”
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Since landing in NYC, Rena has emerged as a rising face to know on social media. She often posts gifted items from brands like Acne Studios, Marc Jacobs, and Loewe. This speaks to how luxury fashion brands have embraced her which is notable in the industry notoriously known for its gatekeeping. Her resume is also impressive, sharing her taste in fashion to style celebrity clients like Tyla and BKTHERULA and brand campaigns for Givenchy, J.Crew, and Coach.
Moving to New York City has challenged Rena to unlock her signature sense of style. On and off social media, you can catch her layered in various fabrics and fits from oversized to snug, monochromatic to pattern, and minimalistic pieces; at times, she’s even delved into eccentric pieces.
“In my closet, I usually start with one piece and build [my outfit from there]… I also begin with color and see how [different garments] match, but I will [also] throw on anything and see if it works.”Her willingness to experiment is what makes her satirical decisions stick out too. She tells me that the time she has in the morning is notably what she allows to guide her too. The influencer and content creator notes that when she has minutes to decide what to put on the wildest and most stylish ideas are sometimes a result. “When I give myself too much time, I think about it too much.”
Her secret ingredient? Experimentation and removing overthinking thoughts. Both notions guide her alongside her inner compass, which allows her to express herself through her fashion choices fully. In a recent TikTok clip, she sports a Martin Rose top in desperate need of an iron, but does she? She decides to step out without ironing or steaming—it made for a notable look when paired with double-cuffed jeans and an animal print jacket.
Her go-with-the-flow methods have landed her on the radar of Adidas. To prepare for weekend one of Coachella, the brand tapped Rena to be the leading stylist for its 2024 Coachella Creator’s Group. Rena fused Adidas’ vintage pieces with the standard festival style. All eyes in the Adidas showroom watched Rena strategically shred jeans on the spot and overstretch two Adidas crop tops to create a Western-inspired look fit for the desert. For finishing accessories, she added jeweled accessories to classic Sambas and multicolor lace ribbons for a dainty touch, differentiating each creator as she goes.
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“Working with Adidas has been amazing. They treat me like family,” Rena says about the collaboration. “It’s full circle how I’m able to go from doing a bunch of brand deals and campaigns for them, and now that they recognize me as a stylist, that’s such a different creative, fulfilling feeling that I have.” With styling, it’s an internal feeling when I’m giving people confidence to put on a cool outfit. They feel so good about themselves,” she adds.
Ahead, Rena reveals her earliest moments with fashion, her favorite Adidas products, the key to styling, and more.
Photo Credit: Ryan Razon
ESSENCE: What three Adidas pieces are a must-have, and how would you style them?
Rena: I love a really good vintage Adidas wrestling boot. Even though the pair I have are so messed up, I love them to death. I usually wear them with basketball shorts and dress them up in athleisure, like sweatpants. My second Adidas piece would be a jersey. They’re so classic, especially when it comes to my style today. My third Adidas piece is [the] Samba. That’s classic. I love accessorizing it with pins and ribbons.
ESSENCE: There has been talk that fashion is becoming more individualistic. Are trends phasing out, or do you think they’re everlasting and here to stay?
Rena: It’s fortunate and unfortunate that trends will always be here. I’ve nailed down my style but have much more to learn. There are some trends that I partake in and some that I’m like, ‘Nah, y’all got it.’ Fashion has been recyclable in the last two decades, but in a different way, how each generation takes it. It’s alright, but you should be original.
ESSENCE: Being so creative with fashion, can you describe a stylish moment from your younger self?
Rena: When I was younger, my parents always had me in the coolest sneakers. Before I got into fashion, it was all sneakers. I was a huge sneakerhead, but I got into the clothing part over time.
ESSENCE: In a previous interview, you said the best way to learn the ins and outs of styling is experience. How did you take styling into your own hands before getting booked?
Rena: My friend from back home has an independent record label, and I would help style music videos and album covers. I was figuring out things that I already had in my closet. I had no idea what a pull was, but when I came here and assisted in my first shoot. I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is serious. This is something that I have to learn.’ There’s no book on how to be a stylist. The only way you’ll learn is to appreciate your OGs and anyone you can learn from. Don’t get intimidated by their status because you must have confidence in your style, passion, and talent.
