WHO: Sophia Valenzuela, Latina writer and activist

How would you describe your personal style? 

Being a curvier woman, I've always had to be experimental and resourceful when finding clothes that fit my body while simultaneously feeling true to my style, and over time, I've been able to hone in on what makes me feel confident. My style ranges from eclectic to sporty on any given day—I'm all about dressing for my mood, the season, and what I feel best in. 

Is there one key staple you swear by to survive fall each year?

I swear by a longline robe coat. As I'm getting older, I've realized simplicity can be chic and that living on the east coast requires you to invest in great outerwear.

Adopt: Alt-corsetry 

Skip: Body jewelry

Which fall trend are you most interested in for the season? Which one do you think you'll skip?

The fall trend I am most interested in is alt-corsetry. I've been a fan of corsets for a while now because of all the different ways you can style them (with cargo pants, skirts, denim, over a dress, etc.), so I'm most interested in the alt-corsetry trend we saw on the F/W 22 runways. There's something strange and sexy about this trend, particularly the outerwear iterations, and I'm very excited to partake in it. Regarding trends to skip, I feel like most people should take the time to educate themselves on body jewelry before adopting it. For Black and Brown people, body jewelry is not a trend but rather an integral part of their cultures dating back centuries, so learning the history of the trend is essential.