Emily Davis is bringing fringe, fabric and fur to UCLA.

Davis, a third-year business economics student, made her debut in the UCLA fashion scene as a stylist this past fall. The stylist, also known as @klutzopath on Instagram, said she had never styled professionally before but has incorporated her longtime interest in fashion into unique projects. Independently and in collaboration with her peers, Davis said she seeks to prove that what one wears is not just a casual decision but a form of art.

“I think if you want to wear really ‘out-there’ outfits, you probably have a deeper sense or love for fashion,” Davis said. “Fashion has no rules, and you can really do anything and make anything into art.”

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A member of FAST, UCLA’s Fashion and Student Trends club, scouted Davis at the UCLA club fair last fall and suggested that Davis apply as a stylist, she said. Already passionate about fashion, Davis said she was excited to take the opportunity. She added that buying and wearing clothes from local thrift shops as a high school freshman was her entrance into the field of styling, despite not styling anyone else before. During her first two years at UCLA, Davis said she sold thrifted clothing on Bruin Walk. She added that thrifting allowed her to express herself and that her outfits served as a creative outlet.

“When we work within our fashion clubs, they come up with the idea of what the shoot is going to be about. … But then from there, we take it into our own vision or interpretation,” Davis said. “I go on Pinterest, and then I start looking up words similar to it and searching through everything and saving stuff – so I create a mood board.”

Davis said she recently served as the creative director and stylist for a personal project – a grungy photoshoot set in a cemetery. The mood board for the project, she said, included styling techniques she hoped to mimic, such as the addition of socks worn under a model’s kitten heels. The Pinterest board also incorporated fur, a fashion piece Davis said she always wants in an outfit but does not always include.

Kelly Lu, a first-year sociology student, said she met Davis this year through FAST. Lu, who is also a stylist for FAST, said she worked on a Midwestern Gothic photoshoot alongside Davis. She added that one can easily distinguish Davis’ innovative work from that of other stylists.

“One thing I really like about the way that she wears her clothes is sometimes she doesn’t wear pieces the way they’re meant to be worn,” Lu said. “That takes a lot of out-of-the-box thinking. Even if it’s just putting something on backwards or taking fur trim off something and putting it on something else.”

Davis said she uses her own collection of thrifted clothes as the wardrobe for most projects. Davis added that she takes on the role of a designer when she does not own a piece she has in mind for a photoshoot. She said she picks up materials found in craft stores, like tulle and studs, to adorn pieces. Accessories such as gloves and tights, in particular, have been on her radar, she added.

Pacey Tian, a second-year sociology student, said they style with Davis in FAST. Tian said the duo collaborated on a shoot inspired by makeup artist Pat McGrath’s work in a Maison Margiela runway show this winter. They added that Davis crafted some of the accessories used in the shoot, such as a headpiece, and attributes Davis’ unmistakable styling aesthetic to her dedicated accessorizing.

“She has a lot of statement jewelry pieces that really pull looks together. And if the outfit is more simple, I feel like she’ll always have an accessory or a piece of jewelry that is the standout, versus where more people – other people – could be more focused on the outfit itself,” Tian said. “I feel like she is really good with accessorizing.”

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Using clothes from her closet allows the 2000s-inspired undertones of Davis’ everyday style to be seen across her work, Davis said. While she does not consider herself a trend follower, she said she is unwilling to part ways with Y2K staples trending on campus – UGG boots and cheetah print clothing. Through on-campus outfit sightings, Davis said she has also found a sense of belonging with other fashion enthusiasts. She added that when she sees another student wearing an original outfit, she feels a sense of community and imagines she could be friends with the fellow fashionista.

Davis has already ventured into the fashion industry outside of Westwood. She said she has found creatives to work with by simply advertising on her Instagram story. She added that she also plans to broaden her fashion repertoire beyond styling in the future. Beginning to pursue content creation on social media, Davis said she also hopes to dabble in marketing within Refine LA, another UCLA fashion club. Davis added that hosting fashion shows is another goal of hers down the road.

“At UCLA, usually people want to do other stuff in life, but I still want to do fashion as a career afterwards,” Davis said. “I didn’t realize how many people also wanted to pursue fashion after this.”