On Online: Erin Merkl

erinmerkl Where you live? Corpus Christi, Texas

Area of study: MFA Fashion Merchandising

Day job / occupation: Brand Manager, Gap

What qualities do you most value in others? Integrity, loyalty, kindness

Name three of your favorite designers, journalists, bloggers, stores, etc.: Karl Lagerfeld, Christopher Bailey, Sarah Burton

List a guilty pleasure (or two or three): Dark chocolate and the “Rachel Zoe Project.”

What is your present state of mind? Optimistic.

What is your dream job? A buyer or a stylist.

What is the most important thing that people should know about you? I am very driven and passionate.

When was the first time you recognized your interest in fashion? When my grandmother got me a subscription to Elle magazine when I was 11 and I actually read it.

Where have you found inspiration lately? I always find inspiration in Vogue. Marilyn Monroe movies have been a recent source.

What is your most valued possession? A gold locket from the 1920s. It is a family heirloom I recently inherited.

What music do you like to listen to? Mostly alternative. Artists like Adele, Arcade Fire, and Florence and the Machine. I appreciate their originality.

If you had an opportunity to travel back in time, who would you like to meet, and why? Jane Austen. She was so forward-thinking and took risks in her life. Her novels are still a great source of inspiration today. She is also my favorite author.

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