Busy student takes time out and dresses to suit her mood
Julie Kenwell • Published 13 Jan 2012 09:30
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SOUTH West College Business student, Marta Lauze dresses to suit her mood.
The 17-year-old, originally from Latvia, moved with her family to Fermanagh around six years ago.
Settled in the area of Killyhevlin in Enniskillen, she's become a familiar face about town, holding down two part-time jobs as a waitress in both Scoff's Restaurant and Jenny's Coffee House while she continues her studies.
Modelling some of the clothes she has spent her hard earned cash on recently, Marta tells The Impartial Reporter that she garners fashion inspiration from anywhere and everywhere.
"I would buy clothes from charity shops and the high street," she says, wearing a blouse from New Look, black bottoms, bought during a recent trip to Liverpool, and a red hairband from River Island, "I just go for things that I like the look of, rather than just what's in fashion at that moment. Some times I'm girly and some times I'm not -- it really just depends on my mood. I quite like River Island though. I can't really remember what the fashion was like over in Latvia because I was so young when we moved. I probably just wore whatever my mum made me put on in the morning!"
Wearing her second outfit of the day, a hat from New Look, teamed with a cardigan, a top from next, a tribal hairband from Primark, and trousers and brogues from River Island, she reveals she celebrated her birthday the day before the photoshoot.
"I was working on my birthday," she says, "But we all went out for a meal afterwards so it's okay!"
Marta moved to Fermanagh in March 2008 and began school at St Fanchea's. "My dad was working over here since 2006 so we all moved out too so we could all be together," she explains, "It was hard at the start but the people here are really nice and that helped a lot. And to be honest, it's not all that different living here. Although in Latvia we have hot summers and very cold winters. Here it seems to just be one wet season all year round!" she jokes, while wearing her third look, a strapless dress from Urban Outfitters with black heels from New Look.
Marta spends much of her spare time working in her two part-time jobs.
"I don't do a lot of exercise," she smiles, "My work is my exercise!
"I love walking and spending time outside in the fresh air though. And I would go cycling if the weather is good or go swimming the odd time too. Other than that, I enjoy listening to music, all different kinds. Again, it just depends on what mood I'm in!"
Modelling her last outfit of the day, a black and white dress from Exhibit, Marta says she returned to her home country in early December for a few days to visit family and friends.
"We just missed the cold weather and the snow there by a day," she says, "In Winter in Latvia it could be as cold as -32 degrees and there would be a lot more snow. Even more than there was here last Winter.
"But people are used to it there. There is a law there that you have to have winter tyres on and no one complains about it, they just get on with it. It was definitely a cold Winter here last year, but we have known colder ones in Latvia.
"All my immediate family are living here so I don't miss Latvia too much. I have grown up here really. When I tell people that I'm from Latvia they say they would never have been able to tell because I speak like I am from here -- I suppose it's because I was still quite young when we moved here. But I would still say that English is my second language."
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Jan 12
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