Ci Ci Araujo’s parents suspected she had a fashion addiction as a teenager, and they weren’t far off the mark.

The 23-year-old sleeps in what looks more like “a giant closet” than a typical bedroom and her website, www.cicissecret.com, is devoted to fashion.

“I think if you asked my parents they would say I was meant for fashion,” said Ms Araujo, who works at Atelerie, the Reid Street women’s boutique.

Her goal is to inspire other women to experiment more with their wardrobes and create a style of their own.

“From as early as I can remember I’ve always had my own style. I follow trends, but add a quirk to it, especially if it’s a trend that hasn’t hit Bermuda yet. I love to bring it out.”

She was 14 when she started cutting up old jeans and transforming them into shorts. Her dream is to become a personal stylist.

Five years ago she was on a radically different career track.

“I actually went to school to study biomedical sciences at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK,” she said. “I got my bachelor’s degree in 2014 and still hope to go back to school to study plastic surgery or trauma.

“But while I was in England for four years, that’s when my love for fashion really developed. I started off just by checking out the street style, then I heard about certain blogs and, of course, now I’m obsessed.

“Especially with social media being so big right now, it’s inevitable you start to admire some of the bloggers you follow. I’m personally really into some of the European ones. Some of my favourite bloggers are from the UK, Denmark and Sweden. They have an amazing fashion sense.”

She admits it can take as long as an hour to choose the right outfit and make-up before she’s ready to leave home.

“I think it scares my parents,” she said with a laugh. “I have an outfit for every day. They always say I never wear the same thing twice. I do, but I mix it up and do different accessories and hair and I think that’s how it should be.

“You don’t want an outfit to always look the same. It’s about collecting the right staples so you can mix those up.”

A great ankle boot in black or a neutral colour; a classic nude pump; leather jacket, a little black dress; classic blue jeans and a cable-knit beige sweater are items she believes should be in every woman’s closet.

A plain T-shirt and jeans with the right blazer and a statement necklace can be a great look, the fashion blogger said. But it’s important to take risks.

“[Fashion is] the freedom to express yourself, not only through clothes but through all forms of fashion and beauty,” she said. From your make-up down to your accessories, you are given so many options that you can play around with and create your own personal style involving them. You can say a lot with just one simple accessory or even a statement shoe — it’s just choosing the right one that’s going to turn people’s heads. At the end of the day it forms who you are as an individual and allows you to be confident in what you wear.”

She insists that good style doesn’t have to break the bank.

“I try to be sensible about what I buy. You can spend more money on a bag that will last you a long time and can be worn in every season.

“I recently splurged on a black fringe jacket — it’s on trend right now — but with things like bags and shoes I don’t have too many of those.

“I have small feet so I actually have trouble finding shoes in my size; with bags, I find just a few go a long way. My weakness is with tops. I’m definitely that type of person who likes to switch up my tops. I feel like that’s the first thing people look at.”

She recently teamed up with consignment shop Orange Bay Company to show how second-hand clothing can boost a look.

“Orange Bay is a place you almost don’t expect to go shopping and find something that’s a new favourite piece in your wardrobe,” she said. “I found vintage shoes in there that I can’t live without now. Going through their racks, it’s like a treasure hunt; you find different things that are old and yet trending. So many styles come back.”

Her advice to anyone searching for a style that suits them, is to experiment.

“I think it’s about learning what looks best on you and what you feel comfortable and confident in. That happens through trial and error,” the fashionista said.

“At the end of the day that’s what a lot of life is like. You imitate a little bit, but then you find ways to make it your own. That’s why I started my blog, so I could show people the different styles out there and how to take your wardrobe to the next level, not just stick to the basics. You can mix things around. Even just mixing patterns — some people refuse, but it’s a really fun thing to do and really trending at the moment.”