To make university life bearable, some resort to turning university into their own personal runway (I know I do), but it is not always easy keeping up with trends. The fashion industry expects you to have a designer budget, which is almost impossible as a student in this economy. I am walking proof that there are secret weapons that can turn student loans into strategic fashion investments with the right know-how.
My first fashion strategy starts with knowing your way around the calendar, hitting those main High Street stores, especially when the prices are the lowest in the sales section. Forget that new chic top on the ‘New In’ rack and opt for the chaos in sales. Stores typically roll out their biggest sale percentages at the end of each season, and these are the big ones, which are up to 50-70%.
This includes the obvious Christmas and Boxing Day sales, however, the skill that you need to learn is how to shop with imagination and a keen eye. Certain pieces alone may look unappealing to our eyes, but I’ve learnt that shopping needs to be done with an open mind.
For example, a tie-dye mesh top with puff sleeves sounds like it could be a part of a Halloween costume, but Primark has put it on sale for £8 to £1.50, an absolute steal, so I turn my brain into the computer from the opening scene of Clueless, visually mixing and matching the top with current items in my wardrobe. Then it clicks, a black pinafore dress that could use some elevating and colour to it, and in the basket it goes.
Sara Rashid, a first-year here at Kingston, told us about how she shops for less, saying: “I mainly shop second hand, like Vinted, and I do quite like Facebook Marketplace as well for clothes and quite a bit of Ebay”. Her friend and classmate, Freya Wilding, similarly said: “I use Depop, Vinted, and charity shops”.
Nevertheless, I have a huge secret I need to get off my chest, something I honestly should have come clean about in the beginning… My guilty pleasure in online shopping is Temu. Yes, we all know the stigma around it, and admittedly, it is a huge hit or miss. Still, certain clothing items have always impressed me, particularly their coats and shawls. The majority ranging from £15-£30. I have bought a few fur-trimmed coats and shawls that have easily fooled people into thinking they’re luxury items. They are very affordable and a good investment in the long run, as coats are a necessity in the UK, where half the year is spent in the cold.
In the end, fashion at university does not have to be expensive or leave you in debt. It is completely possible to serve looks without using up all your student loan funds if you have good timing, a keen eye for sales, second-hand gems, and the rare Temu wild card. Campus can also serve as your catwalk if you have a little creativity, after all, fashion should draw attention, not empty pockets; you can slay the day away with a fit under £40.
