Style without sacrifice
To believe financial restrictions must lead to a decline in style standards is as dramatic a delusion as they come. As the WAGs exemplify in an achingly perfect case-study: money, Alex, Colleen, does not buy style. In fact often it is the death of it, ending the need for innovation, wit and creativity.
There is no excuse for student days not being your most stylish – you are young and brave; you have time to hunt; you have great ideas surrounding you as artistic inspiration and you have the kind of budget restraints that produce true innovators.
Motivational speech over. Now the practicalities.
Charity Shops
Charity shops must be used wisely. Frankly, in some geographical areas they’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The key to successful charity shopping is to source an affluent and elderly area with a minimum student population. In London, Brighton, Manchester – where there is a young and ‘charity shop aware’ crowd, the chance of locating bargains and really feeling you are unearthing treasure is small. Conversely, the chance of spying cheap tat priced higher than it would have been in George’s at Asda, Peacocks or similar, is high. If you live in the aforementioned, either wait for out-of-term time, or head for affluent suburbs. With a prime location, hours of plundering are yours. Allow me to give some tips as to what is worth purchasing.
Do not bother with anything too flimsy or modern, our focus here should be timeless pieces in luxurious fabrics. Unlike the noughties’ cheaply manufactured garments, clothes of our grandparent’s generation were made to last. Girls - head for blouses. Purchase silk shirts, particularly those with distinctive patterns, pussy bow collars and beautiful embroidery. Jeans and heels are an elegant go-anywhere purchase. On a slinkier front, please apply the same rules to silk camisoles. In jewel colours or creamy oysters and peaches, these look beautiful layered together and worn with messy up-do’s. Bo-ho chic baby.
For boys – shirts are again key. Those from the 60s and 70s have a fitted shape and often oversized collars and cuffs that look directional and stylish. Bold prints, particularly paisleys, tights stripes and florals, allude to Paul Smith and are much more individual than mass-produced high-street equivalents.
"Bring some things you’re bored with, have a few glasses of vino and play dress up with each other’s cast-offs"
Other target luxe fabrics are fur coats for girls (if conscience allows?), sheepskin for boys, soft leather gloves, cashmere cardigans/sweatshirts and wool coats. Key coat shapes for boys are the pea and duffel; girls - look for belted trenches. For casual outer-wear, both should keep eyes peeled for shrunken leather bombers. With all the above, ensure the fit is good.
Accessories are where charity shops excel. Girls -silk scarves can be worn as hair pieces, belts, neckerchiefs and even as tops and holiday wraps. Keep an eye out for colours that are distinctively you, be it pucci-esque geometrics, ruby red oriental prints or Laura Ashley florals. Watch these babies add wow-factor to a winter coat.
Men - apply much of the same to ties (yes, even the ruby red and florals). It’s unlikely that you will find a better selection of ties on the high street than in a good charity shop. You may not have started an office job yet, but a good tie gives attitude to many a student outfit. Worn with brown tweed trews and a fitted shirt for a night out, or with a polo shirt and jean flares for something preppier (don’t be afraid of a woollen tank with this look).
Oversized leather bags cost a fortune on the high street but here a worn, roomy piece in soft leather and on-trend buttery browns can be yours for under a fiver. The same for large statement wallets and, for girls, beaded clutches. Leather bags are a sound investment – and the distinctive styles of days gone by make them a real pleasure to shop for.
