Let’s face it, as college students, the vast majority of us do not have the disposable income conducive to creating our dream wardrobes. Luckily, you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune or even own a ton of clothes to create variety and put together killer outfits. Like anything, a great outfit starts with a strong foundation. Invest in a few basic pieces such as black leggings, solid colored T-shirts, skinny jeans, and more; you’ll have more than you think to work with.
Accessories are the budget-friendly key to wardrobe expansion. Want to give an old favorite look new life? Invest in an on-trend accessory that’ll likely break the bank less than an entirely new outfit. If you accessorize differently, you can wear your favorite pieces a million ways without anyone noticing that you’ve only made small changes (that isn’t an excuse to stop doing laundry though, sorry).
This Fashionista’s outfit started with a plain, navy blue long sleeve T-shirt and a pair of black leggings. What could have been your typical, lazy day outfit was easily dressed up with simple accessories from head to toe. A baseball hat, patterned scarf, puffer vest, leg warmers, riding boots, and a crossbody bag took this Fashionista’s look from lazy to layered and perfect for hanging out around campus.
Feel like changing things up? She could easily trade her puffer vest for a bomber jacket, scarf for a choker, riding boots for combat boots, and baseball cap for a beanie creating something much edgier. These minor changes would create an entirely different look, making it difficult to recognize the staple pieces used to create it.
So go ahead, splurge on those expensive leggings that will hold up much better than the $10 ones you found on clearance. You might just find that they’re useful for more than just wearing with sweatshirts and moccasins. But maybe pass on the expensive trends and grab a variety of more affordable, on-trend accessories instead!
