What to Wear to University

Being at university comes with a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to money. With plenty of things to spend your money on, you might want to try and save a little bit on clothing, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise being fashionable.

Yes, it’s a shame you can’t pay $1,000 for an outfit because let’s face it, we’d all throw our money at Gucci, Chanel and the like if we could. But, by shopping online you can normally find plenty of bargains and items are usually cheaper than in physical stores. Besides, who doesn’t like to order things in their pajamas? You save yourself the stress and sweating of fighting through the crowds in the shop, waiting in line to pay in a barely moving queue, and can also browse hundreds of stores at once for that one specific thing you want but you’re not sure where to find it.

So, avoid the treasure hunt of going from shop to shop and stay inside instead. If you’re trying to save money and still look nice, these tips will be your holy grail.

Where to find inspiration for your outfits

Whenever I’m on social media, I’m on the lookout for some outfit inspiration for what to wear to university. My advice is to look for something that is not too glam but at the same time not too boring. Sometimes I come across some cute outfits I really like, so I save it and try to reconstruct it in my own style. This way you have an overview and already know what you are looking for. This means you probably won’t end up buying a lot of different pieces which you don’t know how to combine. Keep this in mind next time you scroll through your Instagram or Pinterest feed.

Check the sales first

Now that you have your inspiration it’s time to visit your favorite online stores. Always start with their sale page because you might just find what you’re looking for. Seriously, I almost never buy clothing for the full price unless it’s something I really want for a specific event and I’m not sure if that item will be available in my size. Find what you like and monitor it until the end of the season comes closer, and when the sale starts, you strike!

Filter by price and size

This is really the first thing you should be doing when scrolling through clothes. Filter the price from lowest to highest, so you know exactly when to stop looking as the prices hit above your budget. Another thing you should keep in mind is to filter by your size. We’ve all been there, finding a really cheap and nice piece of clothing and getting all excited, only to find out it’s sold out in your size. Save yourself the disappointment.

Shop with a friend

Don’t we all hate to pay for delivery?! Save yourself a couple of bucks and shop together with a friend so you reach the amount for free delivery. This way you can get another item for the price you would have had to pay for the shipping costs and still have the feeling of saving money. Awesome right?!

Sign up for newsletters

I know, this opens you up to a lot of spam but signing up for newsletters of online stores might actually bring you notifications of when their sale starts. Even though this email will be buried under 100 other spammy-ish emails, you might be able to save some money because of it. Trust me, it’s worth doing.

Take advantage of student discounts

If you are a student but aren’t using student discounts, then are you even a student? Use those coupons and get your stuff cheaper. Less money spent on clothing means more money left for coffee, it’s a win-win!

Three top (and affordable) university looks

Look 1

I like to wear some casual jeans and combine them with an elegant top as well as a blazer, along with some over knee boots. This combination is chic but still not too much for uni.

Look 2

You can never go wrong with some oversized knitwear. It’s super comfy and warm for a long school day. I feel like you can wear anything you want above it, but I like my leather jackets so mostly it’s them I throw over the top.  

Look 3

This is one of the more elegant looks for university. I’m wearing striped trousers and a wrap top, which I round up with some moccasins.

Hope this post was helpful. If you have any more questions or want to read more, you can find me at allaboutmelisa.com.