Student Style: Tried-and-True Styling Advice From a Fourth Year

In a world of influencers, Instagram models, and TikTok trends, the concept of dressing fashionably can feel out-of-reach. Combined with the difficulty of finding nice clothing on a student budget, finding your personal style may seem almost impossible.

I'm Anna, a fourth-year student who loves fashion. As President of RCFG, I love helping others explore fashion from all perspectives, from career paths and industry trends to style and design. However, at the end of the day, I'm still a student: broke, tired, and running out of closet space.

Throughout my years here at Rotman, my perspective on personal style has undergone some serious changes. So has my own style! So, as my university career nears its end, I thought I'd share some styling tips I've picked up over the past four years:

Comfort for Every Occasion:

As a student, you'll inevitably have morning classes, sleepless nights, sick days, hangovers, and other ailments- not to mention the reality of running late. On these days, the last thing you'll want to think about is what to wear to class. Comfortable, neutral basics such as elastic-waist pants and oversized sweaters make great go-tos on days where you're not feeling your best physically or mentally. Throughout university, these types of garments have slowly taken over my wardrobe; when burnout kicks in, I simply can't be bothered to put substantial effort into my outfit on a daily basis.

Quality over quantity:

High-quality basics that fit you well are the foundation of a great wardrobe. These basics should be different for everybody because every body is different! My "basic" jeans might be completely different from someone else's basic jeans because different jeans flatter different body types. Avoid stocking your closet with too many trendy garments, which will take up closet space and go out of style in a couple years. Furthermore, the money you save from opting not to buy into trends can go into buying better basics. Of course, there's nothing wrong with having a few trendier pieces, which will look great against the backdrop of your basics.

Be Patient with Prices:

It's tempting to pay full price for that beautiful dress you see on the mannequin in the window, but the full price of a new garment is often comparable to a week's worth of groceries. For garments you don't absolutely need, it's better to wait until the next sale, or even until the end of the season. I don't remember the last time I paid full price for any of my clothes. As for the pieces I wanted that went out of stock before they went on sale? I hardly remember them. It's easy to get caught up in the moment when you see something you really want, but the excitement fades pretty quickly, especially if you paid more than you wanted to in order to get it. If it's really meant to be, you'll see it later at a better price.

Social Media in Moderation:

Fashion influencers and other content creators can be great sources of styling inspiration, but with the quick turnaround of trends and TikTok challenges, it's easy to get caught up in the hype-FOMO cycle of social media. This was a huge problem for me during my first year, when I constantly obsessed over how others perceived me. Halfway through the year, I realized that social media was no longer inspiring me to find my style; rather, it was manipulating me into thinking I had to buy more clothing in order to achieve that goal.

Confidence and Authenticity:

As I mentioned before, it's easy to get carried away with the latest fashion trends circulating on social media. Before committing to them, however, you should ask yourself, "Does this feel like me?" The style you will ultimately feel most comfortable in is the style that reflects who you are as a person. When you discover this, you'll have the confidence to wear anything you want, no matter how risky or "out there" it may seem. At the end of the day, you should be wearing your clothes- the clothes shouldn't be wearing you.

Lastly, don't worry so much about how you look or how others see you. I've come to realize that most people are too focused on their own problems to scrutinize what other people are wearing. Even if people do want to judge you based on your appearance, those people are not worth your time or headspace. Uni is a time for everyone to discover themselves and their place in the world, and everyone has the right to wear whatever they want as they embark on that journey.