STYLE YOURSELF RIGHT: A GUIDE TO DRESSING FOR UNI

Letting yourself go at University can be the easiest thing. If you're a party girl like me, you will more than likely spend the majority of your money on going out clothes, and not a lot on clothes to wear to lectures. This will mostly result in your turning up looking like got changed half asleep (which is actually true for most of the time).

But what I've learnt from my 1 and a half years at University is that you don't have to spend a lot of money or time on clothes to look fashionable. All it takes is buying a few investment pieces for the long-run, and knowing how to style them in order to make them look different on a daily basis.

I've found a few key items which I believe will be both stylish and practical, and will make for those long Uni days that you really can't be bothered to spend time on your outfit for...

1. A practical yet stylish jacket

If you're at a Northern University like me, you'll need a jacket from the start of Freshers Week until about the end of April. A good jacket can go very far though, and it'll become a statement piece within your wardrobe. The trick is to find something which is casual and not overly fussy. It should also be a neutral colour that'll pretty much go with everything you wear. I purchased a biker-style tweed jacket with a fluffy collar from Zara last September and I still wear it to the majority of my lectures a year on. Zara have beautiful high quality jackets for a very reasonable price. They are also cut well and look stylish with basically everything you wear. I've found one very similar to my AW'13 one that I believe would be perfect for University.

Mixed Wool Jacket- £59.99 Zara

2. A flattering jean

Jeans are a necessity for any University student that just really can't be bothered. But the key isn't a basic jean, it is a flattering one. Depending on your body shape you should always go with a style that comments your bust, waist and legs. This will definitely pay off in the long run as you will be able to style them with so many more things. For me, as my legs are the least flattering part of my body, skinny jeans just don't work for me. I best suit a high waisted 'MOM' jean as I have a long torso so the cinched waist compliments it (and also hides my legs a little more). However, if you have good legs, opting for a skinny or cropped jean will both compliment your figure. A dark wash or a black colour will be better for both winter and summer, as usually a bleach wash will only look better with pastel tones, so will be much harder to style in winter.

Black Mom Jeans- £40.00 Topshop

3. A sturdy black boot

Nothing will ever beat a good black boot. They go with EVERYTHING and they are so practical, meaning that you can wear them on even the coldest and iciest of days. If you're like me and want to have a more stylish boot, a chunky boot with a bit of a thick heel are always a good option. However, for practicality, a chelsea boot or a slim line ankle boot will look classically good. I purchased a chunky black pair from River Island a year ago and I still live in them, yes they have worn down quite a lot, but they were so good considering I only paid £40. Unfortunately my boot has been long out of stock for a while, but River Island have such a good selection and have brought a few out which are extremely similar to mine.

Black Chunky Sole Ankle Boots - £40 River Island

4. A slogan tee

If you are having one of those days when you feel like you just need to throw on a t-shirt and be done with it, nothing will be more effective than a quirky slogan one. Not only will it help promote your laid back attitude, but it will also look cute and will add a touch of style to your casual attire. I love nothing more than throwing on a plain white tee with a catchy slogan that reads 'DONUT TALK TO ME'. Its funny, cool and looks pretty chic with nice jeans and a jacket. 

House of Holland Slogan Tshirt- £20 ASOS

5. A bag that goes with EVERYTHING

Nothing is more frustrating then having to change your bag every 5 minutes because stuff doesn't fit or if it doesn't go with your outfit. This usually results in losing or forgetting things, or even being locked out of the library because you left your Student ID in your other bag (trust me, I've done that a few times...). I must admit, its not to everyones taste but I adore my Forever 21 black zip up backpack. Its cute, quirky, and fits everything in. It is my trusty University bag and I adore it. If you're not like me and would rather die then lug everything around on your back, I would definitely recommend a neutral leather (or leather look) handbag or shoulder bag. Something that you can carry with you everywhere is a necessity! (Just make sure it goes with your favourite jacket and shoe...)

Black Utility Backpack- £35.00 ASOS

So they are just a few examples of my University fashion necessities. If you're just into first year or haven't started University yet, then feel free to use this guide to find the correct way to dress (or forever be struggling in the morning before your 9ams)....You have been warned!

THE POWER OF THE BLOGGER

When managing a fashion brand or business, celebrity endorsements are usually key in generating publicity for the product you are trying to sell. Nothing receives more attention on Instagram then celebrities taking 'selfies' in clothing then tagging the brand, which receives instant publicity and generates circulation. But nowadays when it comes to fashion, celebrities are often taking a back seat in depicting the new season trends, and it is now starting to rest entirely on the bloggers.

Blogging has only recently become a hugely popular aspect of the fashion industry. Nowadays the people behind the blogging industry have more of a stomping ground in the fashion world than anyone else. Since the development of Instagram, bloggers spend the majority of their days photographing themselves, the food they eat, the fashion shows they attend and the people they hang around with. There aesthetically pleasing Instagrams are gaining thousands of followers, which means that they can control the content they post in exchange for money for promotion. They are the endorsers that can make your company, the hardest thing is just finding one which will give you their time. 

All bloggers have different audiences, which means that it is essential that you choose the right one who will market your products in the right way. High-end products should usually be targeted to bloggers that model a lot of designer clothing on their websites and Instagrams. Susie Bubble for example, is one of the UK's most coveted fashion bloggers, she gets receives clothing from the biggest designers (like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Meadham Kirchhoff just to name a few), and she is always FROW at every fashion show from every season. 

However, high street bloggers also receive large attention from followers, due to the affordable but stylish clothing that they wear. Sarah Ashcroft is one of the most recent bloggers that has received an enormous amount of popularity this year due to her wardrobe full of beautiful clothes that the majority of her followers can afford. She is also extremely active on her Instagram which is brilliant for people that admire her style, but don't tend to take time out to read her blog. Whether she even posts an outfit that has been endorsed on her blog rarely matters, as long as it's on her Instagram people will see it, and she will help to generate publicity. 

Designer blogger Susie Bubble vs. High Street blogger Sarah Ashcroft

Regardless of what fashion product you are trying to generate publicity for, there will always be a blogger out there that will be able to help you. They are a fashion PR's best friend, and they are a reliable source of circulation. Companies are now even hiring a 'Blogger Outreach', whose job is to simply scope the most popular fashion bloggers to send them free clothes! Crazy!

BLOGGERS RULE. Remember that...