So you have spent all summer in tracksuit bottoms and baggy partially stained t-shirts and now even the thought of dressing nicely and making yourself presentable every day for weeks on end is giving you a mild anxiety that is all too familiar. It is a feeling I know well, really well. I can make myself look nice if given a good hour notice in advance with a day or two in between so I can recover, wash everything I wore and wear it all again for my next outing because let’s face it I am a creature of habit. I know what I like but that being said I can easily get stuck in the rut of wearing the same things every few days. It can become boring and tedious and after a while the desire you start off having in early September to look nice drops and your need for sleep on cold autumn mornings rises exponentially. I get it ladies. I really, really do. Now things have changed and I have learnt to make it easy for myself. I set out my outfits the night before. That way I won’t need to frantically throw clothes into a collapsing heap every morning. They are usually laid out and ready to put on. Sort through your wardrobe and eliminate pieces you never seem to get around to wearing. Also take note of what you have. Do not buy one type, style or colour of clothing excessively. Have the staples at hand so you can put outfits together easily and wear what you have. If you don’t like something throw it out and make room for something you will. Here are a few of my back to college looks that are comfortable and fashionable to give you a little bit of inspiration.

The One With All The Denim.
I bought this light blue denim jacket two summers ago. I knew I wanted one because it is a staple, a classic and I knew a girl that looked so cool when she wore hers, so what did I do I hear you ask? I went into Topshop and bought the exact same one. The material is heavy, and offers warmth in the mild weather and has a slightly weathered look to it, as if it had a life before me wearing it, even though I seriously doubt it did. It’s nice to create the illusion that I am cool enough to own vintage pieces. It was an investment piece, especially for a broke student but it really ties an outfit together, and makes it look like you’ve thought about what you’re wearing a lot more than you have.

 The One With The Blush Frills
Those that know me or anyone that glances at my Instagram knows I am very fond of the colour pink. Growing up it was all baby blues, and my room was adorned with that colour for my childhood and most of my teenage years. I wanted to be a tomboy because I had friends that were and maybe I just didn’t want to buy into the stereotype. It seems too obvious for a girl to like pink, doesn’t it? But when it came to repainting my old room a few years back it was light pink all the way. I am a big sucker for that colour, so much so that as soon as I spotted this little number by the entrance of Penneys I snatched it up and fawned over it because it was just everything I like. Normally I spend a good twenty minutes deliberating on what to buy but this was the easiest purchase I’ve made in some time. It’s a bodysuit, so it’s skin tight and clips in place. I’ve worn it on holiday, out on dates and I will take it into the college year with me.

 The One With Jackie O

I bought this jacket while away on holidays. There is something about it that is so simple and sophisticated. Maybe it’s the white textured patterns running through it, that you only notice when you run your hand against the fabric, or take the time to look at it up close, or the black, metallic buttons. I tried it on, because I was told to and I am glad I did. It looks like a bomber jacket, but the grown up kind. That’s how wearing it makes me feel, like a modern day Jackie O, almost. It looks chic and in the winter months I can layer underneath it. You can never go wrong with a monochrome look. A few good jackets to throw on, keep you warm and pull what you’re wearing together nicely.

 The One With The Burgundy Turtle
I hated turtle necks up until recently when I started college actually. In college people wore them as they sipped coffee and talked about Descartes and the camillian in me decided to do what they did and wear one too. I wear them on the days I mean business, when I don’t really care how I look but I still want to look somewhat nice or when I wake up late and don’t have time to blend my foundation into my neck (life hack ladies!) This particular top has black stripes but I don’t think the camera picked them up that well. The nineties inspired a lot of college fashion last year and it looks like something my eldest sister would wear, or what one of the girls on FRIENDS would rock and I really love it.

The One With The Bad Girl.
I feel like everyone should own a faux leather jacket. I bought this one when I was seventeen for my first concert. I scoured Penneys for this. I wasn’t very original back then, and I looked like every other girl there, waiting in the rain. Also don’t wear a leather jacket in a sweaty crowd. No matter how much you want to impress the lead singer. Other than that a leather jacket just makes you look cooler. I don’t know what it is. When I put it on it changes my mood, and gives me an instant boost of confidence. I’ve taken it on nights out, to concerts, to just about everywhere. To be avoided in the hot weather but as it cools down going into September, it is perfect to throw on over a plain, simple white shirt. (Here’s another life hack ladies, your hair straighteners can double as an iron if you oversleep and are stuck one morning.) Pair them with skinny jeans and some ankle boots and you are all set.

The One With The Cherry Pop.
This colour encapsulates Autumn for me, well that and the taste of pumpkin spiced lattes. As we come into winter I love to wear richer colours, like reds and wines. They compliment dark hair nicely and just inject life into anyone that wears them. This top is backless and stitched with crosses. I foraged for it, on a sales rack in Bershka, last winter and came home with a handful of bargains. I am a little conscious of my upper arms, so I love that the top comes down to cover them, especially as the months grow colder.

 The One with The Grey Criss Crosses.
I feel like every girl has a top like this and when I spotted it on a New Look sale rack I couldn’t resist. This style top was a big trend early last year. I love how the plunge held by the crossing strings make my chest look. I was always flat chested growing up, so to feel like I have boobs now, finally, is a huge victory for me! I feel like I have become quite overly reliant on the colour grey and it has become almost like a safety net for me to fall into, to blend in but this top is still a favourite of mine, for it’s long sleeves and tight fit. The fabric is thick and it provides a lot of warmth too. It is a good solid staple to have lying around in your wardrobe.

The One with The Champagne Stripes.
This is one of my favourite tops. I bought it in New Look, months back. It is a long sleeved, faded champagne, muted cream colour. The vertical stripes, stretch you out, or give the illusion of doing so. It passes my belly button and is the right mix of playful and class. It goes with a quite lot. It looks sophisticated and pulled together but it is very minimal fuss. I like to roll up the sleeves, to make it more casual and everyday but it can be dressed up or down.

The One With The Band.
You can’t go wrong with your favourite band tee, a pair of skinny jeans and some white trainers. Not only does it look edgy and stylish, it is also a conversation starter. If people like the band, they might spark up a conversation, especially at the beginning of the year when no one knows anyone or where to sit, wearing things like that give people a little window to talk to you. This is a good little tip if you are a fresher, or even if you are starting a new class.

The One With The White Knit.
In college you need a white jumper.When the weather gets cold and you have to go from packed, heated lecture halls to trudging through the wind and rain on campus, it is a must. They are simple, but there is a lot of beauty in that simplicity. You can layer up beneath it, or on top. This one has gotten me through two years and I will definitely be wearing it into this year.

Here’s to a fabulous, stylish year ahead.