How to Represent Your True & Best Self in College Through Fashion

You’re standing in your room, eyes frantically scanning your closet. One age-old question runs through your mind: “What do I wear?” It’s hard choosing what to wear, especially in college - a time where you’re figuring yourself out and learning to express yourself when you don’t really even know who you are.

College is an amazing time to experiment with what you like and dislike – especially fashion-wise. So how do you show off your best self through fashion? You stay unapologetically authentic. What we wear is an extension of who we are, so what better way to express our personalities than through our fashion choices! Here are four simple ways to embrace your true and best self through fashion:

DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF Fashion and our outfits are the first aspects that allow others to form an impression. We feel more confident if the clothes we wear match our identity, and embracing our own sense of style is one of the best ways to practice and promote self-love. However, that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself or your fashion sense! You can alter your personal style to evolve as you do! You have the freedom to decide who you are and how you want to be seen. Don’t label yourself with just one specific trend. Take inspiration from anywhere you choose, whether it’s Instagram or your favorite professor. Be as creative as you want with it, or stay simple and classic. You can even create your own variation of what someone else wears, boosting appreciation of others and upholding self-love. 

MAXIMIZE OPTIONS Living and storage space is limited in college, but that doesn’t mean you can’t express your best self to the fullest! Keep a few staple items with versatile uses – those super trendy sneakers you wore to class can double as a comfy option for bar crawls, and a biker jacket that pairs perfectly for Fall walks on campus can be used as a sleek jacket for dinner with the girls. Having a range of basics is a life and time saver. Keeping t-shirts, crop tops and sweaters in the colors you wear most make picking outfits super simple, because you can mix and match the same pieces in different ways. Accessories are also a great way to add more personality to your outfits. Neutral accessories such as solid-colored belts and hats or fun scarves and sunglasses won’t take up much space in your wardrobe, but can add a personal touch to your outfits! Statement jewelry pieces such as bold necklaces are also easy ways to dress up a casual look.

PRIORITIZE COMFORT They say beauty is pain, but that absolutely does not have to be the case with fashion and how it represents you! Finding a happy medium between comfortable and cute is the life-hack that makes all the difference. Comfort isn’t just physical, it’s also mental. There’s no such thing as clothing that is “right for your shape”. What’s right for you is what you feel best and happiest in. Still, remember to leave space for messy days – whether it’s midterm season or because you stayed up all night re-watching Friends, some days you’ll grab the first thing you see and roll with it. That’s okay. Accept that it happened and that it will happen again. Give space for your mood to influence your style, and even let your style dictate your mood. If you’re feeling down, wear something that you associate with happiness and see if you feel better!

BE TIMELESS Stop obsessing over current trends. Ignore what’s out right now if you feel it doesn’t represent you. Resurrect styles from the 70s, 80s, 90s, or create your own new trends. Finding fashion from times before doesn’t have to be complicated either. Thrift shops are your best friend, or easily download re-selling/marketplace apps such as Poshmark or Bunz - and of course, we’ll take any excuse to raid mom’s closet!

Let your style boost your confidence, listen to your mood, and dress for yourself in what makes you feel good! College is a time of self-discovery; everyone around you is going through the same thing. Support others, and allow yourself to be supported! Ultimately, how you feel about yourself is what truly matters. Make bad fashion choices, look back with regret and then laugh - because it’s all a part of growing and learning in the journey to being the best version of you! 

As Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashion was not only to make women more beautiful but also to reassure them, give them confidence.” 

How do you express yourself through your personal fashion choices? Comment below and let us know!

 - Mahiya Habib, Alpha Omicron Pi @ Western University