After the long summer, fall is here and winter is steadily approaching. Which means your shorts need to be swapped out for jeans and your jackets, dusted. If you are not particularly interested in campus fashion or don’t know where to begin, here are some trends and styling options to help you transition for the slightly colder days ahead.
If this deadly hot summer was all about staying as cool as possible with minimal pieces of clothing, then fall and winter will be all about layering. Layers will not only keep you warm, they will also help you pull off more sophisticated looks. Color-wise, darker shades become more acceptable (black, on black, on black) but don’t let this stop you from wearing brighter summery colors. Especially with more layers, you can mix and match many different colors. If you are unsure of which colors to choose from, almost any shade of neutral colors (monochrome, blue, brown and less popular olive) will look good in many combinations.
So what should you layer with? Often times, a single layer will suffice for below the waist. Black, grey or different shades of indigo denim. Do remember, that it is very easy to seem sloppy if you do not pay attention to how the denim fits you. Avoid baggy jeans; know your waist size (wear a belt if needed); cuff or let the denim stack accordingly.
Shoe-wise, your regular sneakers are the best bet. Some popular choices on campus are Adidas Sambas, Stan Smiths, Superstars, Ultra Boosts, Nike Roshe, Flyknit, Converse Chuck Taylors and Vans. White Stan Smiths and many variations of white sneakers are a very versatile addition that can refresh your wardrobe while staying minimalistic. However, if you are not particularly fond of babying your shoes, then you may want to avoid using them as your beater pair.
If you want to dress more accordingly to the weather, boots are the best way to go. Regular work boots can project a rough masculinity while chelsea (elastic) boots will bring forth a feminine aesthetic. It is always interesting to see these boots in androgynous outfits however. Some other options to consider: Jodhpur (strap), combat and chukka boots.
Now let’s move onto the top half. For outerwear, bombers are more trendy for both men and women. They are very versatile due to their varying thickness and can be thrown onto any outfit, as they look sleek over so many different looks. While black and olive are among the safest colors for bombers, they are produced in many different colors and sometimes even with graphic. The usual flannels, leather jackets, cardigans and denim jackets will keep your outfits fresh throughout the week. For a more chic look, camel or black peacoats are a good addition. Sweatshirts and hoodies are often the go-to choice for many, but pretty much all of these other choices can in fact be layered over a plain sweatshirt or hoodie, adding a considerable amount of sophistication to even the simplest outfit.
So how did our campus formulate this trend? There is an interesting phenomenon between music and fashion to be seen here. It is no doubt that many young college students listen to hip-hop. If you ask ten male students what they think about Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, the majority will respond with respect to their artistic talent. You will also see them dressed in Yeezy, Supreme, Saint Laurent, Balmain and many more high-end luxury brands and street wear. At the same time, these brands do not produce an off putting avant-garde aesthetic. Kanye looks good in denim jackets and biker jeans. Because so many followers pay attention to how they are dressed on stage, even fast fashion brands such as H&M and Zara replicate the aesthetic to target mass audiences. Hence, H&M has created the ‘streetwear’ section.
After surviving the summer in Riverside, I can’t wait to see how the students will dress this year without having to deal with the heat. I’m personally excited as well to break out my peacoat from the corner of my wardrobe. Lastly, don’t forget to check the weather ahead of the week and prepare your umbrellas; you wouldn’t want to get your warm clothes wet.
