2018, and a new semester of school has begun. Pinterest is flooded with all sorts of different hair, makeup and clothing trends that are set to emerge this year if they haven’t already. With so many trends to sift through, it can be hard to find the ones you want to wear – not to mention can reasonably afford! The following is list can be an asset for college girls who don’t have much time to keep up with the trends but want to explore new aspects of the hair, makeup and fashion world in 2018. The below trends listed below are ten of the more wearable and affordable ones for college women. You may find you already have some of these items in your closet, which is great – because who has time to go buy a new wardrobe every year just to look “on trend?” Not me!
The Pantone Colour of the Year – Ultra Violet
Pantone calls their pick for the colour of the year “inventive and imaginative… symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality and artistic brilliance,” citing legends like Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix as significant proponents and wearers of such bright and mysterious purple shades. Any student of the sciences will know ultraviolet is the highest frequency colour able to be seen in visible light, furthering the power of its impact and coolness. The best thing about ultraviolet? It’s domineering; bright hue works well on many different skin tones. Try wearing ultraviolet on your eyes for a night out look, or throw a simple violet t-shirt over a pair of jeans. Feel free to read more about the colour on Pantone’s site. You can also shop the colour in various sub-categories there.
Long Lashes
Lip Tints
According to Pinterest, long eyelashes will be in this year. This doesn’t necessarily mean applying false lashes every day through – this look can easily be attained through using a lengthening mascara. Try Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara, or for a drugstore pick, try Maybelline’s The Falsies. For a fascinating look, try a mascara in a brown shade.
Lip tints and glosses, especially in light shades of pinks and reds, are making a turn becoming popular this year. They work well perfect for a full day on campus, as they add a natural-looking shine to your lips that doesn’t look too out of place in a classroom. For a moisturising shine, try the Rouge Balm lip tint from Sephora.
Larger-Than-Life Earrings
These can be a bit tricky to wear to class, but they don’t have to be! Looking for earrings on the lighter side, so they don’t weigh your head down all day while you’re trying to take notes in a lecture or give a presentation (how annoying would that be)! Try to go for simpler earrings too, so they don’t look too distracting. A slightly lesser known store to pick up statement earrings at? Charming Charlie’s (in Guildford Town Centre)!.
Wet & Wild Hair
Don’t bother blow-drying for class this morning! “Wet-looking hair” is going to be in this year. Kim’s look from back in 2016 at the VMAs didn’t catch on right away, but it looks like it’s catching on now. If you want to put some effort into the look, and not just let your natural wet hair flow at school, grab some hairspray or styling mousse and massage it into slightly damp hair, then comb. This look doesn’t just look good on straight-haired girls either; curly-haired beauties can rock this look too with the proper styling treatment (Link to this one I recommend this one by Tresemme)
Wide-Leg Pants
These came back into style near Fall of 2017, but they’re going to gain an even more significant following this year. Wide leg jeans, work pants and flowy pants are all great looks for college girls – flared jeans are effortlessly cool looking yet comfortable on campus, and the pair goes great with a couple of sneakers if you’re going to be running around most of your day. Work pants work great for, well work, or for any critical presentation you’ve got going on. Flowy pants will be more significant this Spring once the weather warms up – their thin and breathable material will keep you fresh when you’re sitting in summer classes. Aritzia has excellent options for flowy work pants, as does Dynamite and RW&CO. For the cheapest options, though, try Forever 21, H&M and Old Navy, or even thrift them!
Logos
It’s going to be cool (again) to show off your favourite brand on your t-shirt! While wearing your favourite BAND on your t-shirt never really went out of style (and even if it did, who cares? I know I still like The Beatles), seeing brands such as Ralph Lauren, Hollister, Adidas, etc. On casual shirts has been less popular over the past couple years, but this is coming back for 2018. Whatever your favourite store is, why not wear it on your shirt? These basic tees can be worn to places other than the gym after all. Pair a black tee, like the Adidas one shown above, with a denim jacket, skinny black jeans and white sneakers for a fresh, comfortable look. Or dress up a high fashion tee (like a logo shirt from Gucci) with a warm cardigan or knit blazer and fitted cargo pants.
Fringe
Fringe is a fashion commonly associated with bohemian styles, the Calgary Stampede, or your bathing suit cover-up, but it’s quite easy to make fringe a chic look for class! The brown fringe jacket above is as close to the traditional fringe as one may want to get for the school day, but the fringe scarf and fringe skirt would make you look in-place-yet-out-there while strutting dashing around campus halls. It’s still too cold for the skirt (unless you pair it with warm tights or leggings, and you’re planning to be inside most of the day!), but the scarf, in particular, is a fun way to “dip” into the fringe trend. The best place to find fringe for cheap is Forever 21 – they’re always on top of current trends; however, if you’re willing to invest little extra money, you can find cute scarves with fringe details from Aritzia too.
Layers
Layers are going to be a trend this year, according to Pinterest. Any college student who’s lived in Canada for more than a year though knows layering your clothing isn’t much of a winter trend – it’s a necessity! That being said, “layering,” is a fun way to take part in the 2018 trends without buying any new clothing or changing up your style much. So, throw on your favourite camisole, sweater, jacket, scarf, glove, boots and hat – and call your everyday ensemble “trendy!” Good to know keeping warm is “in” this year – even in Vancouver, the winter can be harsh.
Statement Shoes
While sky-high heels fitted with rhinestone embellishments may not be the most comfortable (or safest) choice for class, embellished sneakers and flats are also going to be emerging later this year. You can buy shoes with embellishments already added (try Payless or Call it Spring for some cheaper choices), or you can DIY it with shoes you already have by picking up some rhinestones from the craft store and hot-glueing them onto an old pair of sneakers or scuffed up pair of flats. What a great way to breathe new life into old clothing!
BONUS:
While Pinterest hasn’t said much about it, I’ve noticed floral embroidery and embroidery, in general, has been slowly making its way into a lot of clothing stores this month. It’s been particularly present in denim and sweatshirt materials. Embroidery’s been a popular trend in past years – perhaps floral embroidery will be big this Spring too (I know, florals for Spring – ground-breaking). — What trends do you plan on trying out this year?
Images:
Images from RW&CO, H&M, Forever 21, Pinterest, Pantone