This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St Vincent chapter.
Summer Wardrobe on a College Budget
The warm weather has arrived, and all Bearcats know that every building on campus is only going to get hotter. For many young women, summer temperatures mean fun new dresses and brightly colored tops. But for college students, finding the money to buy a few items to add to your wardrobe can seem impossible. Here are a few ways to dress for the summer on a college budget.
- Alter what you have: One way to update your clothing options is to transform what you already own. It’s easy (for some people… I asked my roommate) to turn fraying jeans into cut offs, or revamp an old t shirt into a cute tank top. By working with what you have, you get new clothes for no cost!
- Invest in staple items: Instead of buying a floral print dress that doesn’t go with anything in your closet, spend your money on pieces that you can style in many different ways. A good pair of sandals looks great with shorts, cuffed jeans, or dresses, and can be worn all summer. Even if the item seems expensive at first, remember how often, and in how many different ways, you can wear it!
- Swap clothes with friends: My friends and I love to do this- instead of letting clothes collect dust in your drawers, trade them! This is a great way to find clothes that are new to you without spending money, and it’s a fun way to hang out with your friends.
- Use your student discount: I am a shameless student discount user. Tuition is high and loans are looming, so why not take advantage of a good opportunity while we can? Stores like J. Crew, Topshop, Banana Republic, and ASOS offer a 10% discount for students; all you have to do is ask.
Use these tips the next time you feel like you have absolutely nothing to wear. You don’t have to spend your whole work-study paycheck to create a fun summer wardrobe that you love, you just have to get creative!