When I found out that I would be moving 5,995 miles away from Hong Kong, my home of 18 years, to come and study at Leeds for university, a million thoughts began rushing through my mind. Would I make friends or spend countless nights alone in my room homesick whilst crying over a tub of Ben & Jerry’s? Would the Refectory only serve fish ‘n’ chips and mushy peas, foods that seemed so foreign to me? Would I even enjoy my course? However, possibly the most stressful question was … what on earth would I bring?! As if the 15 hour travelling time wasn’t bad enough, my life had essentially become confined to one suitcase with a weight limit of 23KG. Considering the fact that my mother insisted on me packing enough Asian snacks and cup noodles to last me an entire term, I really only had 20KG to play around with. It seemed impossible. In an ideal world, my entire wardrobe would have travelled halfway across the globe with me. Sadly, this dream was far from being achievable.
Having since made the journey between Hong Kong and Leeds a number of times, I now consider myself a master in the art of packing and picking just the essentials. I have since compiled a list of ten wardrobe basics which I believe every university girl should have in her closet that will be helpful throughout the school year. Not only has this list helped me steer away from packing the entire contents of my wardrobe, but these are all items which I believe are of utmost importance in creating an effortlessly chic look – perfect for university.
1. A blazer
A well fitted blazer can do wonders in transforming your outfit from drab to fab. The versatility of the blazer makes it on the top of the list in terms of importance. A well fitted blazer adds that extra touch of oomph and sophistication to an outfit and can be worn paired with anything! Worn over a plain white tee, blouse, collared top or even a ruffled tank top, a blazer adds a breath of fresh air to an otherwise ordinary outfit.
2. Two – four pairs of your favourite jeans
Invest in a pair of good quality jeans. Jeans should be a staple in any girl’s wardrobe. They match with pretty much anything and are a far better option than walking around campus in pyjama bottoms. Finding the right style that suits you such as skinny, boot leg, straight cut or high waisted is up to your own preference, however, try changing your look a bit by choosing denim in different colours and washes.
3. Cute casual tops
These go great with jeans and are a more interesting way of sprucing up your outfit. Wearing v-necks and plain coloured tops all the time can get a bit boring, so tops with detail and prints instantly make yourself look and feel more put together – even if you’re only surviving on three hours of sleep and the bearer of a killer hangover.
4. Your go-to dress
Your go-to dress should be the answer to any of your ‘what should I wear today/tonight’ worries. This should be a dress that you can wear no matter what the situation is – dressed up for a date with a pair of heels or dressed down with stockings and a cardigan, you can never go wrong with your go-to dress. Check out H&M for a wide range of reasonably priced dresses that suit every occasion.
5. Tank tops
Never before have I had to layer as much as I do whilst living here in the UK. Having grown up with winters that average 12 degrees, my solution to the cold was simply to throw on a shirt and a coat. Now, I never go a day without layering a basic tank top underneath my shirt. They are also great staples for a night out when tucked into a high-waisted body-con skirt. Grab a couple in the staple colours: grey, navy, black and white. Topshop offers a wide range of tank tops in a variety of colours starting at £6.
6. Boots
Considering the weight of boots, these were probably the hardest for me to pack and choose from. Black or brown boots can never go wrong with any outfit. Try changing things up by opting for ankle boots or boots with a slight wedge. Stock up on ice cleats – I’ve had to learn the hard way what wonders they can do for you in preventing yourself from slipping on the ice and snow.
7. Plaid flannel button-up
A plaid flannel button-up is the answer to your fashion woes when you have those days where you feel lazy and just want to be comfortable. Available in all sorts of cuts, the plaid flannel provides an effortless yet put together look without opting for the hoodie and sweatpants route. Be careful not to go too crazy with the plaid pattern – you don’t want to end up looking like a tablecloth!
8. Printed scarves
Printed scarves are a great accessory to dressing up a plain outfit and add a nice change from the usual solid color scarves. For the budget fashionista, Primark always have on offer a wide range of printed scarves such as flower and Aztec prints. For those ready to splurge, Urban Outfitters have a vast selection of printed scarves from £22 and upwards.
9. Winter coats
Considering the fact that Leeds is blessed with cold weather pretty much all year round, no outfit would be complete without a good quality winter coat. Splurge in a couple of coats and jackets – you will be living in these for the majority of the year. To spruce things up, make sure to have a wide variety of styles and colours in your closet such as trench coats, parkas, leather jackets and pea coats.
10. The everything bag
My basic rule of thumb for picking my university bags is: if it can’t fit my lap top, I won’t even consider it. Uni probably isn’t the place for designer handbags seeing as how it’ll most likely end up on the floor of a lecture theatre in Roger Stevens. Ins