A month down and freshers week is a distant memory, the work load is piling up, and, worst of all, the thought of checking your bank balance brings on a bit of a sweat. The question you are all asking yourselves: how an earth am I already so skint? When ready meals on the reduced section become a luxury and 10p noodles become the norm, shopping for clothes seems completely out of the question… right? Girls, fear not! Thanks to a number of ranges hitting our favourite high street stores, you can finally invest in an amazing new winter wardrobe for less. Say goodbye to last year’s winter coat and hello to some warm and wonderful new clothes that won’t break the bank.
Primark – the students’ answer to fashion on a budget – has launched a fabulous Limited Edition Winter collection that certainly does not look high street, or Primark for that matter. Instead, the entire collection looks like it has come straight off the cat walk and into a luxury store where window shopping is about as good as it gets. Nope, it’s Primark, it’s in stores now, and it’s affordable. Hooray!
The gold glitter platforms are perfect for adding a bit of sparkle to your winter wardrobe, and you’d be surprised by how much they go with. Anything that has an element of sparkle about it, such as the gold shimmer dress, or the chain crepe shorts, both £17, will look perfect with the shoes, and for that price, why not? However, a highlight of the collection for me would have to be the fur trim kimono, a beautiful winter coat that would look perfect out on the town complimenting an evening dress and heels, or alternatively worn in the day without the belt to make it more casual. Fur is very much in again this winter, and seems to be everywhere at the moment, particularly on coats, but the shape and colour of this makes it a personal favourite for me. Oh, and it’s £30. Primark, we love you!
I am very excited to tell you about another fantastic range exclusive to Peacocks. Following the success of her seven collaborations with the chain, Pearl Lowe has gone from strength to strength and designed six new beautiful day-to-evening dresses for her Christmas collection. Pearl took inspiration from classic Christmas films, such as ‘An Affair To Remember,’ giving each dress a classic yet uniquely vintage look, perfect for the upcoming winter season. The dresses are more elegant and glamorous than her previous autumn collection; she has introduced two floor length dresses, the first of their kind during her collaboration with the store. Any of the pieces would be perfect for a special Christmas occasion, particularly the gold satin dress, finished with a beaded bodice; this would make any girl feel like a classic beauty! The range launches on November 10th in selected stores and online. And the best bit? Prices start at £40, unbelievable value for timeless frocks. If you simply cannot wait that long, then check out Pearl’s autumn range online now, a selection of wrap and tea dresses to flatter all shapes and sizes. Hurry while stocks last- they’re on sale too!
Two pieces from the winter collection, starting at £45
If you are looking for something a bit more modern, an obvious choice for a winter dress that compliments all figures would be a simple black number. Stella McCartney’s Polka Dot Julietta Dress is a perfect example of a simple, classic and chic piece that is all over the red carpet. However, it’s a designer dress with a designer price, retailing at £1,525.00. I don’t think a student loan could quite cope with this, but I have the perfect solution. AX Paris is a clothing store full of celeb-style evening and party dresses without the designer price tags. One dress in particular – the mesh sleeved dress – is a great example. With a sweetheart neck line and mesh polka dot detail, it is, in fact, very similar to Stella’s design, but won’t be leaving you skint for the rest of your life. It’s £30 and in store right now! You can find AX Paris either online, in New Look, or in one of their own stores.
Stella Macartney’s Polka Dot Julietta Dress AX Paris Mesh Sleeve Dress
£1,525 £30