Ah, back to school. Remember the days when going back to school meant buying a whole new wardrobe? Returning for another academic year was the perfect reason to go shopping and your perfect excuse for spending money. "It's for school next year" seemed to be one of the few replies that parents actually accepted. In college, it's like no one even cares.
Our budgets have constricted the amount of shopping we can do, and college seems to maximize our potential for laziness, so we resort to wearing the same clothes year after year in exchange for spending our time and money catching up with TV on our TiVo or playing Halo on our new Xbox. I understand you're on a budget. And the phrase "worthwhile shopping in Gainesville" is pretty much an oxymoron. Trust me. I know.
But despite these two very valid reasons, there's no need to be lazy with your clothing choices. Many people say, "My clothing choices are about who I am, and I don't need to follow trends," and I can respect that. I realize that Florida has its own style, such as people wearing white after Labor Day totally unacceptable in the north. But following fashion rules and trends or not, your outfits still say a lot about who you are, so why not give the world the best possible picture? Do or don't take my advice, but at the very least, take this from my articles: Dress well. Look your best. The extra effort that it takes to look like you didn't just roll out of bed is minimal, and it can make a world of difference.
Now for those of you who are interested in fashion, keep on reading, because I'm going to tell you all about this fall's trends, and how you can actually be in style without spending too much money. The good news? You probably have most of what's "in" in your closet already. The three words for the season repeat after me: classy, sexy and manly.
My favorite thing about this fall? The dress is back. I am a huge fan of dresses because of their sheer simplicity and general light weight. With the heat in Gainesville, dresses and skirts are some of the best articles to wear, and finally the fitted look is back.
I was not a fan of the shapeless shirts and dresses I saw this summer, and I'm glad to see that the importance of the waist is being recognized. A woman's shape is the emphasis again, but don't worry if you bought all those flowy, non-clinging dresses this summer. Remember those belts you had last year when the 80s were huge? Just take one of those to your summer outfit, and POOF! You're ready for the fall. A lot of menswear is coming back, too, so be prepared to see dresses that look like your boyfriend's button up and men's cardigans that seem to fit you just right even though they could be steps away from cross-dressing.
You'll see plaids and argyles thrown in as well, and maybe a hint of tartan. The key to all of it is not to overdo. I like the menswear trend. I've been known to steal my brother's sweatshirts on occasion because they're just more comfortable, but the key is to keep it simple. If you grab a man's cardigan, pair it with a cute mini-skirt. Wearing a shirt dress? Throw on some heels. Basically, keep the XY chromosome balance.
Popular colors you'll spot are purples and grays with the occasional autumn standards such as oranges, reds, dark greens and maybe even some bright pinks. Just try not to match like you dressed in the dark. If you're wearing a purple and grey plaid skirt, stick to simple tops like black or white. Don't throw in another autumn color. Remember you want to be classy, not wacky.
As for shoes my favorite of the fall have to be equestrian boots. Sure, boots are useless in Florida until maybe November, and Florida will always be the flip-flop state. But I love these boots. Most of them are flat, making them good for walking across campus, and there's just something so classy about them. You're going to see a lot more practical shoes, such as gladiator sandals and ballet flats, but my worthwhile splurge of the season is the riding boot. I'm banking on the fact that it will be one of those timeless investments like they'll never double as rain boots.
Those are my favorite trends of the fall, and my opinion of what you will see the most. Of course, jeans and a top remains the easiest go-to outfit, but I challenge you to dig through your closet or drawers to find something seasonal. A purple top, a cute dress, switch it up a bit and see how you feel. Who knows? You might slowly become a low-budget fashionista. In terms of checking out all the trends for the fall, I direct you here for a complete list: http://teentaffy.com/2008/08/08/fall-fashion-trends-your-fall-2008-fashion-trend-checklist/. Happy hunting!
