Laura Molloy discusses fashion trends among students, and how to prepare your wardrobe for the Irish climate in Autumn.
Autumn has arrived and so has the crisp air… but it’s still hot? Welcome to the Irish weather. Morning commutes to college can often be chilly, but study sessions in the James Joyce library can be warm. The key to mastering Autumn fashion? Layering.
Layering involves building your fit with pieces that can be removed if you feel too hot, and added back in if you start to feel cold. Here’s a few essential pieces you should make sure to include in your wardrobe!
A light jacket
Light jackets are essential for staying comfortable in the cooler weather. Often students will pick one coat that becomes part of their identity for the rest of college. So in other words, choose wisely!
If you want to be cool and mysterious, then you can’t go wrong with a leather jacket. If you live in jeans and want to avoid the clash of double denim then maybe try a bomber jacket or canvas coat. But, if your wardrobe contains other fabrics, a denim jacket is the perfect option with which to casually pair them with. A personal favourite is corduroy jackets; these tend to be on the warmer side so are perfect for cold bus trips.
Tops
While it might feel as if they are, jackets aren’t an outfit all by themselves. For tops, there's so many different options; if you have a plainer outerlayer, express yourself with funky tees that represent you or your passion - a cool top is always a convo starter! If your jacket is extravagant enough as is, then stock up on a few basic tees and tanks in different colours. These can be worn with practically anything and won’t make you overheat in lecture halls. Places like Dunnes, Penneys, and H&M tend to have racks filled with these for low prices.
If you’re interested in jumpers, I would hold off on these until the weather takes a colder turn. You may feel their benefit in the early September mornings but by the time you get your morning coffee, you’ll be sweating. Save the thrifted Ralph Lauren for another month or two.
Bottoms
This depends on your personal style, skirts and pants are both cute for campus catwalks. Some options you could rotate between are any type of jeans, which are available in any high street clothing store. With so many styles from baggy to flared, jeans are a staple - a basic that never gets boring! Another popular choice is a pair of linen trousers. Be that Tom’s Trunks or a cheaper alternative, these are lightweight and perfect for the autumn and spring semesters.
Footwear
Even if you live on campus, college involves a lot of walking. If you haven’t experienced the thrill from rushing from a class in Newman to Health Sciences… just wait. It’s important that your footwear is comfortable above anything else. A few brands I would recommend are Adidas, New Balance, and Nike. Choose whatever colour and style you prefer, but try them on!
I would avoid the mini Ugg boots trend. While these are as comfortable as slippers and look cute with jeans, they will get ruined in the rain. If you’re protective of your shoes, I would suggest going for a cheaper dupe.
We hope you found these suggestions useful. Make sure to tag OTwo in your Fall fashion fits!