This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SJU chapter.

New York fashion week happened two weeks ago. One red-eye flight later, runways were lighting up the city of London and the week after that, Milan. The high-end shows (and parties) are currently wrapping up in Paris. These international fashion weeks practically an industry within themselves.

The unveilings of designers collections for the upcoming season are almost always exclusively by invitation only. And if you’re wealthy enough to afford a ticket, that bank account will not grant permission to an after party. The fashion industry affects us all on a daily basis, but the world of fashion week can seem unrealistic to a college student. A-list celebrities and socialites fill the seats, as the outfits that pour down the runway also come with the price tag of this year’s tuition.

I have spent hours pouring over magazine snapshots from fashion week, admittedly watched a few runway shows on Style.com while in class, and more recently, tapped my thumb twice to all major designers, brands, and influencers as they insta-ed snapshots that spanned fashion week preparation, front row views and backstage sneak peeks. As my eyes glazed over, my thoughts did too…not only could I not afford a head to toe designer ensemble, but I doubted I had the self confidence to pull off the combinations artfully and intelligently put together on the runway, in the audience, and even those I spotted in Elle’s street style snapshots.

Where did the world of fashion week fit into my life? And then I started thinking, when do students feel the trend affects of fashion week? Does it trickle down or is it instant? Which trends will make it on the way to Hawk Hill and which ones will be left on the runway?

A simple Google search produced some staggering results about the reality of fashion week. Fashion week brings to New York City, alone, nearly $530 million dollars. The financial benefit of the industry that aims to transform art into commerce cannot be ignored, but I was still wondering what the relevance of Karl Lagerfield’s decision to use a wider spectrum of colors in his Spring 2014 collection for Chanel had on the closet of a student.

As it turns out, I discovered upon even further Google-investigation that fashion week is most important for the buyers of major retailers. Buyers determine what items will stocks the shelves in a few months, and even if we aren’t dropping bills at Neiman Marcus on a daily basis, the cut, color, shape, and fabric will be replicated to appear in the styles found in Macy’s, Marshall’s, and TJ Maxx. Because the runway isn’t actually “ready to wear” (ironically) some translations must occur. For example, a completely sequined jacket may not be office appropriate at your newest internship. Buyers understand that, and thus, will purchase a slew of sequined clutches instead. An action like this slightly alters the trend of sequins from an article of clothing to an accessory; the concept of the trend is retained, but its form has changed to better suit the general public.

After scouring Elle, Glamour, and Vogue, as well as the online versions of the nearly 200 shows themselves, I’ve determined five essential take-aways that every collegiate should keep in mind when creating her spring 2014 wardrobe.

Wait. Who am I kidding? We’re students, we don’t create a wardrobe, we borrow, buy on sale and charge online orders to a credit card number we’re not supposed to have memorized (read: Mom and Dad) However, keep these trends, and philosophies, found in the photos of fashion week(s) in mind when you raid your older sister’s closest over fall break.

3 trends that are here to stay:

1. Don’t forgo that gym membership just yet! The crop top, and shirt with shoulder, stomach, and back cut-outs are here to stay for another season. Spot them under jackets this winter before they’re busted out again in the spring. (As spotted in: Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg, Jill Stuart)

Crop tops like the one above were spotted down the Diane Von Furstenberg runway

2. Tribal, polka dots, floral… you name a print, it was worn on the runway. (Most notably seen in Alexander McQueen, and European street style)

A fashion forward globetrotter spotted on the streets of Milan.

3. Remember that girl that took a chance with the long, half-sheer maxi this summer? She was right. Take the same leap of faith and go for one slightly different, with layers of sheer over top of the skirt for a more seasonal take on the trend. (Seen on Chanel and Balenciaga runways and on the streets of the city of love)

Parisian Street Style

How to start wearing Spring 2014 now (cause if you can’t be ahead in finance, might as well be ahead in fashion)

1. Navy blue and black. Yes, they can and should be worn together and no, you won’t look like a bruise.

These three fashionistas spotted in Milan combined navy and blue in three different, but equally chic ways.

2. A full color palette. While models strolled down the Chanel runway in all colors of a very vibrant rainbow, Celine celebrated in color as well – a drastic change for a brand known for its more calming color selection (or limitations). Does the red shirt your wearing make you feel a little more noticed? Yeah, the designers at Celine thought so too. Soak it up.

A colorful take on Chanel staples.

3. Really, really, love your prints. We saw jacket and short combinations of the same print last year, but this season, we’re combining not only the articles of clothing that prints are limited to, but the prints themselves. (The graphically patterned runways of Paul & Joe, Alice + Olivia, BCBG Max Azria and Chanel were anything less than bland)

Take it from this snapshot of the BCBG Maz Azria runway: Mix, not Match

What to anticipate, or create

1. Black and white. Staples. Duh. We all have white shorts for summer and black well, everything for every other time, but the streets of New York and the designers that frequently inhabit them are asking for a combination of the two – on the same piece of clothing.

The art of style isn’t black and white, but the Jill Stuart runway sure made it feel like it.

2. Gingham. We’re used to gingham on the occasional oxford worn out by your best (and very preppy) guy friend, but what about on a dress? Derek Lam would like to think so.

Gimme, gimme gingham!

3. A little more elbow room. Jackets spotted globally had bigger arms, while still maintaining a slender torso. But no, that does not give your aunt permission to wear her gold studded leather jacket with shoulder pads from the 80’s – more room and padding are two completely different things. (Spotted: everywhere)

Alexander McQueen favored these silhouettes for every jacket in the spring collection.

These trends, the focal points of every runway, are flexible and can be recreated because they are based on color, silhouette and collaboration. If you don’t have them in your closet already, they’ll be arriving in a store soon, with a much friendly price tag.

Not Quite Couture: Fashion Week’s Real-Life Effect

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