With trends continuously evolving, it can sometimes be overwhelming to keep your closet up to date, especially on a college student’s budget. With everything from bright colors, 70’s revival, and menswear-inspired pieces currently in style, you may feel like a complete wardrobe revamp is in order. Never fear, I’m here to help you use one piece to keep your style looking fresh and up-to-date.
I’m a huge fan of staple pieces that I can play with, but will be something I can wear for a long time. This season, I am all about the blazer. I bought one this winter and wear it any chance I can. You can dress it up with skirts, dresses, and accessories, or you can dress it down with jeans, a t-shirt, and flats. A blazer is a huge part of the menswear-inspired trend and can be mixed and matched with other trends to give your outfit a trendy edge.
I absolutely love basic black blazers with pops of color. Pair a blazer with bright colored tops, pants, skirts, patterns or jewelry, and you can breathe a little life into your outfit. Adding bright colors to a blazer not only keeps you trendy, but it keeps you looking young and can help you stand out in a good way when entering the professional world, just as long as you don’t go too overboard with the color palette.
Stick to one or two colors, but try and come up with interesting color combinations. Designers are taking risks by mixing colors like turquoise and yellow to create a fun and youthful feel. Use that to your advantage to play and experiment with a normally serious looking piece.
Lace is definitely another huge trend this season. A sheer lace top underneath a blazer creates a sexy contrast between the feminine lace and the masculine blazer. Black skinny jeans and nude pumps will only add to the sexiness of this look.
I don’t really understand the appeal of a 70’s revival, but I will make pieces work for me. A loose fitting patterned top (try something with retro flowers and stripes) under a blazer, distressed denim shorts, strappy sandals, a floppy hat and big framed sunglasses creates a similar 70’s inspired feel without making you look like you just left Studio54. Also, try a floral romper under a blazer with strappy sandals for the same kind of idea. The blazer gives the hippie inspired clothing a more modern feel.
Basically, a blazer is something that you will need for a long time coming. Not only can you wear it on a pretty much daily basis, but you can also wear it after graduation once you get an office job. Check out places like Forever21 or Nordstrom to get one for fairly cheap, or you can find one pretty much anywhere. The best part about blazers is that they are basic, so you really can do anything with them. Add one to your closet, and count how many times you wear it. It will be money well spent!
(Photo Credits: Forever21 and Nordstrom)