Passport for one, please? As much as we’d all like to be jet-setting, club-hopping, and shopping our way through Europe this fall, as collegiettes we’re mostly tied to our campuses (at least until we get to stretch our legs during study abroad semesters). Unfortunately, this also means we’re stuck with the fashion offerings of our college towns which, let’s be honest, are sometimes more “hot mess” than “haute couture.”
On the bright side, you don’t need to frequent a Parisian boutique to find Europe’s hottest style staples. As long as you know what you’re looking for, the mall around the corner (or the online store checkout) will do the trick! Put these seven insta-Europeanizers on your wardrobe wish list and you’ll be looking like an E.U.-certified glamazon before you can say “Topshop.”
Leather Sleeves on a Non-Leather Jacket
It seems like a simple equation: leather jacket + skinny jeans + messy bun = chic. Voilà!
While it’s true that the classic leather jacket will always look cute, cosmopolitan, and of course, collegiette-friendly, the fashion gods of Europe have decided that the James Dean-inspired look just isn’t cutting it anymore (making this possibly the first time ever that James Dean is no longer the coolest of cool).
So, how are the Euros wearing their leather these days? Right on their sleeves! Whether it’s a pea coat or a blazer, a jean jacket or a trench, there’s barely an outerwear known to Carrie Bradshaw that hasn’t been made over with the leather sleeve look. The sleeves add some edge to the classiness of the tailored coat and transform trendier, colorful jackets into punk-y pieces.
Since the look itself is already a patchwork, you have to be careful about how you’re pairing it – no Raggedy Ann resemblances, please! Keep the rest of your outfit basic; since the sleeves of your jacket are black, it’s best to stick with black jeans and a plain black top. Let your sleeves make the statement!
Our Suggestions:
- Coat with Leather Sleeves – $229 at Zara
- Leather Sleeve Patchwork Wool Trench – $36.94 at Ali Express
- Tweed Jacket with Fake Leather Sleeves – $64 at Pull & Bear
- Contrast Sleeve Army Jacket – $130 at Topshop
- Grey Boucle Leather Look Waterfall Jacket – $88 at River Island
Quilted Leather Jacket
Though our friends across the pond have grown tired of the traditional leather jacket – and somehow decided to chop it up à la the sewn-on sleeve ensembles above – they haven’t yet run out of fresh new spins on the leather-only look. Leather lovers, take heart! In keeping with this year’s prettiest purse trend, Europe’s new favorite jacket pairs simple black leather with gold hardware (think zippers, snaps, chains, etc.).
The twist? The leather (or fake leather, if you’re an animal- or budget-friendly collegiette) is quilted, meaning it’s stitched in an all-over grid pattern. The jackets are almost always collar-less, circling the neck around collarbone level, and the fit itself is streamlined and sexy – no bumps and lumps here! Since the quilt adds dimension and bulk to the jacket, the tailored, no-frills fit keeps our frames from being overwhelmed. Moral of the story? If you’re going for the trend, stick with a clean cut! When overdone with collars, lapels, long sleeves, or pockets, the quilted jacket takes you on a one-way train to Michelin Man territory: never a good place for a fashion-conscious collegiette.
Our Suggestions:
- Quilted Moto Jacket – $34.80 at Forever 21
- Quilted Leather Perfecto – $249.99 at Mango
- Quilted Leather Jacket – $249.99 at Mango
- Black PU Collarless Quilted Jacket – $64 at New Look
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Infinity Scarf
Is there even such a thing as a person who doesn’t love a good ol’ snuggly scarf? (We already know college guys are fans!) While the trend is already popular in America, our European cousins take the addiction to the infinity scarf to a whole new level.
Infinity scarves with leather jackets, infinity scarves with dresses and blazers, infinity scarves with tee shirts tucked into high-waisted shorts… there doesn’t seem to be an outfit out there that a European couldn’t somehow successfully pair with a never-ending pile of wool. They’re seriously determined, and we should be, too!
The key to rocking the infinity scarf is to balance out its bulk with equally eye-catching hair. Your first option is the fail-proof high-bun: wear it messy, wear it sleek – just wear it on the very top of your head! Its height will keep you from looking like you’re drowning under your many layers of scarf, and the look will show off your chin and the top of your neck (always, always sexy). Your second option, if you’re feeling a bit more free-spirited, is to keep your hair down and wear the scarf over your hair. Spotted on subways across the Continent, this look works best with a bit of bed head. If you haven’t spent your morning rolling around with your boy toy (“Ooh la la!” as the Euros would say), just work a dab or two of mousse through your hair and muss it up. The goal is to give it body and that lightly tousled, “I just wake up looking like a rock star” vibe that Kate Moss, Clémence Poésy, and Penélope Cruz seem to have been born with. Not that we’re jealous, or anything…
Our Suggestions:
- Chunky Lurex Knit Infinity Scarf – $12.99 at Charlotte Russe
- Metallic Infinity Scarf – $40 at Nasty Gal
- Women’s Pointelle Infinity Scarves – $18.94 at Old Navy
- Topshop Marled Sweater Infinity Scarf – $32 at Nordstrom
- Zella Infinity Scarf – $36 at Nordstrom
Coated Skinny Jeans
Not shockingly, skinny jeans are still the go-to pants for the lovely ladies of Europe. Whether you’re preppy, punk, bohemian, or girly, chances are there’s a skinny jean that fits your style just as well as it fits your legs. The problem? Skinny jeans are like any other type of pants: they’re generally a neutral color (save the pastel pants for springtime, collegiettes!), which means that after a while they can feel a bit… blah. No European fashionista is ever content with being blah, and neither are we!
The solution? Instead of pumping up the color of your pants, stay in season with fall colors (think blacks, browns, dark blues, dull reds, and dark greens) and spice up your look by choosing a coated skinny jean. “Coated” means that the pants are painted with a slightly (slightly!) shiny coat, making them almost look like they’re made of leather. The bonus of choosing the coated skinny over the leather skinny, of course, is that you can actually move your legs! No accidentally ripped pants here.
Coated skinny jeans are all over Europe, gracing the legs of ladies on the canals of Amsterdam and on the dance floors of Barcelona. Dress them down by throwing on an oversized, chunky sweater and scarf, or dress them up with a blazer for work or a glittery top for play.
Our Suggestions:
- Super Slim Coated Jeans – $79.99 at Mango
- Blank Denim Shiny Pant Jeans – $65.99 at Piperlime
- Biker Coated Skinny Jeans – $64 at Oasis
- Grey Coated Skinny Jean – $35 at Wallis Fashion
- Else Jeans Skinny Jeans – $54.99 at Macy’s
Camouflage Skinny Jeans
We know what you’re thinking: camouflage? Didn’t that die out in elementary school along with Limited Too?
We have to admit; we were skeptical about Europe’s new camo craze at first. It took us weeks to conclude that it wasn’t just the European je-ne-sais-quoi that helps these girls pull off the Army/Navy look – the pants are actually cute! Provided you wear them correctly.
Since camouflage can easily make you look fit more for battle than for Lit class, the key is to choose a slim, body-hugging pair (without exterior pockets!) that puts the focus on the fashion, not the function. Read: if the pants look like they could carry a canteen, they’re not the right pair for you.
Since the print is eye-catching enough on its own, you should only pair your camo skinnies with basics: slouchy sweaters, loose tees, tailored blazers, and ankle boots or simple, feminine flats in shades of black, gray, tan, or cream. If you’re feeling daring, you could even go for a hunter green top to play up the look. But remember: your campus isn’t boot camp, nor is it a Village People concert, so ditch your treasured Docs (lest you look too authentic).
Our Suggestions:
- Camouflage Jacquard Trousers – $59.90 at Zara
- Camouflage Skinny Pants – $48 at Pull & Bear
- Camouflage Skinny Trousers – $59.90 at Zara
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Embellished Collars
If you haven’t gotten the message yet, we’ll spell it out for you: Europeans are what we like to call basic-blingers, those who manage to magically transform a basic piece – it could be a leather jacket, a skinny jean, or hey, even a bra – into a fashion statement simply by making a few eye-catching tweaks. And thus, the embellished collar was born.
Say goodbye to boring, work-friendly button-ups; with only a glue-gun and the contents of a craft store, European fashionistas have successfully turned the closed collar into a unique new necklace and statement piece. While most collars are covered in jewels and hardware like metal triangles, others are trimmed in lace or embroidered in bright colors.
To pull off an embellished collar, you have to fully commit: button that shirt all the way up! Whether it’s a sheer, flowy top or a chambray with rolled sleeves, you can tuck it into a high waisted skinny or skirt and look unfailingly chic. Plus, the cinch at the waist will keep the high-neck from flattening your frame (in other words, you can still show the world what you’re working with). Another option is to prep up the look by wearing the button-up under a looser, boat-neck sweater; the embellishment peeking out gives an otherwise standard look an entirely fresh feeling (not to mention that it’s the perfect combo of cozy and cute – always a bonus).
Our Suggestions:
- Cut Out Jewel Embellished Chiffon Top – $57 at Rare London
- Jewel Collar Blouse – $56 at Rare London
- Embellished Collar Chiffon Blouse – $37 at Akira
- Black Embellished Collar Peplum Top – $35 at New Look
- Warehouse Contrast Embellished Collar Blouse – $48.37 at ASOS
Chelsea Boot
While we can’t tell you why it’s called the “Chelsea” (what do we have to do to get a shoe named after us, huh?), we can tell you that this boot is the most popular in Europe and is one of HC’s favorite boot styles, which of course means it’s an essential for any fashion-savvy collegiette.
The Chelsea boot is simple, sleek, and even a little masculine (is it just us or is it eerily reminiscent of Dad’s old business shoes?). But it’s its androgyny that makes this boot a keeper: sure, you’ll find it in both the men’s and women’s sections of Zara, but that doesn’t mean wearing it will make you look like you should be sporting a tie. Even in its heel-less form, the Chelsea boot makes the skinny jeans-and-top combo look edgy and chic. And when you add on a heel… well, let’s just say that the last time that a collegiette looked bad in a heeled boot was never.
Most of the E.U. fashionistas are hitting the pavement in neutral Chelsea boots: black and brown leather, dark suede, etc., which means you won’t be losing any style cred for sticking to the basics. For those who are more daring, though, there are the jewel-tone, velvet, metal-toed, and cowboy-inspired Chelsea boots that will say to everyone passing by on the campus quad (including your favorite Campus Cutie), “Hey! I’m hot and I know it!”
Our Suggestions:
- Chelsea Ankle Boot – $68 at Need Supply
- Jesse Leather Contrast Elastic Chelsea Ankle Boots – $174 at John Lewis
- Annia Black Lurex Elastic Gusset Chelsea Boot – $60 at Boo Hoo
- Limited Edition Leather Chelsea Boots – $80 at New Look
- Maroon Mid Heel Velvet Chelsea Boots – $60 at Debenhams
If you want to stay on top of the Euro trends, you have to go to the source! Spot the trends as they arrive by scoping out European clothing store websites. Check out a few of our favorites:
- New Look: Great for party dresses, chunky sweaters, cheap heels, and pea coats!
- River Island: Perfect for all print-loving collegiettes!
- Warehouse: The go-to spot for well-fitted, universally flattering pieces (think solid-colored jackets, dresses, and sweaters).
- Pull & Bear: Not your average graphic tees! Pull & Bear combines casual comfort with edgy graphics. Perfect for anyone looking to make a statement.
While we’ve got nothing but love for Americana style, sometimes we really just need some Euro-chic in our wardrobes. On a campus filled with thousands of other collegiettes, we want to make sure we stick out from the crowd! Add some culture to your closet with these European essentials – they may not be as cute as a foreign accent, but they’re a start!