In the past ten years, our social media presence has undeniably become a part of how we communicate with the rest of the world. Instagram is now a visual representation of our lives, as well as a form of personal branding. For those wanting to step up their style game on Insta without breaking the bank, Her Campus Style is here to help. A powerful outfit is a mixture of eye-catching trends and basic pieces already in your closet, so here’s a guide on how to be a mixologist of fashion on a college budget.
Hit the thrift store
Thrifting is going to be your goldmine when it comes to finding affordable fashion, specifically pieces that come in and out of trend fairly quickly. Plus, you’re not contributing to the fast fashion industry! Any local thrift store is a great place to start, while thrift franchises like Uptown Cheapskate and Plato’s Closet are the most reliable when it comes to finding familiar brands like Urban Outfitters, H&M, and Forever 21. Resale apps like Poshmark and Depop allow you to buy and sell through the power of the internet, so if you can’t find what you’re looking for at the store, you’ll definitely be able to find it online.
Find a statement piece
The common denominator of all great style photos is a statement piece. This is the part of an outfit that naturally catches your eye through shape, pattern, color, or texture. You may have seen a lot of houndstooth, corduroy, Cher Horowitz-esque yellow plaid, or fuzzy jackets this fall because they’re trendy and eye-catching. A quick search on Depop found any of those styles for as little as ten dollars, so find a loud style you love and get searching!
Include an accessory
Accessories can help elevate any outfit from simple to sophisticated whether that be through a bag, sunglasses, scarf or hat. Berets are very on trend for fall and don’t overpower the rest of your outfit. Go for a colorful one if you want to add some diversity to your color palate or opt for a neutral tone if you want the focus to be elsewhere. You can find a simple beret like this one for around $10 at stores like H&M or Cotton On.
Test out current trends
Adopting current trends is a fun way to explore the boundaries of your own style. Try out some new patterns or fabric types that you typically don’t seek out and just go for it! Who knows, you might just discover a new favorite style or start setting the trends yourself. Some of the current trends to fall point to turtlenecks, textured jackets, and fun hats.