Moving to uni will most likely impact your style and outfit choices. Being on a campus with so many other young people is bound to throw hundreds of the latest trends and outfit ideas at you, and some of them will inevitably stick. Knowing your fashion loves and no-gos is super important to help you avoid over-spending and over-consuming at university.
"...winter in Newcastle is impossible to survive without layering."
In my personal experience, winter in Newcastle is impossible to survive without layering. You might be stepping outside to snow and ice, but by the time you sit down with 200 other students in a lecture theatre, you’ll instantly regret the woolly jumper with nothing underneath.
There is no ‘right’ way to layer your clothes, so you don’t need to worry about giving your whole wardrobe a refresh! Some of the most common winter combos on campus can easily be put together from any wardrobe: a short-sleeved tee over a long-sleeve; a knitted vest or cardigan over the comfiest base layer you can find; a fun scarf to jazz up a simple jumper.
I usually swap out a lot of my clothes when I go home for the holidays, but the freezing temperatures of a northern February definitely mean you can’t take all your winter wear home over the winter break. Make sure to keep plenty of clothes with you that can be repurposed when the weather finally gets warmer - think cardigans, lighter jumpers, and definitely a waterproof jacket!
"...buying second hand will give you just as much choice for a far tighter budget."
As it heats up later on in the year, your wardrobe will get more of a chance to shine, rather than hiding behind a jacket. Linen trousers are a campus essential for spring and summer, and they can be tailored to fit any style. There are endless colour, pattern and cut options available, and buying second hand will give you just as much choice for a far tighter budget.
Even throughout the late semester two sun, though, you will probably still need to bring a light jumper or cardigan out with you most days. Make sure your uni bag is big enough to fit all your essentials, plus an emergency layer! You never know when you’ll be caught off guard by a northern breeze.
Overall, the most important parts of curating your campus outfits are comfort and your personal style (and, of course, dressing for Newcastle’s unpredictable weather). Let yourself be inspired by the hundreds of outfits you see around uni, but don’t worry about refreshing your whole wardrobe - if you loved your style at home, you’ll definitely still love it away!