Less stress, more dress: the student’s guide to a capsule wardrobe

It almost feels like a rite of passage - bringing far too many clothes to university. I remember convincing myself that if I didn't bring every last item of clothing I owned, I was doomed to finding myself wanting to wear it later on. With my parents' car stuffed to the brim, I soon realised, while unpacking, that maybe bringing the entire contents of my wardrobe was highly unnecessary. But, a girl has to have options, right?

You can still have infinite outfit choices with far fewer pieces of clothing (a hard pill to swallow, I know). Realistically, you won't be dressed like Serena van der Woodsen for all of your lectures. If you want to go big, you have to start small. I recommend starting with high-quality, everyday basics. Basic items that may seem boring on their own will be the building blocks of your capsule wardrobe. Clothes in a neutral or complementary colour palette work best as they can easily be combined with other items, particularly if they're more statement pieces.

Speaking of statement pieces, building a capsule wardrobe does not mean you have to sacrifice the bolder items of clothing you possess. However, keep in mind that without your 'boring' basics, your statement pieces almost don't even matter. It's all about striking the right balance and what best reflects your personal style. You can have those days where all you can be bothered to wear is a tracksuit or that cute active wear set that looks like you put a lot of effort in, but you only wore it because it matches and required minimal brain effort to put on. But you can also have those days where you actually want to make an effort in your appearance. That's where your statement pieces get their time to shine.

My personal favourite trick is having a staple coat or jacket that you can wear with everything, but it's still cool enough to elevate even the simplest of outfits. A trench coat always looks effortlessly cool, but my favourite will forever be an oversized leather jacket. Having a staple outer layer can also become your own personal trademark - my friends can vouch that you will rarely ever see me without my black leather jacket.

In short, building a capsule wardrobe does not automatically mean you have to purge your entire selection of clothes. Just prioritise quality over quantity, stay true to your own sense of style and also consider the season (your mini skirts and crop tops won't survive the Northern winter).