NONTANDO MPOSO
Varsity life means the freedom to wear whatever one likes, and thousands of new matriculants are looking forward to ditching their traditional school uniforms for a range of exciting fashion options to wear on campus.
But this sudden liberty to experiment and explore can cause anxiety for some as it’s not always easy to look presentable after pulling all-nighters in the library.
With so many trends and affordable options around, that somewhat “grungy” varsity look of baggy sweatpants paired with an oversized T-shirt is a thing of the past. There’s a lot more on offer these days, which means one can put together that cool, old-school varsity look with minimum effort and cost.
Model and stylist Shamiel Hagee has a few tips:
* How you dress on campus should be a reflection of your personality. As in high school, you will get a variety of cliques, such as the fashionistas, the hipsters, the nerds and the inbetweeners, who stand out with their individual styles. Whichever group you fit in, make sure you go for comfortable clothing, as you’re going to spend the whole day in them.
* For affordable staple items, you can’t go wrong with the right denims – such as shorts and shirts. Denim is versatile and it still looks fashionable even when faded. Button-up plain shirts are also essential as they never go out of style.
DO’S AND DON’TS
* Don’t wear high heels on campus as you will be on your feet most of the day.
* Keep a jersey in your bag at all times in case you have to stay late on campus.
* Yes, you do live in a residential hall on campus, but that’s no excuse to attend classes in sleepwear.
Your pyjamas might be comfy, but it doesn’t mean the rest of the campus is your bedroom.
* Don’t wear bright, distracting clothes or big floppy hats to class.
* Remember that less is always more, and make the effort to look presentable at all times.
There’s no need to stand out from the campus crowd with over-the-top clothes every day. After all, you are there to gain knowledge, make new friends and have fun.