“life awstyie

Back to School Basics:
Blending Style with Comfort for this fall semester

 

By Stephanie Trembath,
Life and Style Editor

ince kindergarten, my Mom

has maintained the tradition of

“back to school photos” which
consists of an hour long photo session
posing just outside our front door
imitating the act of walking to school.
My siblings, who are not subject
to tuition and textbooks that cost
roughly the same amount as adopting
a child from Haiti, always pose with
genuine smiles in their brand new
backpacks and school shoes. When
I was younger, posing in my new
school clothes holding empty binders
and pencil cases always excited me,
and yet now the best I can muster
up is a half assed grin as I try not to
spill my coffee on my $200 chemistry
textbook.

Because I am a “mature adult”

I am therefore granted the gift of
paying for everything myself, which
means after settling my school bills,
cell phone, and car insurance, I am

10

left with the option of shopping at
thrift shops or using my student loan
to purchase anything else I may need.
Not to seem superficial, but as I am
still wearing the Abercrombie jeans I
bought in high school and my parents
continuously badger me about when
I am getting out and graduating,

the very act of posing for a camera
looking excited to go show-off my
new outfit and fill my blank notebooks
is more degrading than fun.

I have a wish list of things I’d
like to buy consisting of stylish, yet
efficient clothing perfect for fall
weather and staying comfortable while
at school.

Jeggings: I admittedly hated the
jegging phenomenon when it first
appeared, but now the comfort of
leggings concealed by jean material is
really appealing. J Brand has a great
selection of jegging jeans blending
thin, flexible material and chic, trendy
colors. Ranging from $90 - $270 J
Brand Jeggings are great as you can
slip on a pair of flats and slouchy

 

sweater if you’re in a rush, or pair
them with boots and a dress to appear
a bit dressier.

Leather Weave Belt: simple
accessories really help make a
statement and add a lot to a simple
outfit, especially if you want to spice
up a plain t-shift and jeans. I’ve found
that it’s cheaper to savour a few pairs
of pants and tops, and splurge on
accessories to shape a signature style. I
love the thick, high-waist belts used to
create a silhouette in a baggy top, and
I especially adore small, tightly woven
leather belts that can be wrapped
either above or below the waist line.

I already own an Urban Outfitters
woven brown belt that cost $29, so I
am now lusting after Club Monaco’s
beautiful braided leather belt in white
or black for $69.

Wedge Ankle Boots: At school
there is nothing worse than having sore
feet as you walk between classes, but
because I refuse to wear flats unless
I am on a treadmill I am constantly
searching for comfortable heels.

Thankfully wedges are incredibly
popular this year, so my search for a
pair of cute suede ankle boots with a
thick wedge heel may be fulfilled.
Motorcycle Jacket: The tomboy
trend continued, military jackets
and boyfriend blazers are nice to
look at, but terribly ineffective for
weathering the outdoors. If you have
to spend anytime walking outside,
or catch the bus to school, military
style jackets and thin blazers are not
made for wearing to school. While
I don’t have $300 to spend on the
trench coat seemingly everyone owns
from Aritzia, (and I despise looking
“everyone”) and I have never been
a fan of the pea-coat, I have become
infatuated with short-waist motorcycle
jackets that are warm, sometimes
waterproof, and look chic in olive
green, navy, or black. Diesel clothing
carries a denim green motorcycle style
jacket for $320 and I am currently
doing my best searching for a cheaper
replica.