Back to School Student Fashion: Build A Wardrobe That Lasts

Practical no-nonsense advice for student fashion that works hard for you, all term and beyond.

Start with cost per wear, not ticket price

When you are living on a student budget it is very easy to only look at the number on the price tag. This is almost always the wrong way to choose clothes. Instead, guess how many times you will actually wear the item before you buy it. Divide the price by that number. For example: a €30 top worn 3 times costs €10 per wear. A €60 jumper worn 60 times costs €1 per wear. Always try before you commit. Sit down, reach over your head, cross your legs. You will spend most of your term sat on hard lecture chairs, walking across campus, or hunched over a desk. Uncomfortable clothes do not get worn. Use the size calculator to check fit before you order anything.

Build from 8 simple core pieces

You do not need a wardrobe full of clothes. You just need pieces that work with each other. Start with these 8 items: two plain well fitting t-shirts, one soft jumper, one relaxed hoodie, straight cut trousers, one dark mid length skirt, one casual jacket, two pairs of closed comfortable shoes. These 8 items will create over 25 different complete outfits. No one will notice you are rotating the same base pieces. You can test every possible combination before you buy anything. Upload the pieces to the Mix & Match Studio to see how they work together, add accessories or swap layers. Browse Everyday Clothing for plain, versatile base pieces.

Shop once per term, not every week

Impulse buys are the items that sit unworn at the back of your wardrobe with the tags still on. They are also the biggest drain on your weekly budget. Schedule one proper shop two weeks before term starts. Write an exact list first, and only look for the things on that list. Never browse clothes when you are bored, tired, or after 9pm. If you see something you like that is not on your list, note it down. Wait 3 full days. If you still want it, and you can explain exactly when you will wear it, then you can buy it. Most of the time you will forget about the item entirely. You can save items to your Virtual Closet to come back later, with no pressure to buy immediately.

Three simple tricks to make clothes last longer

Almost all clothes stop looking good long before they actually wear out. This almost always happens because of how they are washed, not how they are worn. You only need three rules. Turn every item inside out before putting it in the machine. Wash everything on cold. Hang dry anything that stretches. That is all. You do not need special products or extra steps. These three changes will keep every item you own looking neat for far longer. If a button falls off, sew it back on that same night. It takes two minutes. If a hem comes loose, fix it before it tears further. Small repairs done early stop you having to throw something away completely. Read the full fabric care guide for all fabric types.

Swap before you buy

At the start of every term, most course groups and student halls run clothes swap evenings. Bring three clean items you do not wear any more. Leave with three items new to you. No money changes hands. This is the fastest way to refresh your wardrobe without spending anything. You will also find pieces you would never have picked out browsing a shop. If there is no swap running where you live, you can start one very easily. Post a note in your flat group chat, set a time and a table in the common room. Everyone brings items they do not want, everyone leaves with things they will wear. Nobody ends up with unwanted clothes sat gathering dust.

Pick pieces that work for every occasion

You do not need separate clothes for lectures, coffee runs, library all nighters, society meetings and weekend walks. Avoid anything that can only be worn for one specific situation. A plain dark jumper will work over a t-shirt for a 9am lecture, with a necklace for dinner, and under a coat for walking home late. One good jacket works for rain, for meeting friends, and for campus events. Browse Lucy's Picks for versatile pieces selected for busy student schedules. 5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose.

Where to start in the store: Office Stationery and Campus Essentials.

How giving works when you shop with us

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. After your order you pick one of three causes: CARE International, Cool Earth or Project Zero. The donation is paid out through PayPal Giving Fund UK. Those three causes, together with how we run our own store (honest product data, fair prices), are matched to 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

That is the heart of the 1% Movement: small choices × millions of us = change. It is a giving promise we can show you, and it is the only promise we make on this page.