Winter Fashion Picks for Students

Now it's November and the temperature has dropped significantly up here in Hull, I've found that my wardrobe is still full of summer items and I've got very little to wear for the next few months! The good thing is I'm going to London next week and aim to purchase my full winter wardrobe in a couple of days (au revoir bank balance!).

But before I go into the basic items that every student should have, I suggest signing up to the free newsletters on all of your favourite clothes sites. They're always having offers on but they tend to only last for 1-7 days so you have to be quick! This means you have to check your emails on a regular basis; I tend to log on every morning first thing just in case I only get 24 hours to purchase things! If they're not offering money off on clothes, they sometimes offer free next day delivery or something similar.

Paying for delivery costs is the one thing I hate about online shopping so I always take advantage of it! I've found the best shops for online discounts via newsletters are New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Asos, Boohoo, Missguided and Daisy Street. Most of them send daily emails featuring items with money off or the new trends for the season. Obviously taking full advantage of student discount and UNiDAYS helps if there are no offers on!

Anyways, here are the items that I think every girl, especially students, should have in their wardrobe for the colder months!

Top half

Basics
Because it's so cold, I am a huge fan of thermals. Yes thermals! Now I know you're probably thinking, aren't they for old people, but seriously, they are a godsend when it's freezing! I fully appreciate the fact that they're not the cutest looking items of clothing but they keep you warm. The picture below is similar to the one I own myself; it's £7 from Tesco and is great for layering under jumpers and cardigans instead of a normal t-shirt. Once you've got something over the top of it, no-one can see it's a thermal!

Thermal long-sleeved t-shirt, £7, Tesco

Another basic I love for winter are just simple vest tops. This is great because you can re-use the ones you bought in the summer! These are ideal for layering under baggier tops and having a tighter first layer ensures the heat stays in! I love wearing a tight vest and wearing a baggier vest/top over the top of it. If it does get too warm, you can always take layers off! The one below is from Forever 21; it costs £2 and comes in 15 different colours! For basic t-shirts, just go to Primark! They'll be a similar price to this one.

Basic scoop neck cami, £2, Forever 21

A warm jumper/sweatshirt

I'm definitely more of a sweatshirt girl, just because jumpers tend to be made of weird materials which reacts badly with my sensitive skin! But either way, I own a few of both now. I have a few in grey with various prints on the front and then a couple in brighter colours, just to liven up my wardrobe. Just because it's winter, it doesn't mean you have to wear all dark colours!

1. Dot checked jumper in Red, £15.99, Daisy Street
2. Fresh Varsity sweatshirt, £16.75, Forever 21
3. Black I Hate Mondays jumper, £19.99, New Look
4. Plum lace shoulder jersey knit, £18, Dorothy Perkins

A proper winter coat

I'm a firm believer in spending a bit more money on a coat; if it's decent, it should last you years. I got my favourite coat nearly 3 years ago in a sale; it was £90 down to £40 in River Island and I still wear it now! The only problem is it's great for keeping you warm but it doesn't have a hood! That's where the trusty parka comes in. I bought it this time last year and hopefully it will last me through this winter too. The good thing about coats is that they tend not to go out of fashion meaning you can wear it for years. This year, I'm going to invest in a new coat but I'm unsure of which one. Help me decide readers from the ones below!

1. Black biker long line coat, £49.99, New Look
2. Black Boucle Wool Mix Biker Coat, £54.99, New Look
3. Burgundy Boucle Wool Contrast Biker Coat, £59.99, New Look
4. Miss Real Navy or Burgundy Quilted Leather-Look Sleeve Coat, £54.99, New Look

Bottom half

Skinny jeans

Now I know they're a student essential anyway, but skinny jeans are perfect for winter. They're the ideal jeans to tuck into boots without having loads of excess denim around the leg. Obviously basic washes of denim are great for winter but don't put your coloured skinnies in the bin just yet; as long as they're paired with a darker top half, they're still wearable for the winter months. Also leather look jeans can look super stylish either dressed up or down.

Summer skirt

A summer staple this year was the skater skirt and you can still wear it for winter! Try a darker hue or a tartan/leopard print pattern, pair it with thick tights or leggings and you're good to go! It goes great with a sweatshirt or jumper for a cute daytime look.

For an updated look this season, try a skort. I've mentioned this on my blog before but I saw Kendall Jenner wearing one earlier this year and just had to purchase one. Now they're everywhere on the high street! I've got this plain black one but they're available in different colours and even tartan!

Mini skort, £25.99, Zara

Footwear

Now as much as I love my trusty Converse/Keds, they're not ideal for the winter. Invest in a pair of boots, girls! You don't have to spend a lot of money on them (I bought some black biker boots from Primark for £15!) but just make sure you have some. They'll keep your feet warm/dry when paired with thick socks. Tuck your leggings/tights/jeans into some thick socks (again try Primark) for a fashionable yet cosy look!

Accessories

• Thick tights in black. Also try them in grey or other colours- experiment!
• A snood. I've got 3 of them in bright blue, fuschia and purple. Because I wear such dark colours, I need a pop of colour sometimes!
• A cute hat. Either a beret style or a beanie- up to you!
• A bag that has a zip opening. When it rains, the last thing you want are your books/papers getting wet on your travels so go for a bag that has a zip and lots of compartments!