“University fashion on a Budget: How students are style beyond aesthetics”
Through fashion, students are redefining their identities, and their choices of style. Which can be seen through the way they are thrifting, budgeting and following different TikTok trends to build their Ootd’s.
Monsiwenga Simutowe aspiring stylist Prosper Peters part-time model
At university, identity isn’t just something you study during your seminars anymore, it’s something you wear on a daily. Between lecture halls and late-night study sessions at the library, students are redefining personal style one outfit at a time, proving that looking good doesn’t mean surviving on your overdraft.
Forget high fashion’s six-figure runways, forget what celebrities are wearing, or what this summer’s new fashion season will look like. Many fashion-forward students continue to be social media mindful; they still look for inspiration from other’s Instagram posts. But the real trends are being built in shared flats, thrift shops, and at university campus.
For a generation raised on Pinterest boards and TikTok “fit checks,” fashion isn’t about labels, it’s about finding your perfect mix of style, culture, and confidence when choosing your #Ootd or outfit of the day.
This feature dives into the creative wardrobes of students who are making bold statements on a student budget. From styling unisex vintage pieces to turning second-hand gems into signature looks, they’re mixing affordability with authenticity. Students like Monsiwenga Simuntowe, a final year Computer Science student who is an aspiring stylist that thrives in mixing styles. Prosper, a final year Art History student who is also a part-time model that believes clothes can become art and a kind of language.
Fashion acts as a reflection of one’s identity
Both Monsi and Prosper touched upon an important aspect of fashion for them, that one thing which influences their style and how they present themselves daily. Their journeys of becoming confident in their style was quite the development throughout their upbringing and university time.
Monsiwenga Simuntowe is an international student originally from Zambia. He mentions how his love for fashion started from a young age and has since continued to influence his styling choices.
“I have always loved fashion… when I was a little kid my mom would get outfits for me… and I would say no I’m not wearing that.”
Prosper Peters interest for fashion sparked after she started getting approached to do modelling. But as her fear of being in such a “cutthroat environment” has influenced her decision of not signing with a professional modelling agency. Since she has decided to continue help curators and designers bring their ideas to life.
“That for me is the whole point – being the canvas that holds the creative process and makes it look as close to an outcome as possible.”
Staying on the budget can still be fashionable
When continuing the conversation with Monsi, there was the need to bring up affordability to understand how he deals with budget when building his outfits, without compromising neither his wallet nor fashion sense. He explains how most of his fashion inspirations start from “window-shopping” and scrolling through social media looking for outfits that others have posted.
“I imagine it in my head… See a nice shirt and instantly imagine a bottom that will go with (it). So, when I imagine an outfit… it has to make sense, but if it ends up not looking good in the body, I will add a little scarf or a little belt.”
Monsi’s main fashion tip, which he insists will help anyone when putting together an outfit for themselves is:
“If it doesn’t match in colour, it should match in texture, if it doesn’t match in texture, it should match in shape”.
Another one of Monsi’s hobbies involves sewing and altering clothes, so it is quite often that once he has been charity shopping, he will use his skills to change any items to suit his planned outfits. This is a way that he has found to not compromise his personal style while also allowing himself to stay creative when dressing himself.
“I feel like a lot of people believe. Looking good. You have to spend a lot of money. But I don’t believe that. I feel like you can get whatever’s in your wardrobe. Just change it.”
The journey of finding your identity in fashion looks different for everyone
University campus is the perfect environment to see how important affordability when it comes to sef-expression, especially through fashion. For many, fashion has now become a way to experiment with different looks, this reflects the trends they like or a mix of all styles that relates to them best. This journey is deeply individual, each person’s style evolves through their culture influences, taste and financial limitations.
Monsi’s approach to fashion is to style himself without fear, utilising all his confidence in “pulling off” outfits are what determines his choices. Because of that he insists in the need to try different things out, without restricting yourself to any norms. He has taken on board the versatility from his outfits, made more himself and constantly looks for ways to reinvent them.
“I’ve never been that person… that likes an outfit and decides I’m going to wear it exactly like that”
Prosper had an introduction to modelling from an early age too. She always had the “look” for it, but she struggled to agree to work in certain projects due to impostor syndrome. As being exposed to the field since young, running through intense castings did affect her confidence and had an impact on her self-image.
She mentions that it wasn’t until the opportunity to model with upcoming designers, such as a fashion students that gave her a sense of belonging and confidence that professional settings failed to invoke.
“Working with fashion students became the turning point. After avoiding agencies and intense castings, working with unknown and upcoming designers gave me a sense of belonging and confidence that professional settings failed to invoke.”