WE OUTSIDEEEE VS WE IN CLASSSSS

This past summer, we all enjoyed the luxury of being outside after the 18 months spent inside. Over the summer, the mask mandate lifted in Texas, bars went back to 100% capacity, and “stepping out” became the goal of the summer. I can’t speak for everyone, but during quarantine, there wasn’t much to do besides online shopping. Buying clothes with nowhere to go was my favorite quarantine pass time. Now that we’re back in the classroom, the days of waking up late and showing up to class in the t-shirt you slept in last night are over. The fashion style of athleisure has everyone in a chokehold, with SKIMS holding the crown. The famous Kardashian has been wearing monochromatic leisurewear for years and has developed a successful clothing brand from the popular style. The brand features different fits to include everyone’s body type and an affordable price range to match. This popular style is being used by many brands lately such as Bo+Tee, Lululemon, Athleta, Gymshark, and Cotton Citizen. Athleisure has transitioned into the new way of fashion by looking put together while still being comfortable, with biker shorts, matching sets, and even comfy full-length dresses. This versatile look is great for on the go, running errands, and college students. I wouldn’t necessarily say I “dress up” for my classes, but it looks like I put more effort in with monochromatic athleisure wear. The new idea of getting ready for school sounds less like a chore than it did pre-quarantine. After spring break 2020 turned into an extended break from actuality, we’re back with better mindsets and better style. Minimize efforts and maximize confidence with the perfect fit that comes from Athleisure clothing!

Top 5 Transitional Pieces to Have in Your Closet This Fall Semester

Another semester, another closet cleanout. Out with the old and in with the new! As we start our school year in the summer heat, it’s important to have those staple pieces that we can carry into the chillier seasons. So, here are your top 5 transitional pieces to take you from hot, hot, hot to super cool.

LBBs (Little black boots, duh!)

Okay, I feel like this first one is obvious. I mean, not having a trusty pair of LBBs is a certified sin! They are timeless pieces and look good through all seasons, from your beach days with a bikini to navigating the pumpkin patch with your SO. There are so many options out there for you to find your everyday boots, from Docs to some Dolly Parton style cowboy boots. These boots were made for walking, so make sure they are on you during those long walks across campus.

A GOOD pair of jeans

I cannot stress this one enough. Get a GOOD pair of jeans! I know better than anyone that finding the perfect denim for your body can be an indigo-filled NIGHTMARE. Especially if you are someone who hates the feel of stiff denim. But, I promise you, your perfect pair is out there

and you are going to need them on those student party nights where you’re screaming, “I have nothing to wear!”

Button-downs

Easy, breezy, beautiful button-downs! This is the easiest outfit to throw on in any season and truly the ruler of my closet. With so many options for fabric from silk to corduroy, this is the perfect layering piece and so wonderfully simple. It can even be worn on its own. On those days, you really want to look effortless but don't want to put much effort in; this is the piece for you.

Sets

For the days you truly can not be bothered, comfy loungewear sets are the IT GIRL. Not only can you literally sleep in them and wear them straight to class, but you can wear them out and about while you make some core campus memories! I highly recommend sets that come with both pants and shorts, so the transition to the chilly season is a breeze.

Midi Skirts

A staple piece for both a summer and autumn closet. A midi skirt with a slit, *chef’s kiss*. This is the button-down shirt of the bottoms community. This is a necessity in a year-round wardrobe and perfect for those trips to the farmers market or your local dining hall. Make this piece transition to chillier days with a pair of tights, a sweater, and a cute jacket, and boom you are fit for fall!

And there are your top 5 transitional pieces for your fall semester! Hit the closet to see what you’ve got and tag us sporting the pieces you bring from summer to fall

Expect to see these fall trends going back to campus

As soon as the last strawberry donut pool floats are hastily taken off the shelves and replaced with aisles of notebooks, braided folders, and overpriced pens, the stationary bells go off in your head until you realize it oddly sounds familiar—school bells.

Coming down from a summer’s high of drive-in movies and Ferris wheel rides—after getting your Covid vaccine of course—the moment it’s time to memorize your class schedule, you chose instead to hit the labor day sales to begin a seamless wardrobe transition to fall. If we’re making a comparative fall fashion timeline, the season we all spent inside wearing the same grey sweats to every zoom meeting does not count, so of course, it gave us time to conceive and birth new trends.

As expected, boots and sweaters have entered the scene but in a reimagined way. From our own UNT students, these autumn trends have finally gone from the very hangers that have been collecting an alarming amount of dust, to the pavement.

1. Tote bags

@sidsidni

The days of stuffing your backpack to its unbearable ends have long gone. If you haven’t already seen tote bags in every corner cafe, you definitely will now. I will admit I experimented to see if the magical tote worked functionally just as it does aesthetically, switching from an Adidas backpack to a green tote in the span of a week. My hypothesis was confirmed. It doesn’t break your back, and it’s easier to match with your outfit!

1. Sweater Vests

@amiraonthewxll

Layered or not, sweater vests are reincarnated every season, making a return in various forms and styles. As you’ll later see, preppy fashion is more popular than it was in the late 70s since the ivy league is becoming a more desirable aesthetic.

1. Chunky!

@dibbsdibbsdibbs

From summer to fall and everywhere in-between, chunky shoes have come in all shapes and sizes to adapt to any season. A good transition staple, the chunky shoe—whether a heel, boot, or loafer—is a statement.

1. Varsity Style

@alexdelanie & @alenannguyen

A timeless staple, the classic varsity style has made its return to the fashion cycle and at the top. The back-to-school spirit comes in waves of letterman jackets and knife-pleated skirts. This athletic and scholarly aesthetic even motivates you to play the part as long as you’re dressing for it, and the academics will hopefully follow.

1. Printed Pants

@_irelandlee_

Floral, checkered, animal print, abstract, the possibilities are endless. I personally adore this trend as it allows for the creativity to roam and uniqueness to breakthrough, in a non-cliché way. It’s easy, effortless, and bold. To bypass this trend would be a mistake because done right, the praising wave of compliments are sure to follow.