Spring has sprung, the summer term is almost upon us. It seems the longer days open up our social calendars, with graduations, formals and events imminent.
Facing dress codes as a student can be daunting, particularly when they don’t involve fancy dress or wild themes. ‘Black Tie’ is a dreaded phrase, contrasting massively to the general university uniform of trainers, joggers and a puffer.
Following this, formalwear can be incredibly expensive. Suits have the ability to cost hundreds, as do long evening dresses, with that not including the leather shoes or heels.
So what to do? You might have a prom suit collecting dust in the back of your wardrobe or a pair of shoes bought in your Year 13 clubbing stage. If so, you’ve got options, although it’s understandable why you might want to find an alternative.
Regardless of your financial situation, this is the guide to dressing up on a student budget.
Firstly: Suit or Dress
Following on from our gender neutral guide to going out-out clothes, don’t let gender decide whether you wear a suit or a dress. Power suits are in and kilts have been considered formalwear for hundreds of years. No matter what the occasion, don’t wear anything you feel uncomfortable in.
Sizing
In the world of formalwear, sizing is more important that normal. When buying online, getting the wrong size can be an expensive mistake. Save yourself some hassle and work out what size you need (and want) before you buy. Make sure to take measurements and, if buying on Depop or eBay, ask the seller questions if you’re unsure whether it will fit.
Vintage, vintage, vintage
It’s easy to justify buying fast fashion if you know you’re not going to wear what you buy regularly. People are generally opposed to wearing suits and gowns when going to Sainsbury’s. Nevertheless, there’s a huge amount of beautiful vintage evening wear out there, including stunning woolen suits, beautifully embroidered dresses and pieces made in expensive materials such as silk. Rather than spending £40 on a dress from PLT or Misguided, try finding a preloved version first.
When looking for a prom dress, I innocently searched ‘Halter Neck Dress’ on eBay, only to find the most incredible Versace dress for £35. Not only was it originally from the 1990s and one of a kind, I loved it so much that I’ve worn it since.
Borrowing
If your budget is closer to the 0 mark, borrowing is often the key to formalwear on a budget. Do you have a friend that went to a wedding recently? Have you asked your housemates or siblings? There’s no shame in asking, particularly if your friends know they’re not going to wear it regularly either. Bowties, soleros, stilettos – just ask! You might find that you’re shocked with the gems they present you with.
En Voila! Night sorted. You’ve barely touched your bank account and now have more money left over for the bar!