Colleges in India are a melting pot of diverse cultures and intermarriage of ethnicities. Campuses are the bastion to display great personal style. It can be seen as a whole runway in itself where distinctive styles merge to create an individual personality. 

With a rise in fast fashion and the ease of ordering via e-commerce fashion websites namely Shein, Ajio, Stalkbuylove, the Indian College fashion scenario has changed drastically.

According to Sustainable Development Association, students clothes-swap the most. Due to limited wardrobe space and disposable income, students exchange clothes quite frequently. This exchange leads to creation of nuanced and thought upon looks.

On the other hand, high-end designers have seeped in at fashion and commerce colleges of India and it is not surprising to see a student hierarchy being created in terms of fashion choices and affordability. 

A strict decorum in Medical Colleges restricts the students wardrobe, students figuratively and literally shed their uniformity after-hours with the help of fashion. A lot of colleges now hosts fashion shows in their respective college festivals.

Moving to college from high-school is one of the most significant changes in a student’s life, it means moving on from a restricted space to a place of freedom and individuality, one of the ways student embrace this newfound freedom is through their fashion sense. 

Being oblivious to current trend in fashion is a faux pas in itself, while it is not the highest on everyone’s scale of importance, fashion reflects personality and helps you boost your confident. 

Here’s a list of the current campus trends and how you can create a fuss-free look. 

1. Mixed Prints

When done right, mixing prints can make you look edgy and cool. This trend has been worn by models and influencers alike. You can choose to mix prints quite simply by wearing the same hues, it is easy on the eyes while giving you the “wow” factor. Another way you can mix prints is by pairing something with stripes. Stripes are the easiest to pair with, either with classy checkered print or flirty florals, this look can never go wrong. 

Print On Print

Katrina Kaif Experimenting with Prints

Keep your accessories minimal as you are already going bold with the prints. Studs or delicate necklaces can help you achieve the look.

Celebrity Stylist Priya Vajani says “Tone on tone layering or Colorblocking can create a whole new look. It’s always mixing and matching your outfits that bring out your personality. 

2. Sundresses

You can be cute and comfy at the same time, thanks to sundresses. Floral prints are the obvious choice for a sundress but you can also go ahead and get them in timeless colours like Black, Navy Blue or Hot Pink. This way you can pair your sundresses with denim jackets or boyfriend shirts and make it a picnic look. A trend that we absolutely love is pairing the sundress with sneakers. Checkout Naina Talwar’s (Deepika Padukone) look from the favourite fresher’s movie – Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani.

Fashion Stylist Shirali Shah talks about sundresses and says: “It can be the perfect “going on a college trip look”, pair it with a hat and sunglasses to complete the look” 

Sejal Kumar pairs a sundress with a denim jacket.

Masoom Minawala in a Maxi Sundress

3. Skirts

Midi and Maxi Skirts are truly a godsend. They are the most bearable piece of garment in the sweltering heat. Short hemlines and breezy silhouettes help you maintain your cool while looking gorgeous. Midi Skirts can be paired with a tuck in t-shirt to balance the airy skirt. If you want to avoid the hassle of tucking in tops or tees you can wear a short top that touches the waistline of your skirt. Maxi skirts have a lot of freedom, you can pair it with a shirt, with tie back tops or even crop tops. 

4. Ultra Ripped Jeans

Distressed clothing is a trend that is not going anywhere, if your clothes look torn, nibbled or muddy they are cool and chic. Your Ultra Ripped Jeans grabs attention and can even act as ice breakers. Pair it with crop top, tees or blouses to complete the look. You can also accessories with hoop earrings and compact backpacks. 

Talking about ripped jeans, Priya says “Pair of palazzo pants or ripped jeans with body con tops or slim fit jeans is what college goers prefer nowadays, especially girls. Boys are also experimenting with a checkered shirt or loose half sleeves t-shirt and a cardigan on it. “

When we think of the ideal college outfit, Priya says “Versatility is all that I look for, something that can be worn anytime anywhere & something that looks and feels comfortable.  Personally, I feel regular loose jeans or wide leg jeans paired with nice V-neck or round Neck Plain tee (especially white and blue) with my favourite pair of comfortable sneakers. “

Ananya Pandey and Alia Bhatt in their ripped jeans.

Dolly Singh in a ripped jeans, body con top and sneakers.

5. Culottes 

Trousers or Cigarette pants aren’t the only options when it comes to bottom-wear, you must have seen Culottes splashed all over Instagram because it is part of the effortless look. When you mix and match culottes you can create an elegant look or a modish one quite easily. Our favourite is pairing it with a spaghetti top. Spaghetti tops balance out the flare in the culottes and give you a flattering look. Wearing a blazer on the top can switch the look into a presentation worthy and if you have a girl’s night out plan you can carry a jacket to layer your outfit.

6. Jumpsuit

A whole outfit in one piece, what’s not to love! Jumpsuits are a blank canvas and you can style them in multiple ways. A relaxed fit jumpsuit can be used as a casual attire and when layered with jackets or blazer, jumpsuits can become party outfits. You can also wear jumpsuits with smart cuts or slits and experiment with accessories. A cinched waisted jumpsuit really brings out your figure wonderful.

7. Ethnic Wear 

Do not reserve your ethnic wear for ethnic days in college, the charm and simplicity of ethnic wear can never rub off. Take a cue from Bollywood and add Short Kurtis to your wardrobe, pair it with jeans and you have for yourself the ultimate campus wear. While Kurti is quite comfortable and can be adorned in every weather, go one step further and wear a Palazzo Pant + Kurta set, pair it with Jhumkas and Juttis, stand out from the crowd and grab some compliments at the same time. 

It’s time to build up your wardrobe and create a distinctive look for each day, make sure you experiment and add a touch of your personality to each look because nothing can match individuality in fashion. 

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