Leeds to a Lifetime: Building A University Wardrobe That Lasts

Jess Cooper explores the importance of practicing sustainable fashion whilst at university, and the positive impact it can have on your time as a student.

I have never experienced greater heartbreak in my life than the weeks before I moved into my student accommodation last year, and had to do the dreaded big clearout. Specifically, the clearout of my closet. Any time a fashion student has to separate an item of clothing, a fairy loses its wings. Eighteen years worth of memories and finding my style was sent away in a charity collection van, and I arrived in Leeds with a suitcase worth of clothes and a dream.

This may sound like a nightmare, but if anywhere is the perfect place to be stranded without enough clothes, it’s Leeds. Leeds isn’t a fashion capital, and certainly has it’s fair share of questionable style choices (I can never get behind the Uggs on campus), but Leeds is without a doubt the sustainable fashion central of the UK. It has the only university course in the country in Sustainable Fashion (sneaky plug there), and the city is littered with what feels like hundreds of vintage shops, charity shops, clothes swaps and upcycling workshops that it can feel overwhelming for the average fashion enjoyer. No fear, for your sustainable big sister is here to provide you with the comprehensive guide on building a university wardrobe from scratch that will take your from the first Fruity of the year to graduation photos outside Parkinson steps. Trust me, it’s possible.

#1: Build a daily “uniform”.

And no, I’m not asking you to put a shirt and tie again and suddenly transform into your 11 year old self. The idea of building a “uniform” can be explained as you are creating an outfit formula for yourself; a formula that makes you feel comfortable, confident and can take you from a 9am lecture to a 6pm pub trip. Steve Jobs is the most famous example. That man is always in the same turtleneck and jeans, which works for a nerdy tech billionare, but your uniform doesn’t have to be that boring. If I’m struggling for an outfit, I always know that a good pair of jeans, some boots, a big jumper and a leather jacket is bound to make me feel put-together. Having a daily uniform will make shopping so much easier because you know exactly what pieces you need for your own outfit formula, and will mean you wear the clothes you love more and for longer. Maybe don’t bring out the school blazer though.

#2: You do not need a new costume for every Otley Run

This is a controversial statement for a woman who went on one Otley Run, made it to pub six with the theme of ‘football shirts’. Unrelated tip, don’t go on a pub crawl with boring men. But those boring men did have a surprising stroke of genius: nobody had to buy a costume. Why? Because every single person owned at least one football shirt, and even those of us who didn’t were able to borrow one from another person. It was easy, free and also meant that it stopped another ridiculous costume from entering landfill. Now, I am by no means telling anybody to take inspiration from this story and start picking absolutely rubbish Otley Run themes, however I am saying that you do not need to start picking outlandish themes where you buy one costume, spill a pint of cider down you and throw it away in a hungover haze the next morning. Try and pick costumes that you can build from your existing wardrobe, with perhaps one or two accessories picked up from a charity shop. If you do buy a costume, make sure it’s one that can be repurposed for every kind of fancy dress or masquerade party. As funny as a walking genitalia costume may be, I highly doubt you will wear it at your auntie’s 50th costume party.

#3: Want new clothes but have no cash? Swap your stuff around

I know that Vinted will start calling to you like a needy ex at three in the morning when you don’t have anything else to do and you can’t fall asleep, but Vinted overspending is the downfall of every student’s bank account. The deals seem cheap, but the price adds up after item 43 (yes, I unfortunately do know from experience). What if I told you there’s a way you can get a whole new wardrobe for as little as £3.50? That’s the equivalent of an overpriced Shein top on Vinted. Head over to Woodhouse Community Centre on the 4th Saturday of every month, pay £3.50 on the door and you can swap up to 20 items for anything they have! Make it a weekend day out with your new flatmates, and go and grab some fun new pieces for that tiny student accomodation wardrobe. Swapping clothes is the best way to sustainably switch up your style, by using existing clothes and extending their lifespan!

#4: Headingley charity shops = your new BFF

If you are a fellow shopping addict and love to part with your money, at least go looking for bargains whilst you do it. The charity shops in Headingley are the best way to do this. Walk straight down the Otley Rd and you will be able to throw your cash about in Oxfam, Cats Protection, Mind, British Heart Foundation and the list goes on. Headingley’s charity shops are a great mix of new and trending pieces, vintage as well as some classic basics; a mix of students and pensioners in the surrounding areas make for some amazing finds at relatively cheap prices. Top tip is to head there in May and June when everybody is moving into new houses or back home and are getting rid of clothes that just won’t flow at their new corporate marketing job. Oh, and always ask for student discount!

#5: Get creative and take advantage of Leeds’ unique sustainable fashion scene

Experiment with your personal style, wear things upside down, mismatch your shoes and wear a tie as a belt. Leeds’ students are known for out-of-the-box, quirky styles so remember that if you think your outfit looks mental, there is somebody in the lecture theatre below you who is dressed even crazier. If you want to make your clothes feel more individual and different, there is always some sort of upcycling workshop or class happening somewhere in the city. Keep your eye on the Leeds RAG Fashion Show socials as they normally host sustainability and upcycling workshops for everybody to attend; Left Bank also hosts creative workshops so look out for any textile or clothing related ones! You are in one of the best cities for sustainable and second-hand fashion, so take advantage of it!

Words by Jess Cooper