Friday, August 21, 2020
My University Experience, as Told by My Wardrobe
My University Experience, as Told by My Wardrobe My University Experience, as Told by My Wardrobe When I moved to university in Wales, I knew how limited Aberystwythâs clothes shops would be. My family and I jokingly agreed this would mean less shopping, but, in reality, it just meant lots of online orders using whatever student discount was available. Unlike many students, I wasnât big on going out and getting drunk at first â" I rarely drank alcohol before starting university, and only went out a few times during freshersâ week (it didnât help that Iâd left my I.D. at homeâ¦oops). I was shy and it took me a little while to come out of my shell. I forced myself to socialize more, even going as far as attending a Riding Club social with a friend, despite the fact I donât own or ride a horse. As I became more confident and outgoing, Halloween â" the first big theme night of the year â" approached. The (vaguely) Halloween dress Although I enjoy Halloween and am a creative person, being shy means I feel uncomfortable in fancy dress and prefer to appreciate other peopleâs costumes instead of applying zombie makeup and wearing a nurseâs outfit. Iâm not ashamed to say this means Iâm one of those girls who feels much more comfortable painting whiskers and winged eyeliner on my face and donning a pair of cat ears. The dress I bought for this first Halloween didnât actually end up getting worn until a Harry Potter-themed social later in the year. It was a black, velvet, metallic-printed strapless dress and one of the first things I bought specifically for going out at university. Annoyingly, it had the habit of poking me in the chest with some of the lining, and slipped down a little bit while I was dancing, although thankfully not too far⦠*ahem*. Going out-out Looking back on the many photos from my university experience, thereâs a definite change in my outfits for nights out from first year to second year. To start with, the good old jeans and a nice top combo was enough for me, but by second-year I was socializing more and buying new going out clothes for that purpose. I didnât need a new dress every time I went out, but it was certainly nice to treat myself to one every now and then, especially if it was required for a theme night at the Student Union. For example, one night there was a Little Black Dress social and I didnât actually have one â" the perfect excuse to shop. Of course, being a student, I only had a limited amount of money to treat myself with, so I bought my night out dresses from affordable brands, or took advantage of sales. Here are a few of my favorites: The white lace bodycon dress Originally £25 from River Island, this dress was £12.50 in the sale and I got plenty of wear out of it. Its neutral color meant I could wear pretty much any combination of bag and heels with it. I was actually wearing it on the night out in third year when I met my boyfriend, so it now has a sentimental aspect to it. But before we get too soppy⦠The May Ball dress While some people arenât comfortable wearing prom dresses, May Ball gave me the perfect excuse to search for a fancier, more expensive dress. I ended up selecting a gorgeous light blue dress with a sweetheart neckline and silver sequins on the shoulders, leading down to my waist. I loved having my hair curled and felt really pretty in this dress. I still have it and am unsure as to if I should sell it. Itâs unlikely that Iâll wear it again (I never go to balls) but Iâd be sad to see it go if I sold it. The Date Night dress This is a pretty, ruffled, purple-pink number which served me well for many occasions and remains a staple for date nights and Valentineâs Days. Graduation dress After three years of lectures, seminars, exams, last-minute revision, assignment deadlines and just a few nights out, it was time to graduate. But what to wear for this auspicious occasion? Not wanting to be too casual, I decided on a relatively formal purple dress with a black belt at the waist, and black flat shoes. I wish Iâd picked a slightly nicer pair of shoes (most girls go with high heels, but I wasnât going to risk falling flat on my face on stage at the crucial moment). The dress itself was a good choice, and thanks to my dad I have millions of pictures to look back on from graduation day. Itâs also thanks to my dad that I could go to the after-party, as, having moved out of my student flat, he very kindly drove me back from a night out in Aberystwyth to our caravan in mid Wales at 2am. Thanks Dad.
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