Let’s face it, students are not known for their ample supplies of money. Unless the bank of mum and dad is particularly willing to give you a little financial help, the only option is to muddle through and forget about it. Yet despite knowing that we students survive entirely on money that is essentially someone elses, the fashion industry still loves to show us what we could get with the money we wish we had. Sometimes we just need a fashion fix, something that can tide us over until the next loan date or birthday. This nearly always requires spending too much money, in my case in Topshop, which I can scarcely afford and regret wholeheartedly the next day. So to remedy this I have been scouring the land (and of course the internet) to find ways in which you can get your fashion fix totally free or for a fraction of the cost. I have looked at books, movies, blogs, magazines and television shows in order to find something that provides a burst of fashion which can take the edge off the craving to whip out the debit card.
Books: There are some great fashion books around, one that I especially like is Nina Garcia’s The One Hundred (£8.50 play.com). Garcia as the fashion director of Marie Claire magazine in New York, drips class and sophistication. I will admit her writing style does imply that £300 for a black leather bag is a total steal yet underneath this she has produced a fantastic book. The One Hundred is a well thought out list of items that every fashionable female should own. The best part is that most of us probably own half of it already, a little black dress, tailored jacket etc. Ok, she recommends Balenciaga and I shop in H&M…but still.
Blog: When I first heard of Tavi Gevinson the thirteen year old blogger taking the fashion world by storm, I was totally and utterly confused. In the first picture I saw of her online she was wearing a pirates hat and massive clear specs…..enough said. Yet her blog ‘Style Rookie’ is inventive, interesting to read and full of backstage gossip from this seasons fashion shows.
Movies: It’s obvious, The September Issue is sure to be one of the most eye opening fashion docu/dramas ever made. This behind the scenes documentary about the creation of US Vogue’s September Issue shows its editor Anna Wintour as what she really is….a cold hard ice queen with no emotion or social skills. Do we really want fashion recommended by this woman? Look for yourself. (DVD £9.99 Play.com)
Magazines: Although you may think Vogue would be the obvious choice here it isn’t for one very simple reason. It costs too much for a pretty book of adverts. Pick up a good in store magazine for free from places like Topshop and H&M. Or go for Glamour magazine instead, its only £2 and has actual articles and real life stories mixed in with all the fashion and beauty you could ever want. Bargain.
Televsion: I hate Gok Wan, there I said it. Frankly I don’t understand his sense of style or touchy feely approach to women. If you want a fashion fix watch Gossip Girl, all the characters are constantly dressed in designer clothes and the lead guy Chuck Bass should be a male style icon for the rest of time. Or tune in to E4 and check out Running in Heels a totally hilarious behind the scenes look at three clueless interns at Marie Claire magazine who can barely tie their own shoelaces, let alone have a worthwhile contribution to a magazine.
So if you start to feel desperate in a few weeks time, check out some of these first. They are all easily accessible, cost no more than £10 and may even open your eyes to the real fashion industry.