When we think of winter on campus, we think of cold mornings and a dwindling desire to be the next Cindy Crawford.
Hoodies, fleeces and tracksuit bottoms are dug out by frostbitten fingers, remedied by the dark evenings and covered by swarms of similarly dressed students.
Áine Gammell, however, believes this does not have to be the case. At just 23, she has built an impressive resume: from modelling, to taking a break to pursue acting, starring in independent music videos, and now, as the fashion editor at The Look Online, her fashion credentials are undeniably strong.
What to go for in cooler temperatures? “Functionality,” she says.
“People aren’t wearing things [this season] that don’t have a function. Because the weather is getting colder, people are implementing masculine workwear into their wardrobes to keep warm,” Áine continues. “It’s using fashion as a function,” not vice versa.
The early nineties are back, and so is everything oversized. Jackets, coats, and scarves are there to serve a purpose, says the team at The Look Online. Gone are those days of microscopic silk scarves. An Irish winter means availing of all the warmth you can get. “Boots, scarves, big jackets, and tailored pants are items you want,” Áine says. “Coming into the winter season, it will have a more workwear feel.” Blazers are also in, says the team.
The style we’ll be seeing more of? “Bridget Jones,” she says. “The leading ladies in those English rom-coms, set in winter or autumn, bringing back in the 90s. Think Bridget Jones or Notting Hill.” To emulate the look, layer items of clothing. “New textures and new silhouettes make your outfits interesting,” continues Áine. “What [we’re] seeing on campus is a lot of little cardigans,” which, layered, are decidedly the theme of autumn/winter fashion trends this year. It is the season of functional outerwear, setting aside tight or contoured pieces for clothes that mitigate fears of poor weather. Knits are the item of the season, and “they are functional, so it ties back in,” says Áine.
Carrie Bradshaw may have felt that Vogue fed her more than dinner, but she was not a student during winter at DCU.
The Look Online’s fashion forecast:
