Hey, everybody! I'm here today to gripe and complain about the dreaded school uniform....yuck. When it comes to boring school uniforms, you are forced to wear shapeless, solid colored separates that "give you a clean and presentable appearance." Ever heard that before? I know that every school has a different variation of this form of unfashionable torture, so I thought I'd share my ideas on how to differentiate yourself from the monotonous sea of solid black, navy, and white polo shirts and khaki pants.
1 // Choose your colors wisely!
Even if you can't wear patterns, you can still find great solid colors that suit your skin tone and make you stand out among your peers. For example, at my school, we have to wear solid colored tops with our school's logo embroidered on them. By choosing a soft lavender or a deep green, you can really emphasize your natural features while getting compliments on your unique color choice!
Land's End has some great options for basic school shirts and is one of my favorite places to shop for flattering tops in vibrant colors. Quick tip: You can shop the regular women's t-shirts for school as well! Just call Land's End to place your order, and they will monogram those shirts with school logos!
You can't beat a classic v-neck tee, and this one comes in so many pretty colors!
(plus, it's on sale!!)
Loving the navy tips on this basic white polo, and paired with those polka dot chinos,
it 's too cute to pass up!
Bright magenta + jeans + leopard flats = so cute! I love the way these
polos fit as well (not too boxy!).
2 // Khakis are... cute?
Khakis are a standard choice for bottoms in many school dress codes, and they can often look frumpy and unflattering. If you are required to wear them on a daily basis, you should really spend time making sure you find the perfect pair. Straight leg, bootcut, skinny, boyfriend, cropped... whatever floats your boat! Finding a special style that flatters your body type can make you look much more put together. Also, look into khaki skirts! Especially with the fluted skirt coming back into style (I die over J.Crew's version!!!), a khaki skirt is a way you can add some stylish flair to your outfit.
Love the combo of army green, khaki, and warm brown!
You'll definitely stand out in these unique red-brown khakis!
The shape of this khaki skirt is so flattering, while still being
dress code appropriate!
dress code appropriate!
3 // Belts are your new BFF!
One thing I love to do to spice up a boring "jeans and a t-shirt" outfit is to tuck in the top and add a fun belt. There are so many to choose from, and they are available at all price points. I love finding belts with unique patterns or fun shapes.
A great place to find affordable yet adorable belts is Target. As you can see below, they have everything from leopard to glitter! Their belts are always on trend, and I've found them to be pretty long-wearing, depending on the material. Here are a couple of my faves from Target's line!
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A great place to find affordable yet adorable belts is Target. As you can see below, they have everything from leopard to glitter! Their belts are always on trend, and I've found them to be pretty long-wearing, depending on the material. Here are a couple of my faves from Target's line!
4 // Bold jewelry is a must!
I don't know about anyone else, but I definitely get into a jewelry rut where I wear the same things every day, which is great if you're in a rush and need to look presentable in 10 minutes. However, if you want to stand out in the crowd, you've gotta take some risks! Statement jewelry has been a constant in my wardrobe for the past few years, and I hope it never leaves! My favorite way to incorporate it into everyday wear is to wear navy on navy with a huge, blingy necklace and a pair of killer flats. So polished and chic!
This Groop Dealz necklace really makes a statement with a splash of teal for spring,
and it comes at such an affordable price!
This crystal and gold bracelet from Benevolent Jewels will bring some subtle
shimmer to any outfit!
Benevolent Jewels hits a home run with this bold, floral tortoise shell
statement necklace!
*If you're interested in shopping these Benevolent Jewels pieces, use the promo code PPCODE20 to get 20% off of your order!
5 // Take a chance with some fun shoes!
Shoes are another great way to branch out in your otherwise basic wardrobe. I personally love to wear ballet flats on a daily basis (they add just a touch of chic to even the most boring of outfits!), but there are plenty of other options as well. Some of my other favorites include Sperry's (love my gold ones!), oxfords (classic or patterned!), and Dankso clogs (seriously the most comfortable shoes ever!). A fun pattern, color, or texture is a great way to differentiate yourself (not to mention a conversation starter ;).
I am all about anything metallic bronze, so these are perfection! :)
How ladylike are these Old Navy flats? The gold heel definitely makes
these blush pink flats so much more fabulous!
Navy and polka dots...how much better can it get?
. . .
Thanks so much for checking out this blog post! Standing out in a dull school uniform is definitely something I struggle with consistently, so I definitely wanted to share my tips and tricks about how to jazz it up with all of you. If you have any further suggestions, please let me know in the comments because I'm always on the hunt for new ways to spice things up! Thank you all so much for your time, and have a great day!
**This post is not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned. I am part of the Benevolent Jewels Ambassador Program and do have a coupon code (PPCODE20) where you can get 20% off of your online order!**
I'm so glad my school uniform days are behind me, lol! Honestly though, these are great tips that I still use to create casual looks now, even though I've been out of high school for almost a decade.
ReplyDelete-- Alex at Cashmere Kangaroo
Lucky duck!! I totally agree; I use these as a guide for pretty much every outfit! :)
DeleteMy sister recently put her daughter in a private school where uniforms are required. She is so mad because she hates the uniform. I think these are great ways of adding a little "bling". Thanks for the tips!
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