Back to Uni Style 'Then and Now' with ASOS

Hey loves!

Today I've got a super fun (albeit a little bit embarrassing for myself) post for you! I recently teamed up with ASOS* on their Throwback to School campaign to give you guys some outfit inspiration for your return to study!

I'll be honest, up until quite recently, I used to think 'buy heaps of new trend pieces' was the way to go. As a result, I picked up a tonne of things I hated and that never looked good together, and my style suffered.

Exhibit A - My 'go-to' look for university back in 2014. Oh, dear. I guess it could be worse, but I never felt comfortable in this playsuit - the crazy patter was too much for me, I don't like orange on myself, and it wasn't well made so didn't fit comfortably.

Of course, I've learned from past mistakes, and my style has come a long way since then! I now invest in pieces that can work with a wide variety of other pieces in my wardrobe, and tend to stay in style. I've put together two simple, cute outfits that I would wear to uni now as a bit of inspiration for those of you about to start or return to uni (or even school, for those of you lucky enough not to have a uniform)!

As you can see, and as anyone who has been following my blog for a while now will know, I have a thing for black, white and grey. I just love the neutrals - they're classic, never go out of style, and always look good!

The first look I've put together is super casual, super comfy, and totally long-day-at-uni appropriate if you ask me. I've gone for a pair of ASOS' White High-Waisted Ridley Skinny Jeans*, which are seriously the comfiest things ever and soo flattering on. I was really scared of ordering jeans online due to sizing and all, but they fit absolutely perfectly (I bought a size W26L32 for reference, so they definitely fit true to size) and paired those with this Cheap Monday Logo Tee* (one of the many awesome brands stocked by ASOS) tucked in for an effortlessly cool everyday look. I also added this cute ASOS silver bracelet* which is quite simple and understated so it suits any look (and is totally my kind of jewellery). Of course, I had to round up this look with my Converse Dainty All Stars in black - as you can see I've gone for total comfort, without giving up on style.

The second outfit is this super cute, simple and comfy roll-neck knit swing dress*. It's actually from the brand New Look, which is one of the many brands stocked on ASOS. I threw on my ASOS bracelet* (again) because it just adds something to any outfit, so cute and simple. I've also got my everyday black mini-heels/sandals (probably not the right words but let's just go with it), which I wear with pretty much everything, haha. ASOS actually has a bunch of similar shoes that are totally affordable for you to check out if you want to try out this exact look for yourself!

ASOS has some really great, affordable and fashionable pieces for students and with a 10% off student discount, they're a really great option when shopping for you back to uni wardrobe! I hope the outfits I've put together have been helpful and given you some inspiration for your back to uni looks!

I've also put together a capsule collection of pieces you can find on ASOS that are totally essential for a laid-back but still stylish uni wardrobe below. Remember lots of these pieces can be mixed and matched to create so many new looks (which is what I'm all about, and is great for those of us on a uni student budget)! I especially love the range of jeans and backpacks available on the site!

Items: 1. Cheap Monday Logo Tee / 2. Pieces Tara Bracelet / 3. ASOS Shopper Bag / 4. ASOS The New Forever Tee / 5. ASOS Woven Harem Pants / 6. Ridley Black High Waist Skinny Jeans Shredded / 7. New Look High Neck Knitted Swing Dress / 8. Ridley High Waist Skinny Jeans White / 9. Adidas Originals Drawstring Backpack / 10. Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars Black

My Top 5 Back To School / Uni Study Tips!

As most of you would know by now, I've recently returned to university just this past week. With a renewed sense of motivation and a clear idea of where I want to go with this course, I've committed myself to doing my absolute best this year, and throughout the entire course. So I've decided to put together a list of the 5 study tips I find the most helpful and essential when going back to school/uni!

Get Organised 
Before you even go back to study, or at least within your first week back (while you've still got a bit of free time on your hands), get yourself organised. Print out or save your timetable, factor in any other extra-curricular commitments, work etc, and put those in your timetable too. You need to know when you're free and when you're not, and it's always better to figure out the basics sooner rather than later.

Make Friends
I cannot stress enough how important it is to make friends at school/uni. Even if you're not the most social type, or you've got classes with some unsavoury characters - try to get along with them at the least. Having somebody to sit with, to work on group projects with, to ask for notes if you happen to miss a lesson (but try not to!), is so so important as it can really mean the difference between a positive study experience and good grades, or the opposite.

Do Your Homework
I don't want to sound like your mother, but I've gotta say it. Your homework could be something specifically set for you by your teacher/lecturer/tutor, working on assessment pieces, or simply revising the days lessons and content. Whatever it is, you should be doing it daily. Even 10 minutes is better than nothing, and will save you a heck of a lot of work further on down the track (you know, when you've got 100 assignments due and nothing done?)!

Show Up To Class, and Be Punctual
Again, I sound a bit like your mother. But you seriously need to be in class if you want to do well! The more 'hands-on' learning you do in person is such a great way to learn the course material and be able to ask questions right then & there if you're struggling with something. You'll also be there when your teacher's give you some sneaky hints at what you'll need to know for exams or the best way to complete your assessments & more! Not to mention, attendance is often considered as part of your overall grade!

Relax
Okay, so it might sound contradictory to the rest of my advice, but it's really not. You need to have some down time, whether it be laying in bed with some tea and netflix, or having a night out on the town with your friends (preferably not the night before class). It's important to take some time away from your studies, allow your mind to absorb the information it's learnt, relax, and return to it later. That way you're not getting overly stressed our burned out (a sure fire way to end up failing despite all of your hard work)!

I hope these tips have been helpful for you, whether you're returning to study or just looking for some general advice! What are some of your best back to school/uni study tips? Let me know in the comments below! <3

xx Chontelle Louise