In this installment of “What’s Your Power Suit?” Rita, the voice behind The European Closet, shares what to wear to college classes, especially if you’ll be going out later.
PS: Tell us about yourself and your work.
TEC: My name is Rita. I’m a 19-year-old Portuguese university student. Ever since I was a little girl, I was always interested in foreign languages. That same interest played a huge part in my school career and I am now majoring in Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
Alongside foreign languages, fashion was also a passion of mine. I inherited this from my mother, who would always dress me in cute dresses with matching hats and shoes. I started to pick my own clothes when I was only 3 or 4-years-old, and from then on, I became increasingly interested in the fashion industry. When I turned 16, I decided to take my passion for fashion to the next level and The European Closet was born.
The European Closet is a blog where I share the latest fashion trends and how to style them. I also talk about beauty and lifestyle.
PS: Do you have an outfit, item of clothing, or accessory (past or present), that holds some superpower for you when it comes to being a student?
TEC: I have this grey wool H&M sweater that is just the perfect combination of comfortable and chic. It’s oversized, long enough to wear as a dress, and has a turtleneck; but it isn’t one of those tight turtlenecks that make you feel like you’re choking. My mom gave it to me as a Christmas present three years ago.
PS: What makes it special?
TEC: It is the perfect transitional piece.
As a university student, I spend a lot of time sitting down in lectures and riding buses and subways, so I need my clothes to be as comfortable as possible. Now, I’m not the girl to walk around campus wearing sweatpants and a hoodie (not that that’s a bad thing really). I prefer wearing something that looks a bit more put together, but still cozy.
PS: What do you pair your oversized sweater with, both for class, and after class?
TEC: I can wear it to campus with black jeans and some sneakers, and then wear it as a dress, and pair it with over-the-knee boots.
I don’t know about you, but I feel super powerful when I wear pieces of clothing like that. I feel like a super woman knowing this sweater can look comfy and also sexy.
PS: Where were you when its “power” became apparent?
TEC: One day I had a dinner party, but had run a few errands before, so I threw this sweater on. I went grocery shopping, to the hairdresser, and worked on a paper. When it came time to get ready for the dinner, I had no idea what to wear. I spent twenty minutes looking at my closet when my mother walked in and suggested I just wear the sweater I had on, with leather shorts and over-the-knee boots. It might sound silly, but that was the moment I realized how much power this sweater had.
PS: Did this transitional approach to dressing inform your overall sense of style?
TEC: Ever since I got that sweater, I’ve looked for pieces of clothing that can be worn in various settings.
PS: Do you use any rules for what to wear to college, or for building your wardrobe, that you’d like to share?
TEC: Wear what you feel comfortable in. If you don’t like a certain item, don’t buy it just because everybody else has it.
You can follow Rita on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Featured Image Items:
Sweater Dress: TopShop
Jeans: Madewell
Boots: Selfridges
Mini Skirt: J. Crew
Sneakers: Vans
Bag: Target
Keychain: Shoptiques
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