In 2008, we bade farewell to one of the greatest fashion designers of our time – Yves Saint Laurent, who during his reign over the fashion industry, so aptly remarked:

 “Fashions fade, style is eternal”

Whether you get a rush from taking risks, prefer to stay with the classics, like to experiment with new forms or love a good bargain, it's important to remember that style is perpetual and created by the individual.

The guys and girls below ooze 'style fashionista' as they walk the university campus. After searching through the lecture theaters, corridors and study areas of Monash University, Caulfield, you may be surprised by what I found...

The Girl Who's Bringing Effortless Back

 Name: Courtney Biggs

What are you studying? Journalism

Wears: My dress and crop jacket are from Sportsgirl and my scarf is from a market in Hong Kong.

Who/what influences your style? I'm obsessed with crop jackets and scarves! I usually have them on with every outfit! I'm more into a Winter colour palette, comprised of grays and blacks, but I also combine them with a dash of bright colour. I generally mix up the dark colour with an accent colour – I  like wearing green because it matches my eyes.

Where do you like to shop? My favourite places would be Bridge Road, Chapel Street and Acland Street. A lot of what I'm wearing today is from Sportsgirl but I also really love Country Road and Bardot. I'm a real bargain hunter, I never buy anything retail price. So when I'm out shopping, I'm heading straight for the outlets to snap up some good buys!

3 words to describe your style: unique, quirky and I like to 'mix-it-up'

Bec's Verdict: Courtney epitomizes the effortlessly stylish fashionista. What I love about her, is that she is not afraid to look for a bargain and does not compromise her style by doing so. Her Sportsgirl dress is easy to wear, is tight and flowing in all the right places and allows for layering, especially now with Winter fast approaching! Her fair skin allows her to wear neutral colours like beige and brown, but also facilitates the inclusion into her wardrobe, of hues spanning  blue, purple, green and red.

If you want to get Courtney's look, remember to stick with the easy-to-wear pieces. Don't complicate it – K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid! Start off by choosing a flowing dress or figure hugging top and matching skirt. Add a cropped or interesting variation of the jacket and mix it up by staying clear of the usual black or tan tights. Whip out a pair of vintage looking boots, or give those pair of shoes hiding in the back of your cupboard, some wear time. And of course, layer it up with a stylish scarf.

The Most Stylish Girl in Black

Name: Mona Narukatpichai

What are you studying? Management

Wears: My shirt is from General Pants and the jacket is One Teaspoon. My faux fur overlay is from IDS, bought for $20 – bargain! The tights and hat are from Paris and my glasses are from Thailand.

Who/what influences your style? I don't have a specific fashion icon, but I do look at style blogs a lot – such as Fashion Toast.

Where do you like to shop? I shop quite a bit at General Pants, but then I also shop a lot of vintage on Brunswick Street and Smith Street.

3 words to describe your style: Dark, eclectic and a bit crazy!

Bec's Verdict: Hands down, this girl is the most stylish management student I've ever seen. Her eclectic ensemble is interesting, yet practical and she knows her style and what suits her. Her expressive dress sense is reminiscent of the power of black in today's' contemporary society. She teams various articles of clothing in a way that allows for each part to complement the other. Her understated shirt from General Pants is carefully paired with the simple One Teaspoon large gold buttoned jacket so as not to detract  from the statement faux fur overlay piece – together creating a stellar combination. Bringing in an international theme to the outfit, (which could already so perfectly fit into the New York, London or Paris street-scape), her patterned tights and suave black hat, teamed with her oversized Thai glasses, complete the ever-stylish management student.

If you want to replicate Mona's look, be sure to stay with the Winter colours and remember to layer-it-up so as to incorporate a diversity of textures. This season, it's all about having a bit of fun with your Winter wardrobe – so if you don't have a full trench coat, then work with what you do have. Mona layered up a shirt with a jumper and vest, paired it with tights, boots and a hat and accessorized with glasses – typifying  the modern Winter chic. Don't think too much about matching, or get too caught up in current trends. Take a risk and see what items in your cupboard you can pull together to make a show-stopping Winter look.

The Businessman with Style

Name: David Kim

What are you studying? Business

Wears: I'm wearing a Feltics jumper, my jeans are Nudies, my shoes are VANS and my beanie is a no brand! My Feltics jumper is from Korea, as is my beanie. And my jeans and shoes are from Melbourne.

Who/what influences your style? I pretty much have a 'whatever' attitude towards my style. I don't really follow any designers or trends.

Where do you like to shop? I actually shop primarily in my home country of Korea. Whilst I occasionally do shop in Melbourne, I find it easier to do so in Korea.

3 words to describe your style: Random, street, international

Bec's Verdict: David represents the 'ever-fashionable-without-even-realising-business-student'. His modest nature works well with his understated style.  He blends quirkiness with a refined collaboration of clothing, as he keeps his colour palette simple yet effective. His Nudie jeans are of a lighter wash to perfectly complement his statement red Feltics jumper. Teaming the look created with a pair of classic black Vans and donning a black oversized beanie to complete the look, David's look is urbane yet youthful and with an offbeat twist.

 

If you want to re-create David's look, you'll need to work with the basics whilst also incorporating some unconventional additions. David wears Nudie jeans which are widely available to the general public and, whilst they do come at a cost, there are other alternatives which can be used. For a cheaper option, try Jeans West, Just Jeans or Cotton On. Team a light pair of jeans with a bright coloured jumper to brighten up a look, or else work a dark denim jean with either a bright or more subdued top to mix up the placement of colours. The baseball jumper look can be replicated by searching the racks of stores like American Apparel and General Pants, amongst others, or if you want to find out more about the Feltics brand, check out: www.felticsshop.com/xe/.  Be confident, be bold and be willing to add a bit of quirkiness to create a point of difference.

The Musician

Name: PJ Pantelis

What are you studying? Business

Wears: Wrangler pants, Converse shoes, Oxford jacket, scarf, denim shirt

Who/what influences your style? I guess I've always been interested in clothes. I work in retail and I'm also a musician, so I guess it helps to stand out a bit through your style. I always take mental notes of what's around me in terms of what's happening in fashion trends, but at the same time, I like to wear things that are kind of classic. I guess what I wear now might be considered 'cool', but ultimately, in 10 years time, I'd like to be able to look and say for myself, “you know what, that was a nice jacket!”

Where do you like to shop? I love General Pants, American Apparel, That Store on Chapel Street and The Denim Outlet at DFO.

3 words to describe your style: I wouldn't really label myself, however, I would just say that I have a greater appreciation for well made clothes. I'm probably a street-styled-guy, but still in a neat way.

Bec's Verdict: PJ represents the guy who isn't afraid to acknowledge his awareness of fashion. When I first saw PJ, I thought his style was reminiscent of the 80's with the pastel denim coloured shirt and the maroon pants. With the addition of the Oxford coat and converse shoes, he immediately transformed the look into a more contemporary 80’s take. In so doing, he takes note of which styles work for him and adapts them to work for his body shape. To accentuate his figure, he wears the tight Wrangler pants, and then completes the look with a large oversized Winter jacket from Oxford and his scarf. It's so important to recognize and understand your body type so that you can choose clothes which work well with you. PJ knows what he wants to wear and how to achieve his desired look. It's all about focusing on what you want to achieve, but at the same time, staying true to yourself and who you are. PJ is a musician, he's a uni student and he's interested in what's happening in fashion – this is then reflected in the way he dresses.

If you want to get PJ's look, then it's all about experimenting with colours and shapes that you might not usually wear. Think outside the 'blue denim jean box', and start to venture out by wearing coloured pants, corduroy perhaps, or even a coloured jean. PJ intertwines a faded denim shirt with a modern and contemporary Oxford Winter jacket and similarly, whilst his pants are Wrangler, they evoke an almost vintage feeling.

Don't be afraid to experiment with varying styles of shirts, pants and jackets. Try a trench coat instead of a cropped jacket, pocketed shirts in varying shades and styles, and coloured pants in unusual colours so as to adapt PJ's look to better suit your individual aesthetic.

Caught in the Middle – I love bargains and Brands!

Name: Anja Barisic

What are you studying? Journalism

Wears: I'm wearing Otto jeans, my jumper is by Tommy Hilfiger, my scarf is by Dangerfield, my top is from Myer and my shoes are by Planet Earth.

Who/what influences your style? I often take note of people I see when I'm out in the city or wherever I am. I also pick up trends and ideas from magazines and celebrities, as well as from what other people are wearing. I take note of how others are experimenting with their fashion and then make it my own.

Where do you like to shop? I love to shop all around the city and on Chapel Street. I also go to Chadstone quite a lot because it's local for me. My favourite stores would have to be Fat, Green With Envy and Bettina Liano. I love designer brands, but, in saying that, I will look for a bargain – and if I find one, I'm very happy! It makes the shopping experience a whole lot better!

3 words to describe your style: Effortless, hippy-sheek and loving layers!

Bec's Verdict: Anja exemplifies the stylish university student who takes pride in what she wears yet wants to feel comfortable when rushing from one class to another. Anja represents the girl who works many different styles together. She takes on current fashion trends, such as the skinny jean, and teams it with a designer cardigan, a purchase she'll have with her forever. She adds a thick, woolen scarf with hues of blues, beige and golds, adds a striped, every-day, long-sleeved top and completes the look with the ever-fashionable ankle boot. It's also important to take note that Anja complements her features, complexion and hair colour when completing her look. What she wears isn't dominating her subdued and unassuming manner.

If you want to achieve Anja's look, start by picking out articles of clothing from your cupboard which fit you well, are easy and comfortable to wear, can be layered, work well with prints and textures and are uncomplicated, yet stylish and wearable.  Anja's style works perfectly with her persona. It's so important to dress according to who you are, and not what others define you as. You need to feel comfortable in you own clothes, just as much as you need to feel comfortable in your own skin.

Anja's style is timeless –  you'll be wearing a decent pair of jeans until they die. So be sure to invest in a well-fitting pair. Layer-it-up, as Anja has and add accessories such as scarves as hats. Winter is a time where you can explore your individuality. You can still evoke a sense of Bohemian in Winter – look for paisley prints, natural hues and boots, but then add a twist by accessorizing with some unexpected colour, and you'll be sure to be a hit!

The Designer Brand Girl

Name: Karly Dwyer

What are you studying? Arts

Wears: My hat and dress are from David Jones, my shoes are from Wittner and my bag is by Charlie Brown.

Who/what influences your style? I pretty much get inspiration from my favourite stores and boutiques and what they stock.

Where do you like to shop? I shop at Designer Space in the city and on Chapel Street and I'm also a big fan of Sass and Bide. I favour wearing black and I'm also really into leopard print at the moment. I'd have to say that I much prefer designer clothing – I'm not really a bargain hunter!

3 words to describe your style: Casual, pretty, sophisticated

Bec's Verdict: Karly loves her designer brands – and in most of our dreams, don't we all? Whilst we may not all be able to afford the luxuries of designer, we can sure take notice and stare at the ones who can! Karly is all sophistication – from her plaid-like dress to her cute, little beret, the brown booties and the Charlie Brown bag completing the look, Karly epitomizes the designer-wear-fashionista. There is no doubt that this girl loves her quality, and when you're buying designer brands, that's what you expect. Ultimately, there is no substitute for well-made clothes, but that's not to say that you need only buy designer to achieve this. There are plenty of stores and boutiques which favour fashionable and well-made clothes at a fraction of the price of a designer. On the other hand...if you want to splurge, choose wisely and pick something you'll get the most wear out of – at least that way it'll feel like you've put your money towards something you'll be wearing a heck of a lot!

To get Karly's look, it's all about the neutrals with an accent of metallic. Pair beige and brown with a dash of gold, pop on a pair of lace-up booties and don't forget your beret as you close the door behind you! Remember your body type and work with clothes that suit your figure. Karly has a slim figure, but if you're a little bigger around the bottom, then don't just wear a shirt over your tights – wear a skirt or pants instead. Mixing up your outfit to suit you won't hinder the look, but rather, it will enable the overall effect to better work for you and your shape. You can be the ultimate fashionista just by exuding glamour and beauty which comes from within; but just remember,  elegance and the designer look can only be achieved if the individual sporting it, is as confident out of the clothing as they are when wearing the pieces.