During my time at Cambridge the slogan ‘it’s not a fashion show,’ proudly championed by my secondary school teachers, has been crushed. Just one hour on Sidgewick site and it becomes increasingly evident that self expression is the main mission – so, when among fashionistas of epic proportions in your lectures, it’s easy to feel left out in your everyday fit. But fear not, I’ve curated five new ways to set your outfits apart from the crowd, to inject individuality into even the most mundane ‘lock-in-sesh’ coords, and to ensure you carry your personality on your sleeve (or on your bag, or on your shoes).

“Another forgotten jewellery hero is the clip-on earring, dominating the glass cabinets of every charity shop”

Firstly, perhaps jewellery is what comes to mind initially for anyone looking to jazz up their outfit. Sure, necklaces, earrings and chunky statement rings are my absolute go-to, yet one is also prompted to ask: what happened to the humble brooch? An immensely versatile piece of jewellery, the brooch is so often overlooked as outdated. Yet for under £1 at most charity shops, why not give one a try? Of course there’s the classic style, pinned on a jumper or top, but brooches can also be used as necklace pendants if pinned on an old chain. They can be a super easy way to fancify the classic ‘sidge girlie’ scarf, as well as looking great attached to any hat or even the straps of cami-style tops for the spring and summer. My favourite way of using this forgotten gem is to pin them to the buckles of knee high boots, creating a boutique vibe.

Another forgotten jewellery hero is the clip-on earring. Dominating the glass cabinets of every charity shop, they’re often seen as redundant in today’s world; but not with me. Clip on earrings can be (as the name suggests) clipped on anywhere: to the straps of leather bags; added to shoelaces as a faux charm; added to necklace chains; or even hooked over thin hair clips for a custom hair accessory. Clip the earrings over the buckle of any Mary Jane shoe or heel to create a designer feel – the huge range of gaudy colours and sparkly styles are bound to catch someone’s eye.

On the other hand, for the DIY-ers, think buttons. Change the plain or uninspiring buttons on one of your shirts to something that better suits your style. As anyone who has ever seen their grandmother’s button collection will agree, there’s a plethora of gorgeous vintage designs out there for the taking (and using!) Changing out and sewing on buttons certainly requires some practice, but it’s an important life skill to have, so, why not learn today? There’s plenty of tutorials online and the payoff is a totally unique product. Plus it’s self made; that’s got to feel good.

“Embrace the unconventional and use accessories in ways you might not have considered before”

If learning to sew doesn’t quite fit into your busy schedule, look no further than scarves and neckerchiefs. Although the 50’s babooshka style headscarf may immediately come to mind, don’t be limited to just this (even though it is iconic). Smaller neckerchiefs can be worn in a more masculine western style, especially when clipped with an interesting brooch (see what I’m doing?), which looks incredible with a denim jacket. For more feminine styles, the classic silk scarf comes in a spectrum of colours and intricate patterns; I myself have a suitcase of them. They can be tied in so many funky ways, and are certain to add dimension to a plain top. If having something around your neck is your idea of sensory hell, simply fold the scarf into a ribbon shape and tie around your head for a 60s style makeover.

Finally, my fifth piece of advice is simply to go crazy. Embrace the unconventional and use accessories in ways you might not have considered before, use scarves as a belt for a hippie vibe, or tie them around your everyday bag. To make an impact from head to toe, change out the shoelaces in your trainers or Doc Martens to a bright colour, or even add charms. Embrace customisation by adding patches to denim or even trying out some DIY embroidery.

In summary, clip anything anywhere. Although one of the basic laws of fashion is ‘before leaving the house, taking off the last thing you put on,’ why not add something else? Be confident in showing your personality through the way you dress, because chances are it’s worth showing.

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