Study Style in St A

Comfort, above all, is king. So naturally study style is often defined by garments with a loose, relaxed fit. Now that spring has finally graced St Andrews with some sun, another key component of being comfortable is wearing something you won’t get overheated in. As a result, the traditional library uniform, consisting of baggy low-rise jeans and a cute sweater, is slightly altered. For example, many seem to be favoring cardigans over jumpers or else sweater-vests over sweaters. Both are versatile enough that they can take the edge off a morning breeze but also prevent you from overheating during a long afternoon in a third floor window seat. Breathable fabrics like linen, cotton, and silk are popular choices for tops. Button-ups are especially effective at maintaining a balance of comfort and sophistication. 

Perhaps paradoxically, as students pare back their outfits for comfort, accessories become the focal point. Chunky rings, bracelets, and belts liven up outfits, but others accessories are more practical. Wired headphones, for example, are so back. People are embracing them for their mix of early 2000s nostalgia and subtle anti-mainstream appeal. A la Bella Hadid and Robert Pattinson, they hint at a certain nonchalant coolness. Sunglasses protecting your eyes on the walk to the library get worn as pseudo headbands indoors, pushing hair out of the wearer's face so they can concentrate better. Claw clips are used not only as a hair accessory, but become bag charms and embellishments when they cling to bag handles and belt loops. 

Practicality continues as a theme across shoes and bags as well. Consistent with classic St Andrews staples, the most popular shoes are Adidas Sambas, Onitsaku Tigers, and simple ballet flats. The bags shuttling laptops, books, and water bottles between study spots are also, expectedly, a mix of designer (think the Goyard St Louis), high street (Longchamp of course) and fabric totes brandished with local storefronts (shoutout Topping & Co). 

Even in moments of exhaustion, even when the to-do list is endless and the sleep deficit is mounting, there’s space to express yourself through what you wear. For many students, that five minutes spent picking an outfit in the morning is a grounding ritual, a way to feel put-together in the chaos. Study style is self-care disguised as fashion. When you wear something that looks good, you feel good (even when your fingers are stained with pen ink and you’re falling asleep in front of your computer).

So yes, of course exams are stressful. But in St Andrews, that doesn’t mean abandoning personal style. Rather, it just means evolving it, usually into something softer, looser, and quietly self-assured.

Photography by Cecilia Ryan