Orla Katz Webb
As a shopaholic, I love clothes and all ways to be stylish on the dance floor. However, I hate tight fitting clothes. Whether for fitness, clubbing or lounge I just despise them. Don’t even get me started on the iamgia halo pants that have string wrapped around and around your torso.
Sorry, but it’s a no from me. So when these styles became trendy in lockdown I was relieved that I did not have to engage, invest, or wear. I could sit blissfully on the sofa in tracksuits and t-shirts, thriving in the baggy airy comfort.
But, as July 21 dawns, my excitement is slightly tarnished by some long lost friends: clubbing attire conundrums. Those tight, cropped, slinky pieces that I purchased in the pre-covid era are going to come out of my closet and haunt me with their discomfort and exposure. The world of Oh Polly and Pretty Little Thing *screams* is back. But I digress. I do, however, have a plan. Here are my clubbing outfit ideas for when you want to match comfort with style at the club.
An outfit that I have realised is perfect for clubbing is jeans (or frankly, a baggy trouser or skirt of one’s choice. I also LOVE clubbing in tracksuits and a more-pg-than-lingerie babydoll as a top.
A babydoll is tight at the top so depending on your desire it can be worn with a bra or without, but is baggy around the stomach and has ample room for movement (and bloating). This could be paired with some chunky trainers such as air Force Ones, New Balance, or Buffalos.
Accessorize with some layered necklaces, a jacket, and if you so desire, a sparkly bag. Altogether, this is the perfect comfy yet sexy and stylish balance to keep you feeling relaxed and comfortable whilst also not standing out from the satin, ruche, and crop.
I’ve also thought that the reason we have these clubbing clothes is to look dressed up. So what is another way of dressing up, and how can I make myself look dressed up but not feel uncomfortable? Then I found the solution: double denim. A dangerous game, but trust it. Finding yourself a matching (or mismatched) denim set is golden when it comes to clubbing. Think jeans and jacket, skirt and waistcoat. The beauty of it is that no matter what you put under it you’re instantly dressed up. Literally you could wear a pyjama top, but if it’s under a red denim jacket with matching jeans, then you are ready to party.
Mismatched double denim can be controversial, but really cool when it is done right. And white is great with any denim so maybe go for that if you’re unsure. And if that is not persuasive enough, be loud in other ways: makeup, hair, jewellery, bags, and maybe go for a more out there trainer such as platforms.
One final outfit that is a great staple especially in the summer is a dark coloured, loose summer dress that can be used both for picnics and for boogies. Milkmaid style dresses with puffed sleeves can be very comfortable. Dresses with shirring are also great as they are stretchy whilst still looking great.
These dresses are lovely, but also give you room to move and are slightly more July-appropriate than a denim jacket and jeans. What’s more, comfy summer dresses are timeless, so you don’t have to worry about them going out of style.
Between these three looks, there should be something for everyone when it comes to slightly more relaxed clubbing gear. Bring on July 19.
Chloe Aslett
Compared to what I used to wear clubbing, I’m planning to go all-out for reopening night, whenever that may be. I was abroad the last time I went out, and wore a fairly plain and light dress because it was so hot. Had I known that I wouldn’t be able to go again for almost a year and a half, I definitely would have put more thought into it, and taken a lot more photos too.
As for clubbing at home, I know I’ll eventually revert back to wearing the standard jeans and a nice top, and trying to walk the line between being fairly comfortable when I get back into the taxi in the early hours, and feeling happy with my outfit at the start of the night. That said, the first night out is going to be a different story. 
I’m thinking it has to be a dress and heels for my clubbing debut. I’ve worn enough comfy outfits throughout the pandemic to last me a lifetime, and I’m craving glam, even if my feet have to pay the price. But, it will have to be a closed-toe, heeled boot situation, because the one time I wore strappy heels for dancing I ended up with my feet literally bleeding!
I don’t want to be too casual, so I’ll be scoping out the charity shops for a strappy dress that is a bit glitzy, rather than settling for a plain one that I already have. Jewellery-wise, I’m going to avoid anything expensive or sentimental because I know what I’m like for losing things in clubs, but I’ll definitely have on big, simple gold earrings, and hair half-up to show them off.
Of course I haven’t yet had a chance to go clubbing with my uni friends, which means that I’m not exactly sure what their clubbing style is. I’m hoping this will result in all of us picking out something to wear that we each consider very “us,” without giving too much thought to fitting in. The energy that night will be so much better spent on dancing than worrying about if the group looks cohesive.
Truth be told, I am a bit gutted about them calling off the 21st of June to reopen clubs. I’m not surprised, nor being critical of the decision, but I certainly fell into the trap of focusing all my excitement on that one day. I suppose we started to get the feeling that they were unsure about reopening a good few weeks in advance, which is much better than letting us down at the very last minute.
At least now, when things hopefully end up going ahead on 19 July, we will go out knowing that the majority of people around us will be at least partly vaccinated, and in an even better position than currently. This is a bit of a relief, as I know that a few people in my circle, me included, were a little skeptical of having thousands of unvaccinated 18-25 year olds in close quarters.
My fingers are crossed that things won’t be delayed again, but should it come to it, I would much prefer to keep some relatively relaxed rules as they are at the minute, than force it too quickly and have to backtrack into another lockdown.
Tia Xiourouppas
I’ve been planning my outfit for the day when clubs reopen from the moment things closed in March 2020.
As the months have gone on, not only have the internet’s trends developed, but so has my own personal style. One year ago I would have been writing that I’m going out in ‘jeans and a nice top’. Now, I feel as though a single night out requires a week’s worth of meticulous planning. In line with both my personal style and the current trends, here are some of the outfits I’m planning to wear on reopening week this year.
A trusty little black dress has never been a bad idea when going out. For my first night out at a club this year, I think I have decided on wearing my favourite ruched black dress from Pretty Little Thing.… Little black dresses are classy and suit everyone’s body type. The perfect ‘LBD’ can be dressed up, dressed down, left or right. I’m tempted to say I am going to pair my dress with red heels, but I’m not completely sure I have the tolerance for that. So black boots or Air Force Ones it is.
Pairing a super bright and intricate top with plain bottoms such as a white trouser or skirt looks stylish, but can be redone so many times.
An example is this tight fitting lime green top with white details. I’ve chosen to pair this top with a colour coordinated bag and jeans. I’m going to go simple with my accessories however, to accentuate the colour pop I will drag some green eyeshadow under my eyes and waterline.
For my third night out, my plan is to wear a scarf top and jeans. The versatility of a scarf top has meant that they have become a staple in most people’s wardrobes. They’re not only very affordable and accessible, but also super light to wear. They’re perfect for nights out and can be re-worn in so many different ways too, making them perfect for budgeting students. I’d probably pair them with a pair of black jeans or a plain a-line skirt, so I can keep the attention drawn to the top.
Another one of my outfit choices for opening week will be a monochromatic look. After going out for a few days in a row, (hopefully making up for lost time!), my effort levels are likely to be significantly lowered. So when all else fails, and there’s nothing left to wear, you absolutely can’t go wrong with a black and white outfit. To switch it up and still seem fashionable, I’m opting to wear different clothing shapes to compliment my body type, like the diamond top pictured. Articles of clothing that have patterns or designs in both black and white can also boost a plain design. Developing an outfit with these steps means that a boring idea can turn into an outfit that looks like it took much longer than 10 seconds to plan.
And lastly, I’ll be wearing joggers and any oversized top. Going out every night for a week is likely to be a *bit* of a killer for the average 19-year-old. After I wake up the next day, probably with no recollection of the night before, there is only one outfit I will want to wear. And that outfit is made up of my comfiest, baggiest and most chill-able clothes.
