By VALERIE METREJEAN

Staff Writer

Fashion this year is changing as quickly as the weather, and trying to keep up with the trends without breaking the bank seems impossible to do.

College students do not have the most money to spend but would like to have the latest trends. Several students voiced their opinion about ways to get the look without the cost.

Among the latest trends this fall is layering. Whether it is a long- sleeve shirt under a short-sleeve T-shirt or an item dressed up with a button down shirt and a sweater, the combinations are endless.

Alison McDonald, a senior psychology major, lives by this idea.

"You can make all new outfits by mixing and matching things, and it does not have to cost a lot either," McDonald said.

Sharing clothes with a roommate or friend is the ultimate way to add to a wardrobe without spending a penny. Maybe it is time to mix it up. Put it together with something you are used to, and it makes a brand new outfit.

While there will always be trends that dominate the culture, America has moved into a time when anything worn with confidence can be trendy and unexpected. Going to the local hot spot is not always an option for the average college student, but fashion can be found anywhere from the Salvation Army to Lewis' Department Store.

T-shirts have become pretty average, maybe even boring, but they can be a lot of fun. Bring back those old T-shirts that never got worn as a child because they went to the knees.

One girl seen walking around campus sported a "George Bush is my Homeboy" T-shirt. Shirts can show a person's individuality and be a way for them to express themselves.

Spend more money on things that will get more use.

"Spend lots of money on jeans and little on shirts," Brandon Clark, a junior speech communication major, said. "I buy jeans for $75 but shirts for $2."

For those favorite pairs of jeans that are getting just a little too short, cut them to make a pair of capris.

Keep the basics, but change the outfit by updating the accessories.

Add color to any lackluster outfit with a belt made of ribbon. Elizabeth Griffin, a junior family and child studies major, advised setting a budget before going shopping to avoid spending too much.

"If you don't have enough money for what you want, try to make what you see on t.v.," said Griffin, adorned with vintage gold jewelry.

Vintage styles have made there way back into the fashion frame of mind, and flea markets are the best bet for finding hidden treasures.

The trendiest thing out this season is confidence. That makes a wardrobe complete.