I enjoy a late evening. I’m never one to be in bed before midnight, so not to miss out - even if the only thing I’d be missing would be the perpetually musky smell in my pantry, a re-run of the Big Bang Theory, or the incessant Mac tapping from the boy down the corridor. Consequently, every morning I bitterly stab ‘dismiss’ on the Blackberry alarm before I throw myself down the ladder of my bunkbed (thanks for that one, Accommodation Services) and land in a pile of clothes which hopefully equate to a slightly sane outfit. This is on a good day; on a fabulous day, I might put a little more thought into a mildly attractive outfit or straightening my fringe, but that is a rare occasion and usually only reserved for days in which I have heard Prince Harry is visiting the university.

Should the moment arrive that I get out of bed on time, the depressing thought is that there will still always be someone who looks cooler, and more put together – and she’ll tell you she just threw that outfit on. I’m very happy for these girls, and although I envy the final result of their work, I am the first to complement such masterpieces. Really though, I don’t know how us mortals are to believe their magnificently coiffured ‘messy bun’ happened on its own, or that you didn’t notice your tights happened to be so rebelliously ripped.

When you’re forced to examine someone's recent ‘totally random discovery’ of a biker jacket at a ‘charity shop’, which was obviously bought brand new at triple the price mentioned, at least we are comforted that we, aforementioned mortals, mantain the upper hand. If we too chose to spend the effort, hours and money on effortlessly cool resources, we could also achieve this image of accidental splendour. We don’t, because we buy too many bagels, spend too much time in bed, and would rather plough energies into Facebook. 

The sorry truth is, however, that there exists the creature which really does, in fact, spend very little time contemplating their appearance, and for this exact reason they finish up, after fifteen minutes looking amazing. How do they manage it? After bugging my most accidently stylish acquaintances, it became clear they all had the same tool – staples. My obliviously polished friend Liv told me “I just buy one-offs that I really love and I know will go with clothes I already have. I’m also surprised when people compliment me on clothes as it’s sometimes something I’ve kept for years - I hate throwing things out. They usually seem to work!”. Another, Kath, added “I just dress for myself. I don’t think too much about the effects of my outfits but how they make me feel – what I wear always reflects my personality, and usually my mood too”. It strikes me that a laid-back attitude to buying new pieces, and buying timeless beauties on gut instinct is key to owning the wardrobe which does the running for you. These girls seemed to have cracked a way of cathartic speed-dressing – and the consequences are outstanding.

For the rest of you, it’s time to tell the truth. Of course you deserve credit for your art, ladies. The fact you find the time to express your taste through refined and conscious self-presentation is admirable - just don’t tell me it happened by accident. We all know if it did that instead you’d be sporting the ‘effortlessly dishevelled’ look with your eyelashes attached to your eyebrows and your zip stuck in your tights, just like the rest of us.