So what kinds of clothes should you bring to college? Here are a few practical fashion tips.
Bring comfortable clothes. You may be the type who doesn't mind a little discomfort in the name of fashion, and that's fine. But there will
be days when cozy clothes are a must, like during finals or the day
after a nasty breakup, so make sure you have them on hand. Think
T-shirts, sweats, and cozy jeans. Also, bring comfortable things to
sleep in that won't embarrass you in front of your roommate, or in
front of the surprise guests that pop by at 3:00 a.m.
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Unless you enjoy being miserable, this is mandatory. Ladies, please don't walk around campus in high-heeled pumps. This isn't Sex and the City-- it's a college campus, and you're going to be walking constantly. Save the cute heels for the weekend.
Bring low maintenance clothes. Time is at a premium in college. If it needs hand washing, don't bring it. Heck, if it needs ironing, don't bring it.
Bring weather appropriate clothes. Keep
in mind that you'll be walking around campus all the time, so if your
school is in a cold climate, bring a heavy coat, scarf, gloves, and
waterproof boots. Here are some suggestions for warm winter clothes that are great for campus. Wear whatever you need to keep warm even
if it messes up your outfit. If whomever it is you're trying to impress
likes you less with hat hair, this isn't someone worthy of your
attention.
Bring weekend clothes. Go ahead
and bring the cute stuff. You'll probably want to save it for the
weekends, though. No need to get all dolled up for your 8:00 a.m. class
Don't come to class half naked. This may be
appreciated by some of the male students (and professors too, sadly),
but this is not the way to be taken seriously in the classroom. Save
the sexy stuff for the weekends, and come to class looking a little
more professional. Even outside the classroom, it can be sexier to
leave a little to the imagination and show off just one feature at a
time. If you wear a navel-baring shirt, wear baggy pants. If you wear a
micro-mini skirt, pair it with a big sweater.
Bring clothes you can layer.
You're going to be coming in from the cold into overheated classrooms,
and in from the heat into classrooms fit for a polar bear.
Discover the joy of thrift shops.
Unless you're very lucky, you're probably not going to have the funds
to maintain a chic wardrobe, so indulge your love of shopping by buying
clothes at thrift stores. If you have the attitude that clothing has to
be expensive or new, this would be a good time to lose it. Most college
campuses have funky used clothes stores nearby for inexpensive shopping
sprees, and for selling your old clothes for a few bucks. For great
bargains, also check out clearance racks and on-line sites like eBay.